Halo falls on debut over fences Ruby Walsh broke his arm off Celestial Halo at Aintree and the Galileo gelding again came to grief under the multiple Irish Champion in the Best Mate Beginners' Chase at Exeter. The 1/4 shot edged ahead of Rougham in the straight and everything seemed to be going to script as the the Stewart Family-owned former top-hurdler had 'fenced' most efficiently on his chasing bow. However Celestial Halo possibly took off too early four out and almost landed on top of the fence, coming down with the aforementioned Rougham falling independently here. Richard Johnson (Rougham's rider) collided with Walsh on the ground. All horses and riders seemed to be unscathed after the dramatic incident. This left Diamond Brook to beat Jocheski by a head and the Daryl Jacob-ridden victor then survived a steward's enquiry. Paul Nicholls trainer of Celestial Halo told At The Races afterwards: "He is okay, that's the main thing, though it's obviously not ideal. "He jumped great up until then, he just stepped at that fence and paid the penalty. "He'd been careful, one of his traits when he was hurdling was that he was often stepping at his hurdles - that's what he did at Aintree. He almost did that there at a fence which he didn't get away with. It wasn't ideal so it is back to the drawing board obviously. "I'll talk to Andy (Stewart) and see what he wants to do. Plenty of horses have fallen on their debut and come back and been fine. We'll just go back and see where we are and we still have the option of going back over hurdles if we want to. "I've just always had in the back of my mind that he is by Galileo, he is hardly chasing bred. "One of the features of his hurdling was his brilliant jumping when he was flat out. It might just be that he will not take to fences. He'll have another school, we'll have a chat with Andy and see where we go." Ruby Walsh said: "He was jumping super before that, but he just got on top of it. It's better he did it then than in the Arkle."
