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Cheltenham cross-country row17th November 2008
Cheltenham racecourse officials have promised to clarify the route that must be taken by runners in future cross-country races after Irish jockey Davy Russell cut a corner on his way to victory on Dix Villez in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on Friday at the Cheltenham November Open Meeting.
The race is one of a series of five major Cross Country Steeplechases sponsored by Glenfarclas this season which conclude with the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Russell steered his mount inside some laurel bushes after jumping the 22nd fence in the 3m7f steeplechase and was rewarded with a three-length victory on the Paul Nolan-trained nine-year-old, but the move has proved controversial.
Russell had gained the all-clear from the stewards before the race to carry out this manoeuvre, ascertaining that the waist-high bushes he steered past are not official course markers.
Former champion jockey Peter Scudamore praised Russell's smart move but called for racecourse officials to make the laurel bushes official markers: "Either the bushes must be removed or become the official markers, otherwise the credibility of the race will be undermined."However, moves are already afoot at Cheltenham to ensure that the racing line in future cross-country chases is clear to both jockeys and punters. Simon Claisse, Cheltenham's clerk of the course said: "What is unacceptable is that the viewing public is unaware during a race about what is the correct course.
"We will do everything to make it clear to everyone what is the actual racecourse and, though this will now be under review, my recommendation will be that we insert an extra "C" (to indicate the chase course) marker that will prevent the manoeuvre that was made off the racing line."
The concluding race of the Glenfarclas Cross Country series this season takes place on the opening day of the 2009 Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday 10 March.
The Cross-Country Chase is a relatively new addition to the Festival but is already firmly established as a crowd favourite, taking racing back to its roots with a selection of natural and man made obstacles incorporating banks, ditches, hedges, water and timber rails.
Last year's winner at the Festival, Garde Champetre, finished second to Dix Villez on Friday and is sure to go close again in March given trainer Enda Bolger's domination of this type of event (he has trained the winner in three out of the four renewals of the Cross Country Chase at the Festival).
Shortcut - Davy Russell and Dix Villez on their way to victory last Friday