'We've got to thank Sam for that' - Newland praise after loose horse incident

Minella Encore was gifted a dramatic victory in the 3m handicap chase at Fakenham on Friday when a loose horse wiped out his closest challenger on the home straight as the pair fought out the finish.

Canyon City, who had fallen earlier in the four-runner race, was running loose when he veered across the leading duo who were almost neck and neck turning for home.

Sam Twiston-Davies managed to swerve and narrowly avoid the drama on Minella Encore, but Jamie Moore was not so lucky on Larry as he was sent tumbling to the ground after colliding with the loose horse.

That left Minella Encore to waltz home unchallenged 24 lengths clear of distant runner-up Rocky's Treasure, with all horses and jockeys seemingly fine after the nasty incident.

How the incident unfolded

Minella Encore (red cap) leads Larry into the home straight at Fakenham on Friday

But loose horse Canyon City, heading the wrong way down the track, is in their path

Canyon City collides with Larry (white cap), with Minella Encore narrowly avoiding him

Jamie Moore, the rider of Larry, is dislodged from the saddle after the dramatic incident

Sam Twiston-Davies makes his way home on Minella Encore after avoiding the carnage

Winning trainer Richard Newland was full of praise for Twiston-Davies's quick reactions in the saddle and said: "We've got to thank Sam Twiston-Davies for that – it's why we use him. He reacted very quickly and very well and was able to avoid a scary incident but this is jumps racing, things happen.

"I think the horse might have won anyway but it could easily have ended very differently. It was a very difficult incident for Sam and Jamie and fortunately we got away with it."

3.58 Fakenham: full result and race replay

On the winner he added: "I got him last year from Willie Mullins and he's a bit long in the tooth now but he's a nice three-mile chaser and he'll be a really nice type for veterans' chases and that type of thing."

Twiston-Davies, who was celebrating his 29th birthday, told Sky Sports Racing: "As we came out of the dip I could see the loose horse at the top of the hill and I thought we'd take the safe option and go wide hoping it would run back onto the hurdle track. I gambled wrong but thankfully didn't fall off like I thought I would."

The winner's in-running comment

Chased leaders, left in second and close up 12th, good jump and led 13th, pushed along after 2 out, faced challenge but keeping on when hampered by loose horse and left clear approaching last, kept on

Results, replays and analysis

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