PUNTERS were left in a state of shock after an almost certain winner threw away victory with a dramatic final-fence fall.
Ile De Jersey hit the lowest odds of 1.01 on the Betfair exchange and looked to have a 2m2f novice handicap at Taunton sewn up.
Ridden by top jockey James Bowen and trained by the legendary Nicky Henderson, punters were ready to cash in their winning slips as the four-year-old filly bounded clear.
But the 11-5 favourite soon silenced those cheers when slipping after landing the last, sending Bowen crashing to the floor.
The jockey’s fall was captured in dramatic photos – and fortunately he and the horse were unharmed in the incident.
Punters could not believe what they had witnessed – in scenes reminiscent of Galopin Des Champs’ infamous fall at Cheltenham earlier this year.
One said: “That was a brutal fall for Ile De Jersey at the last fence with the race at her mercy.”
Another wrote: “Ile De Jersey. How has that happened?”
One comment read: “Painful watch that for Ile De Jersey backers.
“Looked to be powering clear heading into the last but exerted too much energy and crumpled on landing.”
Ile De Jersey’s horror show was a gift to Midnight Midge though, who won having been matched at 300 (299-1) in-running.
His jockey Ben Jones thanked his wife Laura for the result afterwards.
He said: “It’s the nature of the game, the obstacles are there for a reason.
“He travelled great and jumped well. I know we would’ve probably been beaten if the Henderson horse had stayed on his feet, but you’ve got to jump them and luckily we did.
“I better give a shout out to my missus.
“He was in pre-training with us for six or seven weeks and it’s nice to put the work in and then get to ride him in the race as well.”
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