'All of a sudden he appeared' - when Skipthescales came from nowhere to win

Throughout racing, you have always had the good, the bad and the ugly. However, on a few special occasions fans are graced with the downright wacky.

They may have slipped your mind, but they have not been erased from history and have brought us some of the funniest – and most dramatic – moments ever seen on the track.

In a new series by the Racing Post, we take a look at some of the wackiest races ever run, this time remembering Skipthescales's extraordinary Newcastle win in 2018.

The horse

Skipthescales had been a fairly useful handicapper for Phil Kirby who was heading to Newcastle for his second appearance over fences. The first went smoothly as he plugged on bravely for a good win at Wetherby. But his next win over fences was far from straightforward.

The race

Only six runners turned up for a 2m7½ novice handicap chase but it looked a competitive affair, with Skipthescales heading the betting and, after some strong support, he went off at 2-1.

The six-year-old was held up in rear and appeared to be struggling towards the end of the back straight. Rider Adam Nicol began to ask him to pick up and gave him reminders as the other runners easily extended their advantage.

On the turn for home, he looked beaten and was slowing as stablemate Little Bruce remained in front. By now, Skipthescales was so far behind he could not be seen in shot.

Full result and race replay

The incident

As the action unfolded it was first Knockrobin who took over before weakening with Western Rules looking dangerous. But it was Skipthescales's stablemate Little Bruce who would then lead. However, from absolutely nowhere, and - having been tailed off - a rallying Skipthescales was flying home.

Things did not look promising halfway through the race for Skipthescales and Adam Nicol

No chance? Skipthescales appeared well beaten

As the race unfolds Skipthescales is nowhere to be seen

But incredibly, a rallying Skipthescales and Nicol charge home after the final fence

The transformation is complete as the pair cross the line comfortably clear

He was storming up the straight and a bold jump over the last powered him into contention and he overtook Little Bruce with so much in hand Nicol was even able to ease him down for a two-length victory.

The in-running comment

Not fluent, prominent, lost place before 6th, outpaced before 14th, driven and plenty to do after 5 out, good headway before 2 out, led last 50yds, snugly in end

What they say

Phil Kirby, trainer
They both went there with chances but Skip never went a yard all the way around. He was starting to get a bit lazy in his races and I'd have said 90 per cent of the time you'd just pull him up. He made some sloppy jumps and Adam said he didn't pull him up as it was more of a schooling exercise – he was jumping awful and we wanted to see him jump better before we got him home.

Then he locked on, winged one and next thing you know he got going. I was watching Little Bruce thinking he was going to win then all of a sudden he appeared. Once he did get going you always thought he was getting there, and he won fairly cosily as crazy as that sounds. They hadn't gone too fast and he hadn't done a stroke, and he just went. It was a great result but not what we were expecting watching it.

What happened next

That victory would prove to be the latest of Skipthescales's five wins and he has since moved to Susan Corbett's yard from where he continues to race. He is back over hurdles and is 10lb below his Newcastle-winning mark.

The stablemate he beat, Little Bruce, would go on to be a big force as a staying chaser winning the Cambridgeshire and North Yorkshire Nationals.

More from our Wacky Races series:

'He was away in the trees' – reliving The Lion Dancer's Towcester detour

'He'll never recover from that!' – the heroics of Killultagh Vic and Ruby Walsh

'He turned out to be rather like me, good looking but of very limited ability'

The unforgettable slow-motion duel that lit up Sandown on a winter's day

'I had a lot underneath me then, all of a sudden, I was causing carnage'

'Who wants to be known as the most unlucky punter? It finished me off'

'One second he was going to win – the next he was heading to the street'

'I got a barrage of abuse' – George Baker relives Cotai Glory's moment of mayhem