PUNTERS were stunned after witnessing ‘absolute carnage’ at Sedgefield in the 1.25pm Handicap Hurdle.
Chasing down the leader Bathgate, 3-1 favourite Lahire crashed into the final hurdle in a shuddering accident.
Lahire was trying to close down leader Bathgate as it jumped the final hurdle[/caption] The favourite suffered a shuddering fall – but there was more carnage to come[/caption] Another two horses were brought crashing to the turf[/caption]The four-year-old inadvertently brought down another FOUR rivals which resulted in over half the field failing to finish the two-mile test.
Chicago Gal, Foshan and Lady Babs and all plundered into traffic, with the well-tailed off Inoue also hitting the deck.
That saw Bathgate saunter home to a 13-length victory to bag his first ever victory, with Joe Williamson aboard.
Incredibly, the five horses and jockeys aboard all reportedly managed to escape without serious injury.
Punters could hardly believe that all five horses and jockeys down in the incident got back to their feet[/caption]THE SUN RACING MEMBERS ENCLOSURE
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Karl Wilkin, posting on X, described what happened as “absolute carnage” while May Laytor posted that it was “a miracle that Lahire is okay”.
But sadly the news was not good for connections of 10-year-old Cawthorne, who was fatally injured after a fall in an unrelated incident three from home.
In the race previous, the opener of the day, Willie Mullins bagged his first EVER winner at Sedgefield.
Brian Hayes steered Mr Escobar home to justify 1-3 favouritism.
Speaking after the victory, Hayes told Sky Sports Racing: ““I don’t think Willie has ever had a runner here and I don’t think he would have been good enough to win a maiden hurdle in Ireland, so Patrick and Willie thought he might be as well to come here.
“He’s a bit quirky. There was one day at Killarney when he actually ran out at the first hurdle.
“It suited us today where the hurdles were and the best of the ground was on the wide outside – it didn’t really matter as he’d have won anyway, but it’s nice to get it done.
“I suppose the undulations here make it a bit like Tramore, except going the other way round, the way you are always turning.
“It suited him as it kept him interested and he jumped really well.”
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