Chaldean unships Frankie Dettori as Shelby bags Greenham Stakes

Isaac Shelby ran out an impressive winner of the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury, in which hot favourite Chaldean dramatically unshipped Frankie Dettori on coming out of the stalls.

The Group Three trial was supposed to be the ideal stepping-stone for Chaldean – who won the Dewhurst for Andrew Balding and Dettori last season – en route to the Qipco 2000 Guineas.

However, his race was over before it began, with Chaldean jinking to his left as the stalls opened, as Streets Of Gold went the other way, and Dettori coming off to his right.

Isaac Shelby, trained by Brian Meehan, won the Superlative Stakes last season before finishing last of seven in the Dewhurst, and was soon in an early advantage under Sean Levey with only the loose Chaldean for company.

On testing ground nothing came close to throwing down a challenge, as 15-2 shot Isaac Shelby beat Charyn by three lengths, with Theoryofeverything claiming third.

Of Chaldean's exit, Balding said: "It was one of those unfortunate things, isn’t it? We are just thankful it was a trial and the horse seems to have come back fine and Frankie is fine. It is real bad luck.

"We’ve got two weeks to the Guineas. It is what it is and the Guineas was always the main aim, and that’s where we’re going.

"He was fit and well and ready to run a big race. As long as everything is all right, happily he pulled up pretty quick – had he gone and done another circuit of the track, it would have been a big problem, but he’s had a decent workout and probably enjoyed it."

While Chaldean is still on course for Newmarket, a trip to France is the target for the winner.

The progressive Isaac Shelby makes all to win a dramatic renewal of the Group 3 @WatershipStud Too Darn Hot Greenham