'In hindsight we were dreaming' admits Fry after American's Newbury flop

It is back to the drawing board with American after the second favourite for Saturday's Ladbrokes Trophy never gave his supporters a hope before being pulled up before the home turn.

The seven-year-old, a second-season chaser unbeaten in his three starts over fences but having just his seventh race under rules, was sent off at 5-1 but was always on the back foot in a typically fiercely run feature.

Trainer Harry Fry said: "In hindsight we were dreaming – he didn't have enough experience for a race of that nature.

"We'll lick our wounds and try to piece him back together. We always just have to give him a chance to get over each of his races."

While American was reported by the course vet to have lost his left front shoe and suffered an overreach on the same leg his trainer was not using that as a contributory factor.

"From the minute it was a standing start and he missed the break he was never in the race. He was never travelling that well and never jumped with any fluency," added Fry.

What Fry admitted was a frustrating two-day Ladbrokes Winter Carnival nevertheless ended on a high with Overtown Express winning the Jim Joel Memorial, a handicap chase, in impressive style.

The nine-year-old could take the next step up the ladder in a two-mile graduation chase at Exeter on December 21.

Unowhatimeanharry, runner-up to Beer Goggles in defence of his Long Distance Hurdle crown, is on course for the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on December 23.

Kylemore Lough, beaten favourite in the BetVictor Gold Cup, is set to reappear in the Betfred Peterborough Chase on Sunday.

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