Fontwell chaos as winner crashes through rails after favourite's dramatic unseat

Saturday: Fontwell

The opening 2m3f handicap hurdle started and ended in dramatic fashion, with both market leaders caught up in separate bizarre incidents.

The 5-4 favourite Garincha ducked sharply right on a pair of occasions, first on the run to the first hurdle although rider Tom Buckley was able to get the Neil Mulholland-trained six-year-old under control on that occasion.

However, as the field came back round for their second circuit with Garincha in the lead, the favourite again veered suddenly to his right and Buckley was unable to perform similar heroics.

The finish was fought out between Warranty and the Olly Murphy-trained Notre Pari, who scuttled up the stands' rail to score, before crashing through railings just strides after the line.

The rails, that were moved three yards out from the innermost line on the top bend, left winning rider Lewis Stones with little room to manoeuvre after crossing the line.

Watch the replay of a bizarre race here

Notre Pari, owned by JP McManus, was left winded after the incident while Stones was able to walk away from the dramatic conclusion to the race.

Murphy said: "The horses don't look to have an awful lot of room on the inside from what I saw on the TV – thank God my horse is okay.

"It's great for our lad to get his head back in front, he has plenty of ability, and it's a great winner for Lewis Stones in those famous colours."

After the race the stewards noted Stones' explanation that his mount had hung right up the home straight and in a driving finish he was unaware of his proximity to the rail.

Clerk of the Course Philip Hide said: "I don't want to criticise the jockey at all, we've all been there and know these things can happen.

"It was an area I needed to give some recovery time and it was agreed with Peter Hobbs [BHA inspector of courses] that the measures would protect that bit of ground.

"It's not the first time we've done it and I didn't put up a load of rail for the sake of it, it was there to protect an area of the track we need in the future."

On the aftermath, Hide added: "The senior jockeys who have ridden subsequently and looked at the rails after the incident were all perfectly happy to keep it in place."

How the race unfolded

Shortly after the start, the well-backed favourite Garincha dives suddenly to his rightCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Jockey Tom Buckley is able to get Garincha back on an even keel and they were able to clear the first hurdle safelyCredit: Sky Sports Racing

However, as the field comes back around to the same spot, Garincha again veers wildly to his right when leadingCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Tom Buckley tries desperately to hang on as favourite Garincha (left) continues to duck rightCredit: Sky Sports Racing

But his efforts are in vain as horse gets the better of human and he slips off and out of the raceCredit: Sky Sports Racing

The drama was not over there. Just moments after the winner Notre Pari (near side) crosses the line in front, he crashed through a rail which had been moved just yards after the finish line. Horse and jockey were both ok.Credit: Sky Sports Racing

In-running comments

Garincha:Led, ducked sharply right before 1st, ducked sharply right and unseated rider before 5th (op 9-4 tchd 5-2)

Notre Pari:Jumped right on occasions, held up in behind leaders, left in modest second 5th, pushed along and headway before 2 out, ridden and made challenge run-in, kept on well to lead towards finish, crashed through rails after finish (op 6-4)

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