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Nine of the intended eleven runners in the finale at Wolverhampton last night were withdrawn after a false start caused chaos amongst riders.

Wolverhampton's concluding seven-furlong contest looked to be a run-of-the-mill Class 6 handicap on paper, but a false start resulted in just two of the eleven intended runners going to post for the finale.

The starter waved his flag on a number of occasions to signify a false start after the stalls had initially failed to open when he dropped his flag and pressed the button. However, eight horses from the initial field of eleven failed to pull up before completing the seven-furlong course.

The Phil Dennis-ridden A Pint Of Bear and Rossa Ryan's Rose Fandango were both pulled up in time, whilst Oriental Spirit, who was returning from a break under Group 1 winning rider Dougie Costello, also failed to reach the winning post. Oriental Spirit raced keenly throughout the early parts of the contest and was subsequently withdrawn by his trainer Stuart Kittow.

Oriental Spirit's withdrawal resulted in a match race between A Pint Of Bear and Rose Fandango, with the latter keeping on best of the pair to score by three-quarters of a length in the concluding Class Six contest, which was eventually run fifteen minutes later than the scheduled off-time of 8.30pm.

Rose Fandango returned the 25/1 winner but as expected, there was an 85p in the pound Rule 4 deduction.

The start was the subject of a stewards' report which read: "An inquiry was held to establish the circumstances which led to a false start being called in this race after the stalls had initially failed to open when the starter dropped his flag and pressed the button.

"Kimifive, Gordonstoun, Mudlahhim, Ravenglass, Swiss Rowe, Absolute Dream, Port Noir and Carry On Aitch were all withdrawn after having completed the course prior to being pulled up, whilst Stuart Kittow elected to withdraw his runner Oriental Spirit, which went keenly for several furlongs before being pulled up by its rider.

"This left A Pint Of Bear and Rose Fandango as the only runners after they had both passed veterinary examinations upon returning to the start, having been pulled up early in the back straight.

"The starters, the starting stalls team leader, the clerk of the course, the executive director, the advanced flag operator, trainee advance flag operator and all riders were interviewed and shown recordings.

"Having heard their evidence, the stewards ordered a report to be forwarded to the head office of the British Horseracing Authority."