‘Absolutely dismal viewing’ – horse wins £40,000 in ’embarrassing’ walkover as all other runners pulled out of ITV race
CAPTAIN TEAGUE pocketed £20,000 for a walkover in the £40,000 novice chase at Exeter after every other runner was withdrawn due to quick ground.
The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old, who won the Challow Hurdle last year, was all set to make his chasing debut.
But all Harry Cobden’s mount had to do in order to ‘win the race’ was gallop from the furlong marker to the winning line.
Dan Skelton declared Deafening Silence a non runner due to not wanting to risk injury on the ground.
And Sue Gardner’s Daring Plan was also taken out after the second race at 1.15pm, leaving just the one horse.
Dan Skelton said: “It’s highly frustrating for everybody. It’s highly frustrating for the industry. I’m sure there are going to be lots of comments about how embarrassing it all is.
“But unfortunately, you can’t be embarrassed about this at this point because I can only do the right thing. It is driven into us from every angle about welfare.
“All of this ‘oh it’s embarrassing stuff’ it would be much more embarrassing if we were running horses and they were getting injured.
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“I think if commentators could please bear with us that we’re making the right calls. It will change – it’s the UK, it will rain and when it does it probably won’t shop.
“I wish I could run them.
“It’s the ground. But It’s not like the clerks have made an incorrect call. It’s not like they have overwatered. It’s just the weather. There’s no fault whatsoever.”
Punters were not happy either.
Another simply added: “Joke.”
While one said: “A nonsense. I get horses prefer ground but they’re way too pampered these days.”
And one added: “Absolutely dismal viewing.”
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