BLOWN OUT!
Storm misses big race after phone howler
TRAINER Nigel Twiston-Davies has said a mis-heard telephone message between himself and his secretary led to the accidental withdrawal of favourite Riders Onthe Storm from this afternoon’s Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
The 4-1 ante-post market leader was officially pulled out of the £130,000 steeplechase at 8.59am yesterday and, despite frantic calls to the BHA minutes later, the rules meant he could not be reinstated. Twiston-Davies said his secretary had acted in error after he called her on his mobile phone with instructions to withdraw Rocco, an entry at Bangor yesterday.
The trainer explained: ‘ In the wind, I was ringing my secretary but she mis-heard and took out Riders Onthe Storm. We knew straight away and we rang the BHA and they said there was nothing they could do. Perhaps there should be a bit more flexibility. Mistakes shouldn’t happen but they do. She just pressed the wrong button and was in floods of tears and I don’t think she will recover for a long time. The owners, Carl Hinchy and Mark Scott, have been absolutely brilliant. Screaming and shouting is not going to make it any better.’
Bookmakers across the industry said they would be refunding ante- post bets on Riders Onthe Storm.
Explaining why there was no way to restore Riders Onthe Storm to the race, the BHA said: ‘ Once a horse is declared a non- runner a notification is immediately published on the BHA website and racing admin site and distributed to data feeds including betting markets.
‘Reversing a non-runner after it has been notified can lead to significant confusion and that is why it is written into the rules of racing that a non-runner declaration cannot be withdrawn.’
Twiston-Davies enjoyed some comfort when Cogry, ridden by his son Sam, landed the BetVictor Handicap Chase at Cheltenham yesterday.
Nicky Henderson, who will re-introduce Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills in the International Hurdle this afternoon, was successful with Chantry House and Pym.
Henderson will make a decision this weekend on whether Altior will take on Cyrname in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.