Dramatic late stumble costs horse victory at Sandown and punters lose £40,000 after backing it at 1-100 in-running

PUNTERS were left with burnt fingers are Whistledown’s agonising defeat at Sandown on Sunday.

The two-year-old filly looked to have the 5f race in the bag under 7lb claimer Rose Dawes.

But with the race at her mercy she took a false step and stumbled, gifting the race to Amazonian Dream (5-2f) by a nose in a photo finish.

The Mick Channon-trained sprinter traded at the minimum 1.01 (1-100) in-running on Betfair.

More than £40,000 was placed on her to win at those odds – while some lucky punters managed to get £124 on the eventual winner at 100-1.

ITV Racing presenters thought the 7-1 shot had jinked at the line and thrown the race away.

But after reviewing the footage, it was clear the filly had lost her back legs at a crucial point and lost all momentum.

Dawes was thrown up the horse’s neck and did well to stay in the saddle – but she was frustrated after the race.

The jockey said: “I thought she’d held on and I don’t know if she got her foot stuck in a hole.

“She’s just ended up stumbling a bit and it’s cost her. I’m livid because she’d have won easy otherwise. It’s so unfortunate.”

There were plenty of punters who were left stung by the result.

But they also expressed their sympathy for young jockey Dawes on social media.

One said: “I was on Whistledown looked home for all money unfortunately you don’t collect until the cross the line, feel for the jockey.”

Another added: “Looked like the horse tried to jump the track marking. She did well to stay on there.”

While another said: “Incredible how Rose Dawes managed to stay aboard as Whistledown linked in the shadow of the post. Very hard luck.”

The on-course stewards’ report noted that Whistledown: “Appeared to become severely unbalanced shortly before the line, nearly unseating Dawes”.

Vets checked the horse over after the race but their examination of the filly failed to reveal any abnormalities.

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