Fortunate George buoys Lavelle after loss of Crimson Ark

Just minutes after losing the promising Crimson Ark in a fatal fall at Kempton, the Emma Lavelle team experienced all the bittersweet emotions that comes with jump racing after Fortunate George took the honours in the 2m4f handicap hurdle.

Lavelle’s husband Barry Fenton was on duty in Staffordshire and he said: “It’s a crazy game – the ups and downs are so pronounced when something like this happens, and it’s hard not to be affected.

“You are properly down one minute and the next you are cheering home a winner and trying to put a happy face on proceedings. In the end it’s a case of drawing a line under it and getting on with things as there's nothing you can do about it.”