Park registers shock win at Wincanton

Paul Keane stunned the crowd at Wincanton when sending out 100-1 shot Barton Park to land the opening Betfredcasino.com “National Hunt” Novices Hurdle.

The outsider seized on the last-flight exit of 4-6 favourite Senorita Rumbalita to score by 11 lengths from 200-1 chance Foxtrot Yankee with Nocturnally a further neck away in third.

There must be some doubt as to whether Noel Fehily’s mount would have prevailed as Robert Thornton appeared to have his hands full on the favourite, only for her to skew in mid-air and land awkwardly, with the jockey losing his balance.

Fehily said: “I think I would have given the other one a good race and the important thing was that my fellow was more switched off today.”

The success gave Keane a welcome change of luck as it was only his second winner of the campaign.

He said: “I’ve always said he was a good horse and on his previous start at Uttoxeter, Noel thought he’d broken a leg when he smashed into the last hurdle down the back.”