Bookies derailed by Express

London Express hit the bookies hard when he landed a massive gamble in the opening race of the Ebor Festival at York.

Mark Johnston’s colt was backed from an early price of 15-2 into 7-2 favourite for the Sportsman Racing Stakes and duly obliged under a strong ride from Robert Winston.

He produced the market leader to hit the front two furlongs out and relishing the soft ground the three-year-old ran on gamely to beat Stretton by a head, despite his jockey dropping his whip.

William Hill described the result as “the worst possible start to the meeting” while it was reported to have cost totesport well into six figures.

“That was a good performance and I didn’t even know he’d dropped his stick,” said Johnston. “Soft ground isn’t essential for this horse but he handles it when others don’t.”

A stewards’ inquiry was announced into possible interference between the first two inside the final furlong but the result was allowed to stand.

The winner was led up by former top apprentice Keith Dalgleish, who was forced to quit race riding due to weight problems.