Wincanton: Freddie Gordon left with no chance as Jet Marshall wins chaotic race

There was a dramatic conclusion to the opening race at Wincanton when amateur jockey Freddie Gordon was thrown into the final hurdle after his mount Sami Bear jinked to his right when leading, leaving Jet Marshall to bound up the run-in for a comfortable success.

As the leaders entered the straight Sami Bear took up the running with the Joe Tizzard-trained Seymour Promise, but they were closely followed by the eventual winner Jet Marshall and favourite Fame And Fun, who unseated his rider Freddie Gingell at the second-last hurdle.

Sami Bear then began to drift to his left and became unsteerable for Gordon, who tried to straighten his mount up as they approached the last. However, the horse jinked to his right on take-off, unshipping Gordon and impeding Seymour Promise.

Sami Bear (left): jinked to his right, unshipping Gordon and impeding Seymour PromiseCredit: Alan Crowhurst

That left the Philip Hobbs-trained Jet Marshall in front and he powered up the run-in to win by four and a quarter lengths under Ben Sutton, who was recording his second winner under rules, with Seymour Promise coming home in second.

"Freddie's grand, he's good as gold," said Chris Gordon, trainer of Sami Bear and father of Freddie. "Sami Bear has been a bit naughty once or twice before. He jinked a little down at Plumpton and he did the last time here.

"When he was coming with his challenge he did a couple of dirty jinks there as well, so he can be a little bit wayward at times. It's frustrating because I thought we had the race in the bag and 99 per cent of time my boy gave him a lovely ride – apart from hurling himself into the hurdle at the last!"

There was a sad postscript to the race as the Ben Pauling-trained Torula, who crossed the line in third, collapsed after having a heart attack.

Patience personified

William de Best-Turner ended an almost 17-year wait for a winner as Calgary Tiger, who was returning from a 712-day absence, caused a shock at 50-1 in the 1m7½f novice handicap chase under Ben Ffrench Davis, who stood up in his irons and celebrated as he crossed the line.

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