One-eared Ryalex causes a stir with wide-margin Carlisle triumph

Ryalex grabbed the attention at Carlisle on Monday – and not just because he won by 24 lengths.

The Lucinda Russell-trained seven-year-old has one ear, but it clearly does not affect him, as he showed when cruising to a wide-margin victory under Stephen Mulqueen in the 2m4f handicap chase.

As he usually races in a hood, his deformity has not been as noticeable, but connections took off the headgear and it worked a treat as the Irish point-to-point winner recorded a first success under rules.

Russell's partner Peter Scudamore said: "We're particularly fond of him because he has only one ear. He lost it in an incident in Ireland before we bought him."

Carlisle racegoers could not remember seeing another horse with a missing ear, but there have been a few notable one-eyed performers, with top hurdling mare Material World and the Todd Pletcher-trained Patch two who excelled in spite of the handicap.

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