Carnage for Chepstow punters with 999-1 shock and win from 'impossible' position

30 January 2024 , 18:40

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Jockey Conor Ring fell off Crossbeau at the last jump of the Tom Jones Live In July Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow (Image: PA)

Racegoers witnessed two very dramatic finishes on an afternoon of mixed results at Chepstow.

Favourite backers had a payout when Castelfort (8-11f) ran right away from his Hozier Live In July Junior "National Hunt" Hurdle opponents, before class act Cuthbert Dibble defied an absence to land the 2m3½f Cuffe And Taylor handicap.

But the straightforward contests were inbetween a pair of events which changed significantly late on.

Crossbeau, trained locally by Tim Vaughan, was on-course for a clear victory in the Tom Jones Live In July Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Six lengths in front with one jump to cross, the five-year-old failed to respond to jockey Conor Ring's take-off request and fired him out of the saddle.

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The incident left Borodale, a 999-1 shot in-running, to pick up the pieces for trainer Olly Murphy and rider Dylan Johnston. Horse and jockey were challenged strongly by Awesome Foursome – and the winner held on by a nose in a photo finish.

The late faller was unscathed and Ring was seen debriefing Vaughan and owners the Pant Wilkin Partnership in a clip on social media.

Accompanying it, Vaughan tweeted: "Absolutely gutted for his huge group of owners here but Crossbeau ran a brilliant race for his new owners and we know we’re onto a winner! Both Crossbeau and Conor ok."

The aftermath of Crossbeau's fall, which handed victory to Borodale (blue checks on sleeves, right) (PA)

Later on, Midnight Ginger showed determination in spades to get ahead in the Live Music In Summer 2024 Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

With leading fancy Authorised Speed a non-runner, the task was easier on paper for Nicky Henderson's Issuing Authority.

However he had no more to give in the closing stages, with jockey James Bowen reporting to stewards that the gelding made a respiratory noise.

Midnight Ginger (circled) finished strongly to win from way off the pace at Chepstow (At The Races)

Zambezi Mix had career success number four in sight, until Midnight Ginger found another gear for 7lb claimer James Martin.

As many as 13 lengths down with four fences to go, the outsider of three closed the gap to five by the next row of birch.

Reaching a high of 80-1 during the two-mile journey, Midnight Ginger made relentless headway to overtake Zambezi Fix just before the winning post.

"That was astonishing from Midnight Ginger at Chepstow," one person tweeted. "12 lengths behind the main two in the market all the way around, she finishes like a train to win going away. Wow."

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Melissa Jones