‘Absolutely dismal viewing’ – horse wins £40,000 in ’embarrassing’ walkover as all other runners pulled out of ITV race

1 month ago 15

CAPTAIN TEAGUE pocketed £20,000 for a walkover in the £40,000 novice chase at Exeter after every other runner was withdrawn due to quick ground.

The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old, who won the Challow Hurdle last year, was all set to make his chasing debut.

a jockey rides a horse with the number 1 on the back

Captain Teague looked happy enough with his easy day at the office[/caption]

But all Harry Cobden’s mount had to do in order to ‘win the race’ was gallop from the furlong marker to the winning line.

Initially there were three other runners in the race, but Dan Skelton’s Deafening Silence was taken out of the race, as was Sue Gardner’s Daring Plan as neither wanted to run the risk of injury.

Dan Skelton said: “It’s highly frustrating for everybody. It’s highly frustrating for the industry. I’m sure there are going to be lots of comments about how embarrassing it all is.

“But unfortunately, you can’t be embarrassed about this at this point because I can only do the right thing. It is driven into us from every angle about welfare.

“All of this ‘oh it’s embarrassing stuff’ it would be much more embarrassing if we were running horses and they were getting injured.

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“I think if commentators could please bear with us that we’re making the right calls. It will change – it’s the UK, it will rain and when it does it probably won’t shop.

“I wish I could run them.

“It’s the ground. But It’s not like the clerks have made an incorrect call. It’s not like they have overwatered. It’s just the weather. There’s no fault whatsoever.”

Punters were not happy either.

One said: “Get this c*** off ITV Racing.”

Another simply added: “Joke.”

While one said: “A nonsense. I get horses prefer ground but they’re way too pampered these days.”

And one added: “Absolutely dismal viewing.”