Special Tiara© Photo Healy Racing
Connections of Special Tiara have decided not to appeal the result of the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown after their horse passed the post in second behind Sire De Grugy after being badly hampered at the final fence.
Trainer Henry de Bromhead felt that under the British rules it would be very difficult to overturn the local stewards' verdict.
"We're not going to appeal. The advice we got was that we didn't have a good enough chance to get the result," he said.
"It's disappointing because most people believe the best horse on the day was taken out of the race and didn't get it."
Special Tiara led for much of the two-mile journey in the Grade One contest before being headed by the Gary Moore-trained Sire De Grugy before the home turn.
The Irish challenger was rallying for pressure and looked in with every chance before being broadsided in mid-air by the eventual winner as he went to his left jumping the final fence.
After a good battle on the run-in, Sire De Grugy passed the post three-quarters of a length to the good and De Bromhead believes the interference cost his charge victory.
An inquiry was immediately called before the placings remained unaltered.
The race took its toll on Special Tiara, but De Bromhead reports his classy two-mile performer to have recovered and will have a break before returning for a spring campaign.
"It's taken him a while to recover, but he's good now. We'll probably aim him towards the spring," said the County Waterford trainer.
