Rossa Ryan's 'big sorry' after favourite ruled out when kicked at start by rival

Kinross’s attempt to land an extraordinary third victory in the Lennox Stakes was over before it started at Goodwood on Tuesday. The eight-year-old stalwart of the Ralph Beckett stable has amassed nearly £2 million in earnings, winning 11 of his 35 races.

He had won the Lennox Stakes twice, in 2021 and 2023, and finished third 12 months ago when the race was won by Audience. Kinross was 3-1 favourite to reclaim his title in a field which also contained the John & Thady Gosden-trained.

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But Audience couldn’t wait for the pair to clash in the race. He took Kinross out before it even started.

The field was milling around behind the stalls, waiting to be loaded, when Audience made a beeline for Kinross and kicked out. His jockey Rossa Ryan dismounted and, after being examined by vets, he was declared a non-runner and was brought back in an ambulance.

An eventful race went to 25-1 chance, the Hollie Doyle-ridden Witness Stand, a first Group winner on the Flat for Grand National-winning trainer Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole. Noble Champion was pulled up during the race after appearing to go wrong. He was found to be lame.

A gutted Ryan said: “I was nowhere near Audience and it just kept backing up and it backed up and just let fly at me.

“I want to say a big sorry to everyone involved. It was a bit of a freak thing. He seems fine but it’s just a pity. It happened that fast, it took me by surprise. It’s one of those things I’m afraid.”

Winning jockey Doyle said: “A great training performance by Jamie Insole and Dr Richard Newland, plus everyone back at home, to get this horse back on track, not winning in handicap company but in Group company.

“He has some really good form, is a Listed winner and, on ratings, he wasn't far behind Audience. He had quite a lot to prove but he stood up. It is a bit of a shock to the system but Jamie wasn't shocked.”