'It's completely okay for them to withdraw' - slipping on bends leads to walkover winner for Olly Murphy

Quick ground and reports of slipping resulted in a walkover for Kilbarry Hill in the 2m3½f novice hurdle. 

Conditions were good, good to firm in places at the North Yorkshire track and an inspection was called after the Brian Ellison-trained Captain Potter slipped up in the opening contest, won by You Some Girl 

A contingent of trainers, jockeys and racecourse staff agreed to continue racing after sand was applied to the entrances and exits of the bends. However, in the fourth race, the 2m3f handicap chase, winner Duke Of Luckley also slipped entering the home bend. 

Five runners were due to contest the following race but only the Olly Murphy-trained Kilbarry Hill entered the paddock, with three of the four non-runners ruled out due to going. 

Chief steward Michael Eyre told Racing TV: "After race one we had an inspection due to the fall of the mount of Tom Midgley on the bend turning in. It's normal practise after any inspection that there's no fines and it's absolutely fine if a trainer withdraws on the day. 

"An amount of sand was applied to the bend and we've continually viewed the affected area and spoken to senior jockeys, but obviously if a trainer has their horse on track, they walk the course and if in their opinion they're not happy with ground conditions, it's completely okay for them to withdraw."

Kilbarry Hill, who cantered across the line under Beau Morgan, is entered at Kempton on Monday. 

In-form team

Rebecca Menzies's fine season continued when Imperial Rule sealed a double for the yard in the 2m3f novice handicap chase. 

The seven-year-old became the trainer's fourth winner from her last five jumps runners and was the second horse to carry the late John Wade silks to victory after You Some Girl's strike in the opening conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle.

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