'We had to cut him out of the ditch' - trainer explains bizarre Uttoxeter delay

Alastair Ralph has praised the staff at Uttoxeter after the trainer's Butler's Brief was brought home safely from an incident which caused an almost two-hour delay to racing on Thursday night.

After falling at the fourth-last fence in the 3m novice handicap chase, Butler's Brief ran loose to the third-last, fell into it and became wedged in the fence.

Vets were required to sedate the seven-year-old in order to cut him out safely, meaning the third race, which had been due off at 6.35pm, was delayed while he was safely removed and transported away from the ditch. The race did not get under way until 8.20pm.

Officials initially planned to stage four of the five remaining races with the closing bumper abandoned but after Al Roc won the severely delayed 2m4f handicap chase, the penultimate 2m4f handicap hurdle was also shelved with time and daylight running out.

Ralph said: "Butler's Brief is fine this morning. He's gone out in the paddock, obviously a bit stiff but he's okay.

"After his fall at the previous ditch, I think he sort of dazed himself. He went to the next fence trotting half-dazed, not concentrating and stopped, fell sideways into the ditch and got wedged into it.

"We couldn't get him out, so he went under general anaesthetic to knock him out. We had to cut him out of the ditch; I don't think anyone's seen that before.

Butler's Brief: home safe after becoming wedged in a fence at Uttoxeter on Thursday eveningCredit: David Davies (Getty Images)

Ralph was full of praise for the veterinary staff at the course who got Butler's Brief home safely.

"The vets were absolutely unbelievable, they were very well organised," Ralph added. "The whole track was very well organised, we got him out but he just took so long to wake up from the general anaesthetic. He's got a big hangover this morning from the general anaesthetic, but he's fine."

Arena Racing Company head of communications and public affairs, Sam Cone, praised the staff and explained why the delay was so long.

"It was a real team effort to try and help the horse and get him out of the situation he was in and get him home safely which is what they managed to achieve.

"It was a really unusual situation. When you're dealing with horses obviously you have to be as careful as possible not to hurt them as well as keep the staff safe who are trying to help the horse as well."

On Thursday afternoon Uttoxeter released a statement that informed connections of affected runners, jockeys, on-course bookmakers and racegoers of compensation due to the abandoned races.

It read: "For the inconvenience that the delay and race abandonment caused, connections of all horses that were due to run in the last two races will receive compensation, along with any jockey that did otherwise not get to ride.

"Customers who booked in advance will receive an email today with an offer of a complimentary ticket to a future fixture at Uttoxeter Racecourse and all on-course bookmakers standing last night will receive a pro rata refund for the abandoned races."

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