Paddy Brennan once again showed true sportsmanship during a stewards' enquiry following a dramatic Jewson Anniversary 4-y-o Juvenile Hurdle on day one of the Grand National meeting at Aintree.
The jockey was hailed for a similar act during last month's Cheltenham Festival, but on this occasion his mount Knight Salute was awarded victory after initially dead-heating with Pied Piper.
👏 Paddy Brennan showing superb sportsmanship and honesty in the stewards room once again!
— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) April 7, 2022
👍 He did exactly the same at the Cheltenham Festival last month but this time his horse Knight Salute was awarded victory.pic.twitter.com/PrHgvCaUN2
The latter horse, who was third in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, was sent off the 10/11 favourite to get back to winning ways and certainly brought the strongest form to the table.
Knight Salute (14/1) has been a revelation this season for his resurgent trainer Milton Harris, but had finished well beaten at Cheltenham, some 17 lengths behind Pied Piper.
That looked an outlier, though, as prior to that he had won his other five races this season, including two Grade Twos, and he was right back to his best on this occasion.
Paddy Brennan had clearly decided to play his hand last of all, and he tracked Davy Russell on the Gordon Elliott-trained market leader for the whole race.
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Approaching the last Russell must have felt he had matters in hand as he had not asked a single question – but Pied Piper didn't jump the final flight well, drifting left and giving Knight Salute a nudge, which prompted the stewards’ inquiry to be called after the long wait for the initial photo to be announced.
Despite the coming-together at the last, Knight Salute was able to edge in front on the run-in, only for Pied Piper to battle back and claim a share of the spoils right on the line – or so it seemed.
A lengthy inquiry followed and even though Brennan told the stewards he felt the contact did not affect the result and he was happy with the outcome, the officials disagreed which meant Harris had landed his first Grade One winner to cap a great season.
The Boodles winner Brazil checked out on the run to the last and was beaten 12 lengths back in third.
"That doesn't sit well with me...not the way I like to play sport"
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 7, 2022
From the sportsmanship of @PaddyBrennan81 to the grace of @MFHarrisRacing, they're some ambassadors for our sport 👏#ITVRacing | #GrandNational pic.twitter.com/GDfdqsRxWf
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