WATCH: Horse throws away victory by stopping on run-in at Sandown Park

By Sporting Life

16:07 · SAT April 29, 2023

Harper's Brook snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in remarkable circumstances at Sandown Park on Saturday.

The Ben Pauling-trained runner, sent off the popular 7/2 joint-favourite in the hands of jockey Kielan Woods, came from the back of the field to lay down what looked sure to be a winning move at the last fence.

However, on the final climb to the line in the 2m4f bet365 Josh Gifford Novices' Handicap Chase Harper's Brook had other ideas and started to pull himself up in front.

Woods did his best to galvanise the horse as the astonished crowds looked on on the final day of the jumps season, but Gloire D'athon - a 14/1 selection in our popular Value Bet column - found a second win for Aidan Coleman and came to grab a fourth victory of the campaign.

Harper's Brook was matched at 1.01 (1/100) on the Bretfair Exchange to the tune of £13,754, while the Gloire D'athon traded at the maximum in-running price of 1000 (999/1).

WATCH: Harper's Brook throws away victory on Sandown run-in

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Jockey takes responsibility

Kielan Woods, rider of eventual runner-up Harper’s Brook, said: “I just got to the front too soon. It’s my fault, I did it at Carlisle one day as well.

"I hit the front too soon and he pulled up to a trot. He’d follow any horse for as long as you’d want him to and it won’t happen again."

Ben Pauling, trainer of Harper’s Brook, said: “I’m not into slating jockeys but the horse has done it before and we know what he does. If you jump to the front two out and go to the last in front he literally pulls himself up.

"He’s not one who waits for other horses, when he decides he’s had enough that’s it. He’s not tired, he’s just a monkey. He’s a nightmare because you have to deliver him so late but he’s got the ability to do that. It’s disappointing he got beat because he shouldn’t have been."

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