Drama after final fence as 1-6 favourite Shantou Flyer unseats rider

Pub-owning amateur jockey Charlie O’Shea and his mount Keltus took full advantage of a dramatic conclusion to the 3m1f hunter chase, which saw the 1-6 favourite Shantou Flyer unseat David Maxwell when two lengths clear after jumping the last.

Third in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, the Paul Nicholls-trained Shantou Flyer had streaked ahead with a circuit to go but was involved in an engaging duel with Keltus when he began hanging left after jumping the last.

Maxwell was subsequently unshipped in unceremonious and almost slow-motion style, leaving the 16-1 challenger to stroll across the line 21 lengths clear of Minella Daddy.

O’Shea told Racing TV: "When we were coming back to him I kept thinking, 'We’re not out of it yet'. You don’t want to win like that but I tell you what, I’ll take it."

How the incident unfolded

Shantou Flyer and David Maxwell are two lengths clear of Keltus approaching the last

Despite clearing the last safely, Shantou Flyer jinks his head left unbalancing Maxwell who tries to hang on

The battle is lost and David Maxwell tumbles to the ground

Keltus is hampered in the process but safely navigates the danger to land the spoils

“When he came past me I thought that was it and I thought I’ll never get there, but my lad just kept on staying and he could have gone around again.

"I’m a proper amateur and big thanks to my in-laws, they own the horse, so without them I wouldn’t have been riding today. Big thanks to Jeremy [Scott, trainer] because he puts up with a lot of crap with me."

O'Shea added: "I own a pub in north Devon but with furlough I’ve been riding out loads and really enjoying it. I ride in quite a lot of military races but to get these opportunities at these tracks is unbelievable."

Terrific treble

Paul Nicholls and Lorcan Williams enjoyed a highly fruitful day as they combined for a treble after victories for Montys Medoc in the 2m4f handicap hurdle, Get The Appeal in the 2m5½f handicap hurdle and Le Chiffre D'Or in the bumper.

With under a week remaining of the jumps campaign, Nicholls moved on to 166 winners, just six away from a record-breaking season for the trainer.

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