Fundamentalist loses unbeaten record
Saturday, 27 November 2004Fundamentalist dramatically lost his unbeaten record over fences at the hands of Vodka Bleu in the Stan James Fulke Walwyn Novices' Chase.
Sent off a 1-3 favourite in the Grade Two contest, Fundamentalist compromised his chance by consistently jumping left.
This was reported to the stewards by his jockey Carl Llewellyn after Timmy Murphy had pounced on the run-in on Vodka Bleu, thereby completing a double for himself and Martin Pipe.
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies was disconsolate when Fundamentalist returned to the unsaddling enclosure.
He said: "It's a hell of a shame to lose a race like that. It was one mistake at the last that got us beat."
"He was a bit free and has been beaten in a tactical race by a very clever ride, but if we'd been able to sit alongside Vodka Bleu I'm sure we would have won as we liked."
Filed by Katie Byrne
