Incredible incident at Wincanton leads to race being voided

An incredible incident at Wincanton resulted in the staying handicap chase eventually being declared void when the only horse to escape the melee refused on the final circuit.

Beer Goggles fell at the second before Ardkilly Witness, who was leading the remaining nine runners, refused at the open ditch, which was fence six, and caused scenes reminiscent of Foinavon's Grand National in 1967.

Hollow Blue Sky was left out on his own, but almost came to a halt when returning to the same obstacle on the final circuit that had been omitted.

He then refused to jump the following obstacle in the Bathwick Tyres Lord Stalybridge Memorial Cup Handicap Chase over three miles and one furlong, leaving the stewards no alternative but to declare the race void.

Ardkilly Witness's trainer Jamie Snowden believes his horse was distracted, possibly by the sun reflecting off something.

"It's very bizarre. Our horse was bounding along in front and jumping from fence to fence," said the Lambourn handler.

"He's an older horse and has jumped lots of open ditches in his time and not a bother. Something has obviously taken his eye going into the fence and caused him to back off and refuse.

"There's the old domino effect and they've all gone down.

"Touch wood both the horse and jockey (Micheal Nolan) seem OK. A few minor cuts, but hopefully nothing more than that.

"I would guess that the sunlight has reflected off something on the inside of the track and caused a blinding effect, but I'm guessing. Micheal said it perhaps might have been off a reflective jacket worn by an ambulance man. The winter sun can be quite low."

Clerk of the course Barry Johnson said: "I've not seen that before. You see pile-ups sometimes, but I've never seen anything like that.

"As far as a I know, all the jockeys are fine.

"There are never two races the same and you have to be prepared for every eventuality. This is one we can tick off now.

"The stewards voided the race, obviously."

Officials at Wincaton later announced via Twitter: "Sadly Velator was fatally injured in the void race with Saint Raph humanely put down following a racing related injury @Condolences2owners."