Professor Caroline Tisdall was floored by top novice chase prospect Final Demand when she went to greet him after his latest win at Limerick on Sunday
The 80-year-old owner of one of the top prospects for the Cheltenham Festival said she is ‘absolutely fine’ after being knocked to the ground by the horse after his latest win. Professor Caroline Tisdall and Bryan Drew are the joint British owners of the Willie Mullins-trained Final Demand who is no better than Evens for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in March.
On Sunday the six-year-old won his second start over fences with a faultless display at Limerick under Grand National-winning rider Patrick Mullins. As the winner returned to the winners’ enclosure, he was greeted by his elated owners, Professor Tisdall and Drew who both grabbed hold of the reins.
However after briefly stopped, Final Demand surged forward, sending Professor Tisdall momentarily off balance, then took another step, knocking her onto her back. She was quickly hauled back to her feet by Drew unscathed in an incident widely shared on social media.
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Speaking to Mirror Racing, she said: “Honestly in all the world there are few things funnier than seeing an old woman fall over, is there?
“I am absolutely fine and have bathed in a bath of dopamine from winning the race.”
She continued: “It was entirely my own fault. I thought that where Patrick had stopped might be the winning place at Limerick and in fact it’s a few steps further on. I was very stupid stepping in front of the horse.
“I have no ill effects and also they have put those nice soft rubber surfaces down in the ring. If it had been concrete it might have been slightly worse. I don’t mind the nation having a bit of jollity!’
Final Demand won three out of four over hurdles, suffering his only defeat when third behind The New Lion in the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, then winning at Punchestown by 16 lengths. He is two out of two over fences.
Professor Tisdall, a noted art historian, said: “He is a wonderful horse, a horse of a lifetime we are saying. We are very lucky. He will go to the Dublin Festival and on to the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham all being well.”
She added: “It’s good to get coverage for racing even if it’s at my expense. I don’t mind!”
