RACING: Jockey J P McNamara, suspended for seven days at Ludlow on Sunday, made the news again at Fontwell yesterday when he rode Colonel Frank to victory without stirrups in the Brighton and Hove Life Magazine Novices' Hurdle.
The 23-year-old Irishman made all the running on Brendan Powell's gelding and held on by a short head to score from Paul Nicholls-trained Desmond Tutu.
After his uncomfortable ride, McNamara said: "After a circuit I looked down and saw my left leg getting longer as the stirrup leather on that side had broken.
"He seemed to take off when he got frightened by the things happening down the back, where I just held onto him for dear life.
"I wasn't really enjoying it and held onto his mane and prayed."
Colonel Frank was thought by many onlookers to have been caught on the post but after a long perusal of the photo-finish print, he was called the winner.
On hearing the result, McNamara said: "That's a great relief after the Ludlow business."
However, Nicholls thought Desmond Tutu had got up or at least dead-heated after seeing a recording of the end of the race.
At Ludlow, Powell was fined £1,100 and McNamara suspended over the running and riding of Tarboush, who finished third in the two-mile maiden hurdle. The horse was banned from racing for 40 days.
McNamara said: "I think the guv'nor should appeal about that as Tarboush was still keen turning for home and ran on in the closing stages."
Meanwhile, Newmarket trainer Alec Stewart has snapped up champion jockey Kieren Fallon for Selective in the Freephone Stanley Lincoln at Doncaster on Saturday.
Selective is one of three entries for Stewart in the £100,000 handicap with Colisay (Richard Quinn) and Island Light (Royston Ffrench) also set to represent Clarehaven Stables on Town Moor.
"I don't know which is the pick. They are three consistent handicappers and all will run off higher marks than they have won off before because they all ran well at the backend of last year, so who knows? said Stewart yesterday.
Truckers Tavern and Harbour Pilot will race off their old handicap mark of 152 if they run in the attheraces Gold Cup at Sandown next month. The two horses finished second and third respectively behind Best Mate in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, separated by two-and-a-half lengths.
As a result of Thursday's race, British Horseracing Board handicapper Phil Smith has raised Truckers Tavern to 162 and put Harbour Pilot on a mark 2lb lower.
In the weights published yesterday for the attheraces Gold Cup, they have both been allotted 10st 13lb in the April 26th contest which carries a total prize fund of £150,000, with See More Business heading the handicap on 11st 12lb.
The list of entries includes Cheltenham Festival winner Youlneverwalkalone (10st 3lb).
