Groundstaff evade onrushing horses just in time in Sedgefield drama

Tuesday: Sedgefield

Members of the groundstaff were forced to rush off the track during the closing stages of the 3m3f hunter chase, a dramatic incident which has been reported to the BHA.

The odds-on favourite Global Racing, who had unseated his rider on each of his previous three starts, was going well under new partner Becky Smith approaching the final bend and the jockey had to be alert to steer her mount off the rail as three groundstaff dashed off the track.

Watch the incident here

Thankfully no one was injured as Global Racing and Smith went on to navigate the final two fences and score by an emphatic 27 lengths.

Clerk of the course Michael Naughton was present in the subsequent stewards' inquiry along with Smith and the head groundsman, and with the matter going to the BHA, could not comment in detail, but he said: "There was an inquiry into it and it has to go to the BHA. Lucky enough, Becky Smith shouted at them and they heard her and just moved off, and she won the race thankfully."

Dylan delights Stimpson

Trainer John Stimpson enjoyed a first winner over jumps for more than 13 years as Hurricane Dylan struck in division two of the 2m5f handicap hurdle under Joe Anderson.

Stimpson, who has trained seven winners on the Flat since retaking out a training licence in 2020 after a six-year hiatus, said of the 11-year-old: "I'm so pleased for the horse really. If I ever wanted a horse to win it's this one because he's an absolute dude and a gentleman. He's a gentle giant.

"He's been running very well, it took him a long time to get him back. I bought him from the Cheltenham sales a long time back, it was quite a bit of money as he was a decent horse early on and then he's had setback after setback really.

Hurricane Dylan (orange): a welcome winner over jumps for John StimpsonCredit: John Grossick

"He’s had a leg, he was off for a year with that, he's had five kissing spines. He's just one of them and I've had a few of those in my life, but I persevered with him."

The Staffordshire-based trainer, who operates from the Butterton Racing Stables formerly occupied by Kevin Frost, added: "We didn't come up here for a day out and it all went reasonably well. It's a very long drive for us, but it's been worth it."

History awaits Hughes

Brian Hughes has four days to ride a landmark 200th winner of the season after a double here took him to 199 winners.

Hughes, who bookended the card with wins aboard the Brian Ellison-trained Gold Miner and John Quinn's Imperial Merlin in the bumper, will be in action at the Perth festival for the next three days before venturing south for the season finale at Sandown on Saturday.

He is bidding to become just the fourth jump jockey to ride a double century in a season.

Results, replays and analysis

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