FOR BUCK'S SAKE

Jockey thinks he’s won race only to realise he’s made mother of all mistakes

JOCKEY Tom Buckley almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory after mistaking the winning post at Worcester.

Riding the 3-1 favourite Ranco, his partner was pushed along miles from home and made several mistakes.

Buckley had to pull out all the stops to get the six-year-old to the front after the final hurdle in a ride of the month contender.

All that had work was nearly lost when Buckley mistook the half-furlong pole as the winning post, standing up in the saddle.

Luckily for him, Ranco kept striding out and he soon realised, getting back into the saddle and securing the win by just under a length.

Buckley could be seen sighing with relief as he came into the winners' enclosure, managing a small smile.

Punters who backed Ranco certainly wouldn't have been smiling, however, and may have needed a change of underwear.

One punter said: "That was almost a lengthy ban... Phew!"

While another said: "Specsavers in the morning young man haha."

Plenty took to Buckley's side too, with one saying: "Wouldn’t it be a lot easier if we used a different marker for the 1/2 furlong marker.

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