Cheltenham Cross Country Racing made a spectacular return to the stadium on Friday.
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase was cancelled due to poor field conditions at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
So there were huge crowds at the center of the track when the track reopened for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap for the first time this season.
Runners had to jump over 32 obstacles around a tightly angled course made up of various fences, pits, embankments and jumps, making it difficult to navigate.
Friday’s race saw jockey Michael Nolan looking to go all out in the 3m 5½f race and things went well with the pair holding a clear lead with just three jumps to go.
However, Tommy Beau left the running track after jumping the third to last hurdle, went off the track and was eliminated from the race.
The drama did not end there as jockey Felix de Gilles kicked the rail as the field approached the sharp left-hand bend where it joins the Old Road.
The rail then slipped from its grasp, the end catching the rider as he turned left, and the barrier fell behind them.
Despite this, Giles and Sweet David, trained by Gabrielle Leenders in France, survived to take home the £18,000 first prize.
Sweet David, who was riding just behind Tommy Boe, almost followed the leader off the track.
De Gilles told ITV Racing: “He went slightly left so it was really good that the horse didn’t follow him when he ran left. I was lucky to see him early and get to the right side of the rail in time.
“There was a protruding part of the rail, so I brushed it and took it with me and I’m fine.”
Nolan later said that Tommy Beau jumped off the track and couldn’t stop him in time.
Despite this, the Cheltenham stewards suspended the jockey for 12 days “for going the wrong way, going the wrong side of the track and stopping.”
“I was up front and got a good ride from him and he loved it,” Nolan said.”
Finally as I crossed the canal bend I turned to the inside to save ground and as I crossed the last fence where the rail went into the V he dived left with me. It was very sad.
“Once he got there with me, I couldn’t take him back.”
