Skelton's trip to Disneyland 'ruined' as stewards reverse result at Cheltenham

The Dan Skelton team will no doubt hope the rest of 2020 is less dramatic than its opening afternoon after enduring a rollercoaster ride, including controversially losing a race due to interference and getting another after a prolonged three-way photo-finish.

After winning the final race of the last decade at Warwick it looked as though they had picked up where they left off when Protektorat passed the post first in the Listed Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

However, the first race of the year at Cheltenham was swiftly followed by its first inquiry and the placings were reversed. Protektorat was deemed to have interfered with the Fergal O'Brien-Imperial Alcazar when crossing his path with a furlong left to race.

The stewards' report stated that Imperial Alcazar appeared to lose ground when forced to switch around his rival, which interrupted his running for three to four strides at a critical stage. It said that he was gaining on the winner all the way to the line, making up a length and a half before being beaten.

Tom Messenger, assistant trainer to Dan Skelton who is on holiday in Florida, said he was surprised by the decision and suggested connections of their demoted runner may consider an appeal.

"It has ruined Dan's trip to Disneyland," he said. "We may appeal the decision. I'm very surprised. I've not seen all the angles but you see things like that happen all the time and it doesn't get overturned.

"I think the big thing is whether the jockey had to stop riding and he didn't seem to lose any momentum. Imperial Alcazar had all the run-in to get back past but he couldn't do it."

View the replay of a controversial opener at Cheltenham

It was a fifth winner of the season at the track for local trainer O'Brien, whose 3-1 winner stayed on well under pressure after being headed at the final flight.

"I'm not going to focus on the stewards' inquiry," said the trainer. "I was delighted with how he ran. I don't care how he won it.

"These inquiries are like penalties – you win some, you lose some. I've lost plenty in the past, so we'll enjoy this. I think the best horse won."

Jockey Harry Skelton, who also voiced his frustration after the race, was cautioned for careless riding for allowing his mount to drift right-handed and also received a four-day whip ban.

His frustration soon turned to elation, though, when he landed the Grade 3 Paddy Power Handicap Chase just under two hours later.

Skelton was once again involved in a close finish. He delivered Oldgrangewood late to deny Saint Calvados and Lalor in a thriller and was deemed to have won the contest after a photo finish.

Harry Skelton: given a four-day whip banCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

Some on social media questioned the result, although the stewards and Andrew Brooks, co-owner of runner-up Saint Calvados, accepted the ruling after examining the official photograph.

"It's been a bit up and down," said Messenger. "That's the rollercoaster of racing but it was nice to come away with a winner, so we can't complain too much. We're definitely up on the day as we've had one but hopefully we may still get the other one back."

Fortunately, their final runner on the card was free from controversy as Grade 1-winning mare Roksana battled well against the boys to finish second in the Relkeel Hurdle.

She was beaten narrowly by Top Notch at Aintree earlier this year and was bouncing back from finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle at Ascot when finishing two and a quarter lengths behind the Tom George-trained Summerville Boy.

"She was beaten by a fair horse," said Messenger. "We could probably have done with them going a bit quicker as they had a bit more toe than us coming up to the last. She ran well in defeat."

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