Racing: Osborne snared by starting tape

Simon Morant, the new starter of the Grand National, was involved in an incident similar to the one that led to the abandonment of the Aintree steeplechase in April when Jamie Osborne was dragged from his mount, Leotard, at Chepstow. The tape caught round his neck at the start of the Tote Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle and he was trodden on by a horse after falling. Simon Earle also came off Andrew's First in the pile up but was unhurt. Morant, the senior starter at Chepstow yesterday, told stewards that several jockeys anticipated the start and charged the tape, which did not release automatically. The stewards ordered the video tape of the start to be sent to the Jockey Club's racecourse department.