Drama at Ascot as Diego Du Charmil keeps race after all but running out

There was confusion at Ascot after drama at the final fence in the 2m1f Listed handicap chase left the stewards and racegoers scratching their heads.

Paul Nicholls-trained stablemates Diego Du Charmil and Capeland had the race between them heading to the last fence, only for Diego Du Charmil to veer violently left, carrying Capeland with him as the pair all but ran out.

While Diego Du Charmil managed to jump the birch wing of the fence, Capeland was forced between the fence and the plastic wing, ending his chance of victory.

Incredibly, and despite losing momentum, Diego Du Charmil was reinvigorated by rider Lorcan Williams, managing to regain the lead from Clondaw Castle and Champagne At Tara, who had jumped the last safely, to get back up for a half-length win.

That left the stewards with the task of deciding whether Diego Du Charmil had stayed on the correct course at the final fence as well as deciding the fate of Capeland, who eventually finished fifth under Bryony Frost.

The stewards called on the advice of the BHA's senior course inspector Richard Linley and, having heard evidence from the riders involved in the incident and not before the horses and jockeys had left the paddock for the following race, was the decision announced to allow Diego Du Charmil to keep the race and disqualify Capeland.

Explaining the decision, stipendiary steward Simon Cowley said: "Two horses appeared to go outside the fence, so we had to decide whether they had taken the right course, which then leads you to the follow-on question of 'what is the correct course in terms of the fence?'

"There is no absolute definition of the fence, but in practice the fence is the birch part, that is to say the level part – the part they always jump – but also the boss [outer birch edge] at the side can be considered part of the fence.

"The [plastic] wing, on the other hand, is definitely not part of the fence. It is merely a guide to steer horses in.

"In conclusion, what we found was that the winner did jump the fence – not in the normal manner or the normal part – so the winner keeps the race. The other horse unfortunately couldn't [jump], so we had to disqualify that horse as it hadn't jumped."

Cowley said he hadn't seen such an incident in 25 years in the job but felt there was no need to reintroduce flags to define the perimeter of the fence in Britain.

"Between the flags used to be the case," he added. "It's a very unusual situation. We've seen horses brush that upright bit of birch before but that's the first time I've seen that happen. We were satisfied the horse had jumped the fence.

"I don't think flags are necessary. Richard Lindley came in and gave some expert evidence in terms of layout of fences and his evidence was very helpful."

Williams, the rider of Diego Du Charmil, felt the riderless Ballywood had, in fact, been the main culprit, with his horse merely following as the loose horse went outside the wings of the last.

"He just followed the loose horse but we've jumped the jump and he's still managed to win," said the rider.

"When they're following the loose horse there's not much you can do. It's more of an instinct – they're herd animals and they are always going to follow.

"We've kept between the wings and jumped the fence but unfortunately Bryony wasn't so lucky and went between the fence and the wing."

Lorcan Williams: 'We've jumped the jump and he's still managed to win'Credit: Alan Crowhurst

Both Frost and Harry Derham, assistant to Nicholls, felt the right result had been reached.

Frost said: "Both horses seem fine and because Lorcan jumped 'between the flags' he should keep that race."

Derham added: "From the rules you can't argue with the decision. I'm gutted for the owners of Capeland but, listening to all the evidence, I can't complain at all."

There were no complaints from connections of runner-up Clondaw Castle either, although both trainer Tom George and rider Johnny Burke felt having flags at fences would make the stewards' life easier.

"In eventing there's a flag but there's no flag here, so I don't know. I've never seen anything like it," said Burke.

George added: "I would never like to win a race like that. You could say that in Ireland he might have been disqualified because they still have a flag. Does the birch count as the flag over here? I don't know the ins and outs of it, but they need to have it black or white."

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