• Popular chaser seemed to have race at his mercy• Gordon Elliott’s Envoi Allen wins the Royal BondSamcro crashed out with a big race in his grasp for the second time in his career, parting with jockey Jack Kennedy at the second-last fence in the Drinmore. The popular, much-hyped chestnut was travelling strongly and seemed able to go past Fakir D’Oudairies at any moment but instead left that rival to score an easy victory.
“Strap yourselves in!” called the Fairyhouse commentator, Jerry Hannon, anticipating a big finish as the two horses turned for home. But Fakir D’Oudairies threw in a leap that Samcro couldn’t match; he hit the top of the fence and sprawled on the landing side, leaving Kennedy no chance of staying aboard and echoing his late fall in Punchestown’s Champion Hurdle last year.