'We've got to thank Sam for that' - Newland praise after loose horse incident
Minella Encore was gifted a dramatic victory in the 3m handicap chase at Fakenham on Friday when a loose horse wiped out his closest challenger on the home straight as the pair fought out the finish.
Canyon City, who had fallen earlier in the four-runner race, was running loose when he veered across the leading duo who were almost neck and neck turning for home.
Sam Twiston-Davies managed to swerve and narrowly avoid the drama on Minella Encore, but Jamie Moore was not so lucky on Larry as he was sent tumbling to the ground after colliding with the loose horse.
That left Minella Encore to waltz home unchallenged 24 lengths clear of distant runner-up Rocky's Treasure, with all horses and jockeys seemingly fine after the nasty incident.
How the incident unfolded
Winning trainer Richard Newland was full of praise for Twiston-Davies's quick reactions in the saddle and said: "We've got to thank Sam Twiston-Davies for that – it's why we use him. He reacted very quickly and very well and was able to avoid a scary incident but this is jumps racing, things happen.
"I think the horse might have won anyway but it could easily have ended very differently. It was a very difficult incident for Sam and Jamie and fortunately we got away with it."
3.58 Fakenham: full result and race replay
On the winner he added: "I got him last year from Willie Mullins and he's a bit long in the tooth now but he's a nice three-mile chaser and he'll be a really nice type for veterans' chases and that type of thing."
Twiston-Davies, who was celebrating his 29th birthday, told Sky Sports Racing: "As we came out of the dip I could see the loose horse at the top of the hill and I thought we'd take the safe option and go wide hoping it would run back onto the hurdle track. I gambled wrong but thankfully didn't fall off like I thought I would."
The winner's in-running comment
Chased leaders, left in second and close up 12th, good jump and led 13th, pushed along after 2 out, faced challenge but keeping on when hampered by loose horse and left clear approaching last, kept on
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Published on 15 October 2021inReports
Last updated 17:23, 15 October 2021
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