Spectacular unseat and final-fence fall leads to unlikely 999-1 in-running win

Sunday: Newton Abbot

There was a dramatic conclusion to the 2m5f handicap chase which saw Rectory Oak, who looked booked for third, cross the line as the only finisher after Mister Allegro and then Dindin departed in the home straight.

Some early drama cut the five-runner field to three as the Evan Williams-trained Arizona Glory unseated Conor Ring when jumping awkwardly at the tenth fence, before outsider Lure Des Pres pulled up after the next.

With Rectory Oak struggling, the leading pair of Mister Allegro and Dindin pulled clear in what looked like a straight match, but a mistake at the second-last caused an extraordinary unseat with Mister Allegro's jockey Rex Dingle jolted into the air.

That left the David Pipe-trained favourite Dindin with the race at his mercy, but with just one fence to jump he made a bad mistake and fell under Philip Armson.

Despite being the best part of 30 lengths behind, Brendan Powell managed to get the tiring Rectory Oak over the final fence for a remarkable win.

The winner hit an in-running high of 999-1 on the Betfair Exchange before finishing alone.

The Joe Tizzard-trained seven-year-old was landing his second victory over fences and Powell joked: "It was never really in doubt!"

How the race unfolded

Arizona Glory unseats Conor Ring after the tenthCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Mister Allegro (red cap) and Dindin pull clearCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Mister Allegro (left) makes a bad mistake at the second-lastCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Rex Dingle spectacularly unseats after the second-last leaving Dindin with just one fence to jumpCredit: Sky Sports Racing

With the race at his mercy Dindin makes a bad mistake at the lastCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Dindin falls at the last leaving just one runner still standingCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Brendan Powell jumps the last aboard the tiring Rectory OakCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Rectory Oak crosses the line in isolation as the only one to complete the raceCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Whip rules

With the new whip rules due to come into effect in the autumn, Harry Cobden thought he would try and adhere to the backhand whip position aboard odds-on favourite Hell Red, who was pushed all the way but prevailed in the 3m2f novice chase for Paul Nicholls.

On the new rules, Cobden said: "Personally I wouldn't have brought in two things at once. I think the whip is pretty good in this country, especially with all the top lads.

"I know what's happened has happened and we're into the backhand now but I personally wouldn't have gone for that. There was talk of a transition period, to say you've got two weeks to get used to it. I think I wouldn't have a transition period, we should just bring it in."

Results, replays and analysis

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