ITV presenter Oli Bell ‘incredulous’ in interview over Sandown false start fiasco… as bookies return stakes

PUNTERS were left tearing their hair out after a disastrous incident at Sandown left connections of one horse gutted – and ITV presenter Oli Bell ‘incredulous’.

Maasai Mara had been fancied to run a huge race for trainer John O’Shea in the opening 2m hurdle on finals day.

Maasai Mara whipped round at the start and had no chance of setting off with the others – but was still deemed a runner in the race

It was chaotic down at the start of the Surrey track with 20 revved up horses and jockeys all jostling for position forcing one false start.

But as the starter waved his flag to signal the start of the race for a second time, he failed to spot 12-1 Maasai Mara had whipped round and was facing the wrong way.

Poor Jack Tudor had no chance of getting the horse facing the right way in time and the other 19 horses charged off without him.

The BHA last week brought in a new rule that gave stewards greater power to determine when a horse is a non-runner.

But it has not yet been extended to include National Hunt races – meaning Maasai Mara was deemed a runner for betting purposes.

Fortunately some bookies saw the injustice in this and refunded stakes to punters.

But it all begged the bigger question about why the start was not delayed again or the horse declared a non-runner.

ITV Racing host Bell spoke to chief steward Steve Drowne about the incident during Saturday’s live coverage.

Drowne said ‘there was a lot of shouting involved and the starter simply didn’t see or hear he was facing the wrong way when he let the start go’.

It was at this point Bell, who one viewer said was ‘rightly incredulous’ at the explanation, pressed further with his line of questioning.

Some punters branded the incident ‘farcical’ while another said it ‘absolutely ridiculous’.

The official BHA stewards’ report read: “An enquiry was held into the start of this race and the circumstances surrounding Maasai Mara facing the wrong way when the start was effected and subsequently not jumping off.

“The starter and Jack Tudor, the rider of Maasai Mara, were interviewed and shown a recording of the start.

“Having heard their evidence and viewed footage of the incident, a report was forwarded to the Head Office of the British Horseracing Authority.”

The race was won by 14-1 Helnwein for trainer Alan King with Dan Skelton’s Be Proud an 8-1 runner-up.

Skelton was also second place in the jumps trainer championship with Willie Mullins becoming the first Irishman in 70 years to snatch the crown.

The Closutton boss will look to add a few hundred thousand to his home tally at Punchestown Festival this week.