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Horse Wins Two Horse Race After They Both Fall With Two Fences To Go

Horse Wins Two Horse Race After They Both Fall With Two Fences To Go

The SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham was won in bizarre circumstances as the only 2 horses both fell with just 2 fences left.

A two horse race at Cheltenham on Friday afternoon ended in incredible circumstances as both horses fell with two fences to go and only one managed to race on.

The SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Chase was originally supposed to be run by three horses on Friday, but Fancy Foundations was a late non-runner due to the unsuitable ground.

That left just Gin on Lime and My Drogo to run the Cheltenham course, but despite being short on numbers of horses the race was high on drama.

My Drogo took the lead just as they hit the penultimate fence but as both horses landed they fell, with Harry Skelton on My Drogo being thrown off his ride.

Rachel Blackmore managed to stay on her horse and Gin on Lime ran on to win the race unopposed.

Speaking to Racing TV after the race, Blackmore said, "It was a very strange race and it was very unfortunate for the Skeltons what happened but the ball has fallen right for me I suppose.

"She just crumpled under me and it was quite a slow motion thing I suppose. She’s an extremely honest mare to go down and jump the last and canter over the line."

Winning trainer Henry de Bromhead had six winners when he was last at the race course during the Cheltenham Festival but even the 49-year-old couldn't believe what he'd seen.

Skelton would have hoped to get back on his horse. Image: PA Images
Skelton would have hoped to get back on his horse. Image: PA Images

"I can’t say I’ve been involved in a race like that before!" De Bromhead said following his quite fortunate win.

“I remember years ago when I was a kid my father had a horse called Quarter Bridge. It was a three-horse race and he looked beaten and the other two fell at the second last and he ended up winning it. The owner said it was such a shame that they didn’t stand up as I would have liked to have seen more of a race and my father was going ‘no, no no we won!’ You don’t like to see it happen.

“I thought the favourite jumped brilliantly throughout today. The way Rachael sat on - she just clung to her. Maybe ours was a slightly slower fall, I don’t know. It’s just Jump racing. It’s mad and I’ve not seen much of that before."

Losing trainer Dan Skelton wasn't too annoyed at the result, but did believe his horse would have won, saying, "He jumped the fence fine but just knuckled on landing and slid. I was delighted with him the whole way round. He jumped beautifully.

"...He would have won - we all know that - but at least he is alright. I’m totally relaxed about it. I’m frustrated he has ended up not completing his race and that goes on his record but that doesn’t mean he is any less of a horse."

Featured Image Credit: Racing TV

Topics: Horse Racing