I did receive a couple of messages a while back from Boom Docker’s jockey John Williams and Sage Merlin’s Ian Watkinson.
Williams thought Boom Docker refused because he saw the loose horses running back in the opposite direction. It does make you wonder how far Boom Docker would have stayed in front but for refusing.
Watkinson said Sage Merlin was terrified of the fences before coming down at The Chair. He said he probably would have refused with Boom Docker at the 17th.