THIS is the moment ‘absolute chaos’ unfolded at Newcastle as a loose horse caused ‘mayhem’.
The carnage started at the very first obstacle as Paddy Brennan’s horse Not So Sleepy jinked to the right in the Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle.
The 22-1 shot had been leading approaching the hurdle but came to a virtual standstill, sending the jockey flying to the turf.
TV cameras showed Brennan, who is believed to be OK and, at the time of writing, still booked on rides for Sunday, on his bum at the bottom of the flight.
But the drama did not stop there as Not So Sleepy then started running dangerously close to new leader Silver Streak.
And sure enough Not So Sleepy then veered sharply to its side once more and into Tom O’Brien’s 6-1 shot.
With Silver Streak left with no room and nowhere to go O’Brien had to pull the Evan Williams-trained horse away from the second jump.
The dramatic scenes occurred between the first two obstacles – a space of around just 180 yards – of the two mile race.
One stunned viewer tweeted: “Absolute chaos at Newcastle thanks to Not So Sleepy.
“Very unlucky all connected with Silver Streak forced off the track.”
Another commented: “Mayhem at Newcastle. Poor Silver Streak taken out by Not So Sleepy who is still gallivanting about all over the shop.”
A fellow user said: “Super eventful #FightingFifth…. Not So Sleepy unshipping Paddy Brennan before jumping the first, then taking Silver Streak out before the second!
“Was still trying/wanting to get involved at the finish.”
One comment read: “Carnage in the Fighting Fifth as Not So Sleepy refuses and takes Silver Streak out.”
And one shocked fan wrote: “NOT SO SLEEPY IN A MAD THING!!!! Flings off his jockey before the first and then takes out Silver Streak before the 2nd.”
The race was eventually won by Nicky Henderson’s 8-11 favourite and all-round superstar Epatante.
Last season’s Champion Hurdle winner cruised to victory over Sceau Royal by four and a quarter lengths.
Henderson said: “It is a relief as much as anything. It shows there was no fluke about everything she did last season. I thought she was great.
“She is a proper hurdler – just quick, fast and slick. The great thing about her is she will go to sleep and you can press a button.
“She will go to the Christmas Hurdle almost certainly. That’s why this fits in better than the International (Hurdle at Cheltenham next month). I was delighted to see her do that and the gears worked.”
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