THE feature race at Cartmel belonged to trainer James Moffatt, but not in the way anyone would have imagined.

Moffatt fielded 8/11 favourite Altruism in the Weatherbys Hamilton Handicap Chase, defending his record of four wins from four runs at the track and widely expected to add to it.

Instead, in a race packed with drama and with bittersweet feelings for Moffatt and his team, it was his own stable-mate, Fantasy King, who ended the 100 per cent run.

For the first time at Cartmel, Altruism, under Henry Brooke, was led out from the start, by Tom Scudamore on Next Sensation.

It stayed that way until three out, when Next Sensation tumbled to the ground on the Woodside to gasps from the crowd, leaving Brooke and Altruism out in front and seemingly destined for first place.

That lasted for just one flight as, put off by the fall, Altruism jinked to the side and come the next almost unseated Brooke, who did remarkably well to stay on board as he lost his irons. He did not regain them before the finish but somehow stayed on board as Tony Kelly on Fantasy King pulled up alongside and led after the last.

Still the stable-mates battled it out and while Fantasy King pulled away at the start of the straight, Altruism came back strongly and there was a moment when it seemed he could pull off the most unlikely of comebacks. But Fantasy King and Kelly were not to be passed and three-quarters of a length were what separated them come the line.

Moffatt had a mixture of delight at his victory but disappointment that Altruism had lost his unbeaten record, the former slowly starting to overcome the latter as he absorbed what had happened.

The Pit Farm Stables handler said: “The saddle slipped and Henry has been performing miracles to stay on. The saddle slipped halfway and he has done brilliantly.

“I have been saddling horses for a long time, but I’m obviously going to have to go back to school! I don’t know what to feel, to be honest – but it anyone was going to beat him, I’m glad it’s Fantasy King.

“I would love to see both of my horses win. It would have nice to see Altruism win, but an error with his tack has cost him the race – it’s not the horse’s fault.

“But Fantasy King deserves the win. He has always had a good engine on him.”

Moffatt has tipped Golden Town to follow in the footsteps of Altruism, having bought him from Sheikh Mohammed as a Flat horse now being turned to hurdles.

Much like Altruism, he has had health issues since coming to south Cumbria and he made his debut for the yard in the opening High Definition Racing UK Maiden Hurdle.

It was a race Altruism won last year and one which Moffatt had taken for each of the past three seasons, but he was not to make it four. Instead, John Kington rode Crakehall Lad to the victory, coming past long-time leader Utmost Zeal ahead of the last – just as Golden Town’s challenge started to fade – and then pulling away for an eventual 14-length success after 2m 1f of racing.

Moffatt could not take the spoils in the Unsworth Yard Handicap Hurdle either, as Maybe I Wont was another to struggle late on.

In his absence, long-time leader Bourne, under Will Kennedy for trainer Donald McCain, held off the late challenge from Steven Kelly on Burnt Sienna with ease, reaching the post 14 lengths clear. Maybe I Wont came in third with Henry Brooke in the saddle, a further 26 lengths behind.

McCain had a quick double on his hands as Whatdoesthefoxsay, a 15/8 favourite, led for the whole 3m 1f distance of the Ron Wadey Celebrating 50 Years of Bookmaking Handicap Hurdle under James Cowley.

Callum Bewley had Mubrook in contention for a large part of the race, being dropped and then coming back again and again until Whatdoesthefoxsay pulled away one final time and held out to take it by one-and-three-quarter lengths. Moffatt’s Mondlicht was the best of the rest under Brian Hughes in third, but at 28 lengths behind second, he was never in the picture.

Brian Harding had the easiest of rides as he took six-year-old Mixboy out in front in the Racing UK Day Pass Just £10 Beginners’ Chase – and never looked back, almost walking up the straight as he came home 26 lengths ahead of Thomas Dowson on 50/1 outsider The Society Man.

Richie McLernon rode Definite Ridge to victory in the Miller Howe Hotel Handicap Chase, passing Ryan Day on Attention Please inside the final half-furlong after the pair had battled it out from the last.

The day ended as Brooke made up for his disappointment on board Altruism as he guided Morning With Ivan past Snowed In and Nikki’s Nipper after the last and held on up the straight to take the Racing UK Anywhere Handicap Hurdle. It was Brooke’s 200th jump-racing winner in Britain.