'We feel sorry for the runner-up' - Henderson gracious after stewards' inquiry

Friday: Warwick

Nicky Henderson was full of sympathy for trainer Chris Gordon after being awarded a race in the stewards' room.

After a ten-minute wait the Gordon-trained Unanswered Prayers was declared a nose winner over Henderson's Blue Stello, but half an hour later the placings were reversed due to interference.

Henderson said: "We feel sorry for the runner-up. You wait ten minutes to get the result, you think you won, then you've got it nicked off you again. I think we both agreed we'd settle for a dead-heat."

The stewards believed Tom Cannon's mount Unanswered Prayers had hung right on the run-in, carrying eventual third Complete Unknown into the path of the fast-finishing Blue Stello, who lost significant enough momentum, and was therefore awarded the 2m3f novice hurdle.

Dunphy's Job done

Cannon, who learned of his demotion as he circled at the start for the next race on the card, endured more bad luck after being brought down four from home on 13-8 favourite Edwardstone in the feature two-mile novice chase.

The race went to the Michael Scudamore-trained Do Your Job under Brendan Powell.

Last seen over hurdles chasing home Belfast Banter in Grade 1 company at Aintree, the seven-year-old made the perfect start to life over fences to the delight of his owner Mark Dunphy.

"I bought him at the sales at Doncaster. Derek O'Connor sourced him for us and it's been a hell of a journey," said Dunphy.

Derek O'Connor (left): sourced Do Your Job for Mark Dunphy for £150,000Credit: Sarah Farnsworth

"For me to buy a horse that expensive [£150,000], I've never done that. I went for it and it worked. What he did last year shocked us. He got better and better and hopefully he can do the same this season."

Scudamore revealed the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton on December 27 could be on the agenda if another novice chase goes to plan.

"Michael's never won a Grade 1, Brendan's never won a Grade 1, and I've never even won a Grade 2 or 3, so for me to have a horse of this calibre is brilliant," Dunphy continued.

"I love the horse. For me it's been the gamble of my life but I've not had a penny on today."

On a good afternoon for the Scudamore family, Michael's brother jockey Tom took the 2m handicap hurdle on the Chris Down-trained Opening Bid.

Stallion prospects for World

The 2m juvenile hurdle, won by Allmankind in 2019 for Dan and Harry Skelton, went the way of the Skeltons again with hurdle debutant In This World scoring on his first start in Britain, having beaten recent runaway Down Royal winner Fil Dor on the Flat in France.

The trainer's wife Grace said after the colt's eyecatching six-length win: "He's very nicely bred and we've kept him entire. The idea is, if he continues to show this promise, we'll keep him entire and stand him at our stud to see if we can make a stallion of him."

Flying Frost form continues

Bryony Frost chased home the winner in the juvenile hurdle on the Lucy Wadham-trained Graystone but was not to be denied on Wadham's other runner on the card, Game On For Glory, who ended a run of three consecutive seconds in the mares' bumper.

Results, replays and analysis

Read this next:

Where did they go? Faovurite wins as two rivals disappear at the last

The Racing Post fully supports Safer Gambling Week and acknowledges it as an excellent opportunity for us all to reflect on whether we keep our gambling in check. Although Safer Gambling Week is only seven days, its message is ongoing and remains important. We have lots of resources available on our dedicated Safer Gambling page and more details can be found at safergamblinguk.org.