An uneven heartbeat derailed Goshen’s eagerly awaited return to jumps action in the Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Gary Moore’s four-year-old, who made a dramatic final-flight departure with the Triumph Hurdle at his mercy, went off the 6-4 favourite for his first start over obstacles since the National Hunt Festival last March.
But Goshen and the trainer’s son Jamie trailed in last of the 10 runners as Song For Someone clung on by a nose from Silver Streak.
“The racecourse vets had a look at him and said it was atrial fibrillation,” revealed the West Sussex handler.
“It’s nice to have an excuse for a run like that - you’d be scratching your head otherwise.
“I’ll get my vet to have a look at him in the morning and take it from there.”
The Aidan Coleman-partnered Song For Someone is 20-1 for the Champion Hurdle in March - Ladbrokes cut title-holder Epatante to evens from 6-4 to defend her crown - but trainer Tom Symonds warned: “I’d say on better ground over two miles I think it might just be a struggle.
“It was a hell of a performance and he’s a fabulous horse but I think this might have answered our question as to what we’re doing in March.”
Chatham Street Lad, a 16-1 shot sent from Co Cork by Mick Winters, turned the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup into a one-horse race, galloping to a 15-length victory under jockey Darragh O’Keeffe.
