The highs and lows of horse-racing.
One minute, Jamie Moore and Goshen were striding clear up Cleeve Hill, ready to soak in a famous Triumph Hurdle victory, having obliterated their rivals with a breath-taking performance.
The next, jockey was on the floor and the riderless horse had stopped to a canter up the run in. Connections and owners had been jumping around in wild scenes of celebration moments earlier, now, they were left to kick their hats around the parade ring and rue the bad luck that had cost them.
Above all else, you’d have to feel for Jamie Moore.
Riding for his father Gary, the 35-year-old had ridden the perfect race around Pretsbury Park with his gifted young horse giving him the ride of a lifetime. But then, with about 15 lengths to spare and with one hurdle to jump, the horse just refused to jump when the jockey asked for it and Moore was left on the floor.
Willie Mullins’ 14/1 outsider Burning Victory then stormed up the Hill to take the win, but even the Closutton handler will admit he got away with one here.
Heartbreaking for Jamie Moore and all Goshen's connectionspic.twitter.com/9ai7bey9NY
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 13, 2020
In hindsight, Moore may have been better off allowing the horse to slow down and pop the hurdle but he hadn’t known how far clear he was.
Afterwards, the life had been sucked out of the parade ring as figures like AP McCoy and the horses’ owners flocked to pick up a disconsolate Jamie Moore.
Jamie Moore walks back towards the weighing room unscathed @CheltenhamRaces #Goshen #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/Ae3TveHU5r
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 13, 2020
“‘He didn’t realise he was as far clear as he was, that’s sport for you,” said the horse’s sporting owner, Steven Packham.
The Champ on and off the racecourse 🙌#ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/dQYVHBASUk
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 13, 2020
