Login
WATCH FREE
Cheltenham announce rails review after horses run out in closing stages of two races
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Thu 21 Dec 2023
Officials at Cheltenham called an immediate review after two horses ran out in the closing stages during the track’s opening meeting on Friday.
The configuration of the course at Prestbury Park means that after the runners jump the final fence, tape is put across a section of the track to doll off the run-in from the rest of the course.
There was first drama in the squareintheair.com Novices’ Chase as the Dan Skelton-trained One For Billy was challenging eventual winner Diakali when he ran out through the tape.
naas
video unavailable
Watch One Fo Billy run out in the second race on the card
Ironically, it was Skelton who profited later in the afternoon with Sam Red.
Irish raider Oighear Dubh looked to have victory sewn up in the hands of Michael O’Sullivan, riding for his father Eugene, when the grey ducked out through the tape, and Sam Red charged home to claim an unlikely victory.
A similar incident occurred in the Foxhunter Chase at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival when Oscar Delta jinked left and unseated his rider Jane Mangan, allowing Salsify to win the race for a second time.
Clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: “We will be out there with the senior inspector of the courses from the British Horseracing Authority either later this evening or first thing tomorrow morning.
ffos-las
video unavailable
Irish raider Oighear Dubh ran out in the sixth race with the race at his mercy
“It takes two minutes to get a fixed rail up and big pins in the ground. That is why when we reviewed it after Miss Mangan’s incident in the Foxhunter a couple of years ago, we didn’t come up with a solution that involved putting a fixed rail in there.
“We straightened out the plastic running rail and then put the tape on so that the place where the horse went round the turn before, we moved it further forward and that is what we have done here as well.
“To have had two incidents like that in a day, when historically we have only had two in the last 30 years, we have to review it.”
Skelton believes the problem needs to be rectified as soon as possible.
He said: “The rail is the correct height, the tape is the wrong height. Our horse (One For Billy) did nothing wrong – he followed the rail. The jockeys are unfortunate pilots in those situations.
“Something has to happen as two in a day is not a coincidence. I know something will happen as they are a top-class team here.
“It is unfortunate that it happened twice in a day and it is unfortunate for racing it has happened at Cheltenham and everyone gets to see it.
“That’s racing. We all have trials and tribulations. We all support the industry and we will all get through it.
“There was no proper accidents because of it and everyone is safe.”
Related posts
Tuesday tips: Dave Nevison has three best bets
Derby stride data: a 12-1 chance who fits the bill
The Derby: Ballydoyle 109 Club has two more candidates
RaceiQ: essential guide to all the Derby data
Italian Derby: watch today on Racing TV, plus a tip
Featured offers
Get up to a £25 Bonus + 50 free spins with Genting
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Get a £50 free bet when you bet £50 with Coral
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with TalkSportBet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets + Money back 2nd to SP fav with BOYLE Sports
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved