JUST CHAMPION SKELTON AND NICHOLLS CROWNED, BUT STEWARDS HALT A ‘HAT-TRICK’
PAUL NICHOLLS and Harry Skelton were crowned champions on the final day of the National Hunt season.
But the day proved bittersweet as they had the bet365 Gold Cup snatched from their grasp by the Sandown Park stewards.
As the 2020-21 season reached its conclusion, Nicholls celebrated a 12th trainers’ title, while Skelton was crowned leading rider for the very first time.
The pair combined with 7-2 favourite Enrilo, who passed the post with a three-quarter-length lead in the feature handicap chase which began life as the Whitbread Gold Cup – only to be relegated to third for bumping the fast-finishing Kitty’s Light on the climb to the line.
Kitty’s Light, originally third, was put up to second by officials, with Potterman – the Tom Cannonridden 12-1 shot who avoided the scrimmaging altogether – awarded the £64,710.50 first prize.
Skelton, who had spoken earlier of realising “a childhood dream” in landing his first jockeys’ title – Danny Mcmenamin ended the term as champion conditional – was reluctant to offer a view on whether Enrilo, placed behind the horse he hampered, should have kept the race.
While Kitty’s
Light was “the best horse in the race” according to his handler, Christian Williams, Nicholls will today decide on whether to challenge the outcome.
“He certainly wasn’t tired at the end,” claimed Nicholls. “Mine is a big, green horse and, when they came to him, away he went.”
Nicholls had the ample compensation of success for Greaneteen and Frodon, on whom Bryony Frost sprang back into the big-race limelight, before Scaramanga completed a threesome for the Ditcheat stable when landing the concluding bet365 Handicap Hurdle.
Frost, who returned to action on Thursday after suffering “a kick in the head” when unseated from
Yala Enki in the Grand National, drove old ally Frodon to a neck margin in the Grade 2 bet365 Oaksey Chase before Greaneteen denied Altior a fourth triumph in the top-level bet365 Celebration Chase.
Frost, (left) who turned 26 three days after Aintree, admitted: “My birthday was a pretty gloomy one – in my bedroom with the curtains shut.
“But you’ve only got one head and you have to look after it – and make sure you come back 100 per cent to make it count on the big days.”
ASH HANDLEY has warned Leeds to take a harsh look at themselves after slumping to a fourth successive defeat.
The winger claims Friday’s 26-6 loss at Hull KR was “shocking” and admits tomorrow’s review session could be brutal.
He said: “It was quite embarrassing. We were absolutely shocking in the first 15 minutes, all over the place and we could not claw it back.
“We are going to have to sit in review and point some fingers and be accountable.”
BEVAN FRENCH is happy to play second fiddle at Wigan to Zak Hardaker – for now.
England’s World Cup hopeful Hardaker has been sensational at fullback, in French’s absence.
Coach Adrian Lam was so impressed that he kept Hardaker there and put French (below) on the wing for his return in the 22-12 win over Castleford. But French, who scored two tries, said: “Zak has been killing it. I’m happy to fill in wherever as long as we get the win.”