Maguire loses out on winner - twice

It was a bad day at the office for jockey Adrian Maguire at Fakenham yesterday when, after losing a race in the stewards' room, he sprained his wrist and was forced to give up his last two rides, one of which turned out to be a winner.

Maguire was on board Royal Castle in the Marie Curie Research Novices' Hurdle and it looked as though the pair had provided Newmarket trainer Mark Tompkins with a rare success this season when they came home first, in front of Errigal.

But the stewards thought otherwise and after holding an enquiry, reversed placings between the first and second after ruling the winner had accidentally interfered with the runner-up in the straight.

The decision to award the race to David Nicholson's charge was made on the basis that the interference made the difference, with only a head between the combatants at the finish.

Errigal, whose victory instigated a double for trainer Nicholson, is owned by the newly-formed Ford Associated Racing Team and Nicholson's assistant Alan King said: "He's a fun little horse for them."

Nicholson's double was completed by Supreme Day, a chance ride for Johnny Kavanagh following the Maguire defection, who landed the Marie Curie Cancer Care Maiden Hurdle.

Never far off the pace, Supreme Day powered home to deny Lucky Master by two-and-a-half lengths at the end of a tough extended two miles seven furlongs.

Earlier, Country Star earned an entry to the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival after getting the better of Northern Saddler on the extended run-in which was caused by the omission of the final hurdle due to the low sun.

Balladur was a rare Fakenham runner for Jenny Pitman and he obliged with an eight-length success over Memsahib Ofesteem in the opening Marie Curie Nurses Handicap Hurdle.

Danger Flynn was a fortunate winner of the Marie Curie Golden Daffodil Novices Chase, looking set for the runners-up spot until leader Salmon Breeze unseated Mick Fitzgerald at the last.

Tuckers Town came to Fakenham mainly to keep stablemate mate Dragon Lord company before his bid to land the novices' hurdle. As it turned out Dragon Lord had to settle for third behind Errigal while Tuckers Town took the Marie Curie Cancer Awareness Novices Handicap Chase.