'The day was just not meant to be' - Chancellor withdrawal capped miserable Saturday for Cheveley Park racing manager

The withdrawal of the Cheveley Park Stud-owned Chancellor at the start of Saturday’s Champagne Stakes at Doncaster capped a weekend to forget for the owner’s racing manager Chris Richardson, which kicked off when his car broke down on the way to South Yorkshire.

A well-backed 7-4 favourite for the Group 2 opener on St Leger day, Chancellor was withdrawn after forcing his stall open and cutting his mouth before the then five-runner contest, which was won by Bay City Roller.

Newmarket-based Richardson did not even make it to Town Moor to witness the frustrating episode involving the John and Thady Gosden-trained colt as he was dealing with another.

 Richardson said: “I’m still rather drained after an emotional and frustrating weekend. First the car broke down and then when the horse had to be withdrawn it was the icing on the cake. It was a case of the day wasn’t meant to be.

“I think it took six hours to get the car sorted, which wasn’t too bad, but my wife went to Doncaster as she was kindly picked up by John Gosden.”

Reflecting on events at Doncaster, Richardson said: “It was a shame that Chancellor couldn’t run. He did get a little upset before he was beaten at Ascot but on the whole he’s been straightforward in the stalls.

Bay City Roller and Callum Shepherd (red silks) win the Champagne Stakes at DoncasterCredit: John Grossick

“Apparently a horse kicked off next to him and belted the back of its stall, which made Chancellor jump and leap forward and he caught his mouth on the front of the stall. That was just superficial and he’s fine again now.”

Any horse that comes out of the front of the stalls is withdrawn under the rules, unless it is special circumstances such as a stalls malfunction, and has to undergo a stalls test.

Richardson added: “I would think he would now have to have a stalls test and after that he has options, although we haven’t discussed them yet. He’s in the Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket, which is over a mile, or there is the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes which is over seven furlongs.

Chancellor is a 12-1 chance with Paddy Power for the Royal Lodge at Newmarket on September 28. Beyond that, his other entry is in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on October 26, for which he is 20-1 with the same firm.

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