Cheltenham racing drama as leader takes wrong course and winner knocks down rail

Cheltenham’s cross-country race made a dramatic return to the venue on Friday.

The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase did not take place at the in March due to unraceable ground conditions.

So the reopening of the course for the first time this season for the running of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase brought a large crowd to the middle of the track.

The course is tricky to navigate as runners have to jump 32 obstacles around a sharp turning track comprising a sequence of different hedges, ditches, banks and jumps.

During Friday’s race jockey Micheal Nolan set out to make all the running in the 3m 5½f race and all was going well as the pair still held a clear advantage with only three to jump.

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But after jumping the third last fence Tommie Beau went to the left of the running rail, steering off the course and out of the race.

The drama did not end there as when the field approached a sharp left turn where the cross country course joins the Old course, jockey Felix de Giles brushed the rail with his leg.

The rail then popped out of its socket and the end caught the rider as he turned left and the barrier down came crashing down behind them.

Regardless, de Giles and Sweet David, trained in France by Gabriel Leenders, stayed intact to capture the £18,000 first prize.

Sweet David, who was right behind Tommie Beau, had nearly followed the leader off the track.

De Giles told Racing, “He was going a bit out to the left so when a horse runs out to the left he was very good to not follow. I was glad enough to clock it from an early stage and was glad I managed to get to the right side of the rail in time.

“There is a little bit of rail which is sticking out and I just brushed it and brought it along with me, but I’m okay.”

Nolan said afterwards that Tommie Beau had ducked off the track and he was unable to stop him in time.

Nevertheless the Cheltenham stewards suspended the jockey for 12 days “for taking the wrong course as he had gone the incorrect side of the rail, after which he pulled up.”

Nolan said: “I was out in front the whole way and getting a great ride off him and he was enjoying it.

“Then once we jumped the Canal Turn the last time, I switched down the inside to save every bit of ground. When we got to jump the last hedge, where the rail goes into a V, he just ducked left with me. It was very unfortunate.

“As soon as he went left with me, I couldn’t get him back. “