Video: Horse surrenders lead on home stretch

(File)
(File)

There were likely a few angry punters at the Sandown races in England yesterday as favourite What's the Scoop inexplicably gave up a certain victory 100m from the line.

The horse, which had odds of 7/2 going into the race, was leading by a decent margin as it jumped over the final hurdle of the racecourse when seemingly for no reason, it bolted to the side of the course instead of toward the finish line.

What's the Scoop's jockey, Barry Geraghty, said his horse was intimidated by the crowd.

"He jumped the last big [hurdle] and I knew he was having a good look at the stand," he said.

"It's a daunting place and as soon as he came off the rail, he just panicked -- he's a big baby.

"At least I didn't fall off and we weren't left wondering whether he'd have run if I'd fallen off.

"[Trainer] Nicky [Henderson] said it would have been nice to have had the win, but it's not the end of the world and he's a nice horse for another day!"

Newshub.