'One of those unfortunate things' - disaster for Dettori as Chaldean unseats rider and Isaac Shelby capitalises

Classic trials are meant to help punters, but the Greenham might have provoked them following an unfortunate spill from Frankie Dettori on the hot favourite Chaldean, which left the way open for Brian Meehan to secure the spoils with Isaac Shelby, a horse he has always held in the highest regard.

Britain's top juvenile last term, Chaldean, was expected to seal his place in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas and went off the 5-4 market leader, but he was slightly hampered as the stalls opened and Dettori was ditched on the turf – an outcome that may have muddied the picture as far as the Newmarket Classic is concerned for British hopes.

Dettori, in the final year of his remarkable career, was seen up and about and was reported to be fine, while Andrew Balding, who trains Chaldean for the Juddmonte operation, said: "It was one of those unfortunate things, but I'm happy the horse seems fine and I hope Frankie is as well. We don't normally bash into other horses at home – he's ducked slightly right and hit another horse and Frankie has come off."

Isaac Shelby stays on best, alongside the riderless Chaldean, to win the GreenhamCredit: Mark Cranham

Chaldean had won the Dewhurst – Britain's premier two-year-old race – last year and remained the 5-1 second favourite for the 2,000 Guineas following the race despite his setback.

Market moves for Isaac Shelby related to the Poule d'essai des Poulains, which Meehan has long earmarked for his stable star.

Racing in the famous Robert Sangster silks, he is owned by Manton Thoroughbreds and won the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket last year before flopping in the Dewhurst, which has put the trainer off a return to Newmarket.

"The French Guineas has always been the plan," Meehan said. "I was spooked by Newmarket in the Dewhurst so I don't want to go back there until he's a little older and more mature. He was lame after that so we didn't run in the Craven there this week and we'll go to the French Guineas.

"I was gutted after the Dewhurst, so disappointed, but he wasn't the finished article and there was so much more to come. It was only his third run and we had a mishap, but he's back now. He seems to go on any ground, but it was probably quite holding today."

Of the Chaldean incident, Meehan added: "That was unfortunate and nobody wants to see that. It's a shame for Andrew, Frankie and Juddmonte."

Sean Levey has seen enough ups and downs as a jockey so was willing to take the high of Isaac Shelby prevailing.

"I think Frankie's horse stumbled leaving the gates, but my horse ran a blinder under the circumstances. I didn't think they suited him," he said "The first one being the ground, but the second one being Chaldean being loose, who lit me up and I ran keener for far longer than I'd have liked. There's no doubt he's quality though."

That last line might give some punters clarity about Isaac Shelby, even if the Chaldean question remains unanswered.

How it happened

The stalls open for the Greenham at Newbury, with Chaldean exiting stall 7Credit: Racing TV

Streets Of Gold (stall eight) leans left into ChaldeanCredit: Racing TV

Frankie Dettori becomes unbalanced on Chaldean after a bump from Streets Of GoldCredit: Racing TV

Dettori exits the saddle aboard the big-race favouriteCredit: Racing TV

Read these next:

'It’s horrible and this will give a lift to the whole family' - Kitty's Light wins for emotional Williams  

'I'm working back from the Ebor' - Bethell sets up York plan with the impressive Chillingham 

Nicholls praises 'team player' Harry Cobden after Rubaud lands Scottish Champion Hurdle 

Sign up here Place a minimum £10 bet on the Sportsbook at odds of minimum 1/2 (1.5) and get £30 in free bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators that our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing.