Jeremy Clarkson’s well-backed horse loses lead and fails to position at Uttoxeter however his debut run is overshadowed by ‘unbelievable scenes’ attributable to rogue 28-1 outsider

Jeremy Clarkson‘s horse made his debut in a memorable race at Uttoxeter on Friday.

The Hawkstonian, trained by Ben Pauling, was purchased last year for £37,700 (€45,000) by a Cotswolds-based syndicate headed up by the former Top Gear star.

He was well backed on Friday and started the 4.22 race as an 11-2 shot.

The four-year-old grey gelding, under jockey Ben Jones, took an early lead before ultimately running out of steam and failing to secure a place.

Jamie Snowden’s Fresh Perspective, the 11-4 second favourite, went on to win the two-mile contest. But the story of the race was 28-1 outsider Rochester Brinks.

Friday’s race was a bumper – a flat race for jumps horses.

Jeremy Clarkson’s horse, The Hawkstonian (the grey), established an early lead on his debut

But the story of Friday’s 4.22 at Uttoxeter was Rochester Brinks (left), who veered off course

Rochester Brinks, ridden by Ben Jones, then cleared a hurdle, even though this was a flat race

But a track without obstacles was seemingly a bit boring for Rochester Brinks, who bolted off course and made a beeline for a nearby fence.

Jockey Daire McConville held on tight as his ride veered away from the pack before clearing the out-of-action fence with impressive ease.

A commentator on Sky Sports’ coverage of the race said: ‘Rochester Brinks, under poor Daire McConville… have you ever seen anything like this?

‘A first-timer whose obviously got loads of quirks, but watch this. Daire’s thinking “oh no, there’s a fence in my way.”

‘Up we go… one, two three, bops it. Unbelievable scenes!’

Rochester Brinks – who had been wearing a hood to help him concentrate – was naturally disqualified for running off.

Meanwhile, Clarkson’s The Hawkstonian finished sixth in the field of 10.

The Hawkstonian was named after Clarkson’s own brand of British beer.

Clarkson pictured (left) earlier this year with his horse – who is named after a brand of beer

Speaking earlier this year, Clarkson joked: ‘I said to the Hawkstone team that we should get into racing but clearly they got motor racing and horseracing confused!

He added: ‘That said, Ben Pauling is a stone’s throw from Diddly Squat Farm and the Hawkstone Brewery, so I know where my hay is going.

‘Furthermore, the Pauling family originally farmed our land and taught Kaleb [Cooper, who appears on the documentary series Clarkson’s Farm] all he knows about farming.’