3 minute read
Philip Hobbs and Barry Geraghty were left mystified and deflated as hot favourite Defi Du Seuil trailed home in fourth of five in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The last of the big three still standing after the defection of Altior and Chacun Pour Soi was sent off 2-5 favourite to land his third Grade 1 race of the season.
However he was never moving like a long odds-on shot and was beaten just over 13 lengths behind 6-1 winner Politologue at the line.
"That wasn't him," said Hobbs, who trains the dual Cheltenham Festival winner for JP McManus. "He was never really travelling. He seems all right afterwards but Barry thought there was no zest there.
"Everything has gone so well this season so far, he's won his three races and been in good form at home, then this happens. It's very disappointing. We'll have to reassess."
Geraghty, who had won the two previous races in the same colours, knew his fate a long way out, and said: "He was never really going. I was trying to nurse him into it but I knew from the back of the third-last the game was up.
"He's fine, but for no obvious reason he just didn't perform, but he'll have other days. He's still a gorgeous horse. I'm sure there's plenty more fun to be had with him.
"Full credit to the winner, he was the last horse Defi passed here in November, he's a high-class horse and he's been competitive in all these races for years and he had his day."
