Downpatrick chaos as more than half of 15-runner field crash out at first hurdle

Monday: Downpatrick

Ladies' day at Downpatrick could hardly have had a more chaotic start when eight of the 15 runners departed at the first obstacle in the 2m3f maiden hurdle.

Mac's Xpress was a handy third towards the outside on the run to the first but overjumped and fell a couple of strides after the flight, with seven horses brought down behind him. Nonbinding, Bookem Danno, Diliymi, Great Island, Lily Bianca, Television and Nailed Down were the unfortunate casualties.

It was a scene reminiscent of the 1967 Grand National when a loose horse caused a massive pile-up at the 23rd fence. The only thing missing at Downpatrick was a horse three-quarters of the way down the field, a la Foinavon, emerging as an unlikely winner.

Riders Jack Kennedy, Jordan Gainford and James O'Sullivan were stood down for the remainder of the day and all of the riders walked back in, although some were referred for precautionary x-rays. In addition all eight of the horses got up and galloped away. Remarkably, they did not cause more interference.

Few commentators will have a situation like this to deal with, and the man behind the microphone on this occasion Eoghain Ward said: "All I could really see was horses toppling over each other. If there were two or three fallers you could identify them, but when there were eight it would be very difficult and I was better off identifying what was left in the race."

How the incident unfolded

Credit: RacingTV

The runners in Downpatrick's opener approach the first hurdle

Credit: RacingTV

Mac's Xpress comes down after making a mistake and starts a chain reaction which affects a majority of the runners

Credit: RacingTV

Nonbinding, Bookem Danno, Diliymi, Great Island, Lily Bianca, Television and Nailed Down are all brought down as chaos ensues

There was major drama in Downpatrick's opener when more than half the field fell or were brought downCredit: RacingTV

Miraculously, there are no injuries as horses collide into each other and the railing

The contest was won by the Colm Murphy-trained King Kal under Brian Hayes. He suffered interference from a loose horse when they went to bypass the offending first hurdle on the second circuit but survived the incident and stayed on well to score by six lengths from Duleek Street.

"It was eventful but the race just fell apart. We'll take it. The loose horse didn't do us any favours crossing the top but we survived it," Hayes said.

Members' Club subscribers can watch the replay of an eventful race here

Progressive Sphagnum goes in again

One of the success stories of the late summer has been the Shane Broderick-trained Sphagnum, and the gelding added a second success to his name, to go with a pair of seconds at Sligo and Killarney, in the 2m5f handicap hurdle.

Denis O'Regan rode the son of Urban Poet much more handily on this occasion, and the application of cheekpieces did no harm either as he stayed on strongly up the hill to account for the veteran Rare Conor by four and a half lengths.

"I got it wrong on him at Sligo last day, he went to sleep on me that day and a mistake at Killarney the time before cost him," O'Regan said.

"The cheekpieces made a difference, so did bouncing out handy and he did it well. He could be competitive in a better handicap off a low weight."

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