Minnie madness hands race to Imperial Saint as Twiston-Davies horse runs out at final fence in novice handicap

Jockey Tom Bellamy said he was "gutted" after his mount Moveit Like Minnie ran out at the final fence in a dramatic incident that handed victory to Imperial Saint.

Moveit Like Minnie, who showed no sign of his errant ways as he powered through the 2m novice handicap chase, was slightly ahead of Imperial Saint approaching the last, but veered violently to his right and unshipped the rider.

"I'm gutted and it's annoying," said Bellamy. "Maybe it was because he was in front, but he just ran out. He didn't give me much warning. 

"I felt I had the winner covered, but I'm not going to say I definitely would have won because nobody knows. For the horse to do what he did probably means he had plenty left in the tank."

Both horse and jockey were okay after the mishap, although Bellamy was stood down from his remaining ride.

Moveit Like Minnie hit a low of 1.59 in running, but Imperial Saint's rider Micheal Nolan believed the race was not a foregone conclusion.

"I didn't see what happened to the other horse, but I felt I was just getting back on top coming to the last," he said. "I was very comfortable the whole way and he jumped really well."    

The winner, who is trained by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, races for the stable's former jockey Richard Johnson, who has four horses in his syndicate.

The former four-time champion rider said: "It was fantastic. He's a horse who we started the racing syndicate with last year and he won a couple of novice hurdles. To come here and win first time [over fences] is great." 

Is Kamsinas another Crambo?

Kamsinas will follow the path of Crambo after emulating his stablemate by winning the 2m4f handicap hurdle for trainer Fergal O'Brien.

The seven-year-old, owned by the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate, is set to go for the valuable stayers' handicap hurdle at Haydock next month, a race in which Crambo finished an unlucky third before going on to win the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Kamsinas leads the way en route to winning the 2m4f handicap hurdleCredit: John Grossick

O'Brien, who was winning this race for the third year in a row, said: "We'll probably go the same route as Crambo last year and go to Haydock now. 

"We stepped him up in trip all last year and he danced every dance and turned up nearly every day. He's a lovely horse who's so straightforward and has amazing will to win."

Hat-trick for Hijack

Skyjack Hijack, the first winner to successfully negotiate the track's new padded hurdles, is set for a quick turnaround after bringing up his hat-trick in the conditional jockeys' handicap.

The Jennie Candlish-trained six-year-old romped home by 16 lengths under Bill Shanahan and is in line to take up his entry at Newcastle on Thursday.

"He'll go there without penalty and it's definitely on the radar," said assistant trainer Alan O'Keeffe. "He seems fine coming back in so hopefully he'll be okay to run again."

Track first for Gingell

Freddie Gingell, who finished second in the Old Roan Chase on Hitman, gained his first winner at the course when the rejuvenated Copperhead also won his third race in a row in the veterans' handicap chase.

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.