"You wouldn't want to take a chance in those circumstances" Texas Jack to be withdrawn
Trainer Richard Rees announced on Sunday morning that his Texas Jack will not line up in the rescheduled Ladbrokes Winter Derby final next Saturday night at Monmore.
Texas Jack to be withdrawn from the Ladbrokes Winter Derby
Richard Rees will tomorrow (Monday) officially withdraw Texas Jack from Saturday's rescheduled Ladbrokes Winter Derby Final at Monmore.
Saturday's final, chief support to the final of the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket which produced a thrilling finish with Mongys Wild edging out Droopys Flare in a photo-finish, was declared void after the hare was stopped in the interests of safety with Droopys Aladdin leading from Bouncing Monarch.
Texas Jack, knocked over at the bend, ran out so his participation was already unlikely under GBGB rules and, although given a clean bill of health immediately afterwards, Hove trainer Rees said the May 23 son of Coolavanny Hoffa was showing signs of stiffness late on Saturday and that was also the case at the kennels on Sunday morning.
"I'd say he wouldn't have run anyway, whether he ran out or not," said Rees. "You wouldn't want to take a chance in those circumstances, even if he's checked over and all is fine. Confidence can be knocked in those situations and, for a dog of his calibre, there are plenty of races for him. It's definitely a few days' rest and then very much onwards and upwards.
"Monmore were great throughout and do things really well there. We've had some luck in the Winter Derby, having a finalist every year since it's been at Monmore, and winning the competition twice - so maybe we were due a change of luck there! But Jack will be back, for sure, and we'd just like to wish the other four finalists all the best in next week's final."
