Joe Colliver and Sam Spinner defy gravity to land December Novices' Chase

Joe Colliver defied the laws of gravity and survived a heartstopping scare – regaining control aboard Sam Spinner almost instantly – and going on to win by a whopping 38 lengths in the Grade 2 December Novices' Chase at Doncaster.

Sam Spinner was sent off 6-5 second favourite behind the odds-on Windsor Avenue, but he survived the mistake and the loose Aye Right, who unseated at the same fence, to maintain his unbeaten record over fences.

It was a margin of victory that completely played down the dramatic moment six out, when Colliver was nearly bounced out of the saddle by the 2017 Long Walk Hurdle winner.

The rider explained: "I could see Brian in the shadow behind me going to the ditch and I thought 'right, I'll try and ask for a big one and try and nick a few here'. That was the only fence he put down on me at.

"When I was up in the air I thought 'please God he'll be there when I come down!', because that's how much time I had up there. Luckily enough he was there. He had a little look at the next and after that he was good and bold."

Trainer Jedd O'Keeffe added: "We've said all along that our main target is the RSA Chase at Cheltenham. Working back from there we don't really have many options. It will probably be another Grade 2, either the Towton at Wetherby or the Reynoldstown at Ascot."

Betfair cut the seven-year-old to 14-1 (from 20-1) for the RSA Chase and introduced him at 10-1 for the National Hunt Chase.

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