‘At least give him a chance’ – ITV Racing host Oli Bell calls out Derek Fox’s ride on Ahoy Senor at Aintree

ITV Racing big Oli Bell was praised by punters for questioning Derek Fox's thrust connected Ahoy Senor successful the Old Roan Chase.

Lucinda Russell's Ahoy Senor was a fast-finishing 3rd successful the large Aintree contention won by 3-1 Minella Drama.

Ahoy Senor, a aggregate Grade 1 winner, finished similar a bid successful the 2m4f pursuit having been sent disconnected 11-2 for Sunday's feature.

Some punters thought Grand National-winning rider Fox could person asked his equine for much effort sooner, possibly pushing the victor closer.

Bell picked up connected immoderate of those gripes successful a fascinating interrogation with ex-jockey Tom Scudamore, lad of Russell's spouse Peter.

The tele frontman asked Scudamore if, arsenic a punter, helium would person been satisfied with the thrust fixed to Ahoy Senor.

Scudamore explained that whenever a equine finishes powerfully determination volition ever beryllium immoderate who deliberation they should person got to the beforehand sooner.

But helium added that Ahoy Senor has a dodgy past connected his archetypal tally of the play and that the main purpose this clip was to get him to implicit the course.

Scudamore said: "Has helium (Fox) enactment him successful a presumption wherever helium could ever triumph from? Not really.

"But you person to equilibrium that retired with the information this is simply a equine who doesn't ever decorativeness his race.

"So he's astir apt reasoning successful the backmost of his caput bash I instrumentality oregon bash I twist?

"Would I alternatively helium decorativeness his race, oregon if I footwear for location present volition helium gallop to the line?

"That's what helium had to equilibrium retired and possibly successful hindsight helium got it wrong."

To which Bell replied: "You're saying astir him finishing his racing and successful the past helium hasn't… but I deliberation erstwhile punters ticker that, astatine slightest springiness him a accidental to decorativeness his race!

"When the different jockeys are getting debased successful the saddle and asking thier mounts to triumph Derek seemed to beryllium rather patient.

"I deliberation punters' vexation comes, fixed however helium finished, that helium wasn't asked a question sooner.

"Do you spot that broadside of the argument?"

Scudamore replied: "Absolutely. But sometimes erstwhile you're riding a horse, conscionable due to the fact that youre pushing, doesn't mean they're going to spell faster."

BHA stewards held an enquiry into the ride.

The closing portion of their study read: "The rider further stated that successful his opinion, helium had obtained the champion imaginable presumption successful the circumstances arsenic Ahoy Senor had jumped overmuch amended for being settled successful rear connected this occasion.

"Russell stated that she was satisfied with the thrust and that it accorded with the instructions given.

"Their explanations were noted."

Viewers praised Bell for holding the thrust to account.

One said: "Finally idiosyncratic asking the questions for the punter, bully interview, Oli."

Another wrote: "Thought this portion of the amusement was precise good, thing we don't spot capable of aft questionable rides.

"I thought helium should person asked sooner but aft Tom's mentation you tin spot wherefore helium did wait."

While a 3rd posted: "Oli Bell is the feline asking the close and sometimes hard questions connected ITV Racing these days - has improved considerably."

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