Join

Bookmakers divided over refunds after Hamilton favourite gets stuck in stalls

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023

Watch what happened to joint-favourite Weekend Offender at the start of the feature race at Hamilton and listen to what Tom Eaves said afterwards

By Oliver Brett

Bookmakers were divided over refunding punters who had backed Weekend Offender in the feature race at Hamilton on Tuesday after the 4-1 joint favourite was pulled up after getting its leg stuck in the stalls and stumbling out of them with a blindfold still on.

Tom Eaves, who was riding the Kevin Ryan-trained four-year-old, desperately tried to indicate to starter Jason Callaghan that his mount was not settled and had a foot on the running board, but he was not heard and the gates flew open.

Thankfully, Weekend Offender was unscathed but Eaves had no option but to swiftly pull up. Hibou, a 16-1 chance, went on to win.

Eaves told Racing UK afterwards: "I was shouting at the starter [Jason Callaghan] but he didn't hear me. It's just unfortunate, one of them things.

“There were a few horses messing around. There's no badness in him, he just wriggles around a bit in there and just as the last one came in he got his foot on the running board on the side and you can't jump then, you can't do anything then.

"Jason's gutted and the stall lad at the back was shouting as well. I'm gutted for the owners [Matt and Lauren Morgan], they're good owners for the yard and friends but the horse is OK and that's the main thing. It was a race we thought we could win but we live to fight another day."

Bet Victor refunded all bets on Weekend Offender, while Paddy Power and 188Bet were among those to reveal they would be refunding singles, but punters complained on social media that not every layer was following suit.

Betfair Sportsbook, Betfred, Coral, Ladbrokes and William Hill were among those who did not refund bets, stating that wagers on Weekend Offender would be settled as losing bets as the horse came under starters’ orders.

Last month, Just Marion, a five-year-old mare trained by Clare Ellam, got loose while still blindfolded at Brighton and subsequently died of injuries she sustained when running into a rail.

Elsewhere on the Hamilton card, James Sullivan was banned for seven days (July 18-24 inclusive) after he was found guilty of careless riding aboard third-placed Ahundrednotout in the Ferniegair Handicap.