Tom Marquand Unseated by Al Hudaiba at Yarmouth — Racing Post
Tom Marquand came off Al Hudaiba just inside the final furlong at Yarmouth on Thursday, and the 10-11 favourite slipped away from the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at the finish. Byzantine, ridden by Billy Loughnane, took advantage and won after the colt jinked sharply right with victory in sight.
Al Hudaiba At Yarmouth
Al Hudaiba had been getting on top of Byzantine approaching the furlong pole before the sudden move to the right ended Marquand’s ride. The horse was trained by Charlie Appleby and had won on debut at Newmarket 13 days earlier, so the mishap arrived when the race looked set for a second straight success.
Alex Fussey described the moment as, “Al Hudaiba has jinked and unseated the rider. Drama inside the furlong.” He then added, “That’s left Byzantine in the clear. What drama in the final 100 yards. It will be Byzantine to win in very dramatic fashion. Tom Marquand is kneeling up, I can confirm. He seems okay, albeit winded.”
Marquand And Hollie Doyle
Marquand later said, “I was wondering if there were double beds in hospitals as I might have joined Hollie. Luckily I’m alright.” He also called the incident “bizarre” and said, “He was stepping towards Billy who was on his left. I went for a bit of a regrab to get him rolling and he just stepped the opposite way pretty sharp. At least he’s all right and I got up all right too.”
The stewards said no other horse or rider was involved, and their report said the colt initially drifted left-handed before sharply ducking right-handed and unseating the rider. Jason Weaver reacted by saying, “What was that? What did he see there?” and then, “That was very, very strange. He just took a jink. There is nothing wrong with the track.”
Racecourse Doctor
Marquand was back in the winners’ enclosure two races later to complete a double for William Haggas, but he was stood down from his final ride by the racecourse doctor. The day ended with the fall absorbed and the result changed, with Byzantine on the record and Al Hudaiba’s run cut short at the finish.
