Scudamore left with black eye after being hit by stray golf ball
TOM SCUDAMORE had a lucky escape ahead of his record- equalling win on Cloth Cap i n Saturday’s ladbrokes Trophy Chase at newbury after being struck in the face by a golf ball on his previous ride.
newbury has a golf course in the centre of the track and Scudamore, r i ding runner- up One For The Team in the John Francome novices’ Chase, said the ball appeared to have been kicked back as he tracked front-running Kalooki.
The jockey said: ‘ I was pretty lucky where it hit me just below the eye. It has only affected my really good looks rather than my vision! I have a bit of a black eye but otherwise I’m fine.
‘I can laugh about it now but if it had cost me the winning ride in the ladbrokes Trophy I would not have been happy. Many tracks have golf courses i n the middle of them, you will see the odd golf ball that has strayed from time to time.’
Keith Ottesen, clerk of the course at newbury, said: ‘The grounds team and I go to great lengths to prepare the track ahead of racing to
ensure the safety of all the horses and jockeys.
‘ It was brought to our attention after the second race that a buried golf ball had kicked back on Tom and subsequently we conducted a further sweep of the course but found nothing.’
DUAL Cheltenham Festival winner Envoi Allen made it ten wins from ten starts with an eight-anda-half-length win in the Grade One Drinmore novices’ Chase at Fairyhouse for trainer Gordon Elliott. Rachael Blackmore-ridden Honeysuckle made it nine races unbeaten by winning a second Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.