200-1 shot Maoi Chinn Tire wins at Wetherby
Maoi Chinn Tire created the biggest shock of the fledgling National Hunt season to date by landing the Weatherbys Bank Wensleydale Juvenile at Hurdle at Wetherby at a staggering 200-1 today.
The victory did not come in a run of the mill race either as there was Ā£15,000 (ā¬17,286) up for grabs in the Listed contest and racing superpowers Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson and Alan King were all represented.
For trainer Jennie Candlish and her main supporter Alan Baxter, the race will live long in their memory, and for the handful of people on track who were lucky enough to back Maoi Chin Tire - including the owner.
The betting suggested Nicholls' Domtaline, an easy winner at Chepstow on his British debut, and Henderson's Grandouet were the ones to concentrate on but neither were placed.
Grandouet did shoot clear down the back straight after Domtaline helped force the early pace but all the time Alan O'Keeffe on Maoi Chinn Tire could be spotted making stealthy headway, despite pulling hard early on.
A moderate performer on the level for Stan Moore, he was claimed after running at Kempton in September over six furlongs so stamina had to be an issue.
O'Keeffe was sat tight at the last and despite a bit of a mistake he already had the race in safe keeping and he came home nine lengths clear of 50-1 chance Meetings Man.
Equinoctial in November 1990 at 250-1 remains the biggest-priced winner of modern times.
"I didn't expect that!" said Staffordshire handler Candlish.
"He'd done nothing wrong at home and settled in brilliantly, but we obviously didn't know if he'd stay.
"He'd taken everything in his stride, so all credit to his previous connections.
"He went to Yogi Breisner for three days to get him to jump and he told us that he would be grand.
"His home work has been brilliant. We got him out of a claimer and obviously people don't like to lose horses, but that's the risk you run.
"Whether today is his Gold Cup or not, it doesn't matter."
Winning owner Alan Baxter said: "I managed to back him at 300-1 so he has nearly won back the Ā£7,000 (ā¬8,067) we claimed him."
Brian Ellison has a decent prospect on his hands if the victory of Neptune Equester (5-1) is anything to go by.
The seven-year-old was making it a hat-trick over fences in the bet365 Handicap Chase.
Fresh from a spin on the level at Pontefract, Fearghal Davis did not have too many anxious moments in beating Qulinton by five lengths with course specialist Mister McGoldrick back in third.
"He's a good horse, we've not had him long," said Ellison.
"He jumps well and has got all the gears, he works with the Flat horses at home.
"He was second in the Durham National on his first run for me and that was over three and a half miles and he just won over two and a half.
"It's all down to Keith (Mercer, injured stable jockey) as to how we got him, he had ridden him and said he was nice.
"The Eider Chase might be an aim for him longer term."
Tim Pitt's Palos Conti (13-2) also looks to have a future over the bigger obstacles following an effortless success in the Book On-Line At wetherbyracing.co.uk Handicap Chase.
A winner twice over hurdles, he had only twice previously run over fences but given a patient ride by Dougie Costello, he collected with the minimum of fuss.
"He was a stone well-in on his hurdles form and I often think novices are better off in handicaps in smaller fields," said Pitt.
"The plan was a 0-110 back here at Christmas but we might have blown that now."
Alan King's Habbie Simpson (4-1) also won in style in the hands of Wayne Hutchinson in the Wetherby Racecourse & Conference Centre "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.
King's assistant, Noel Williams, said: "We've always liked him and he has strengthened up well over the summer.
"He travelled well all the way, in fact Wayne said he was over-enthusiastic if anything until he wrapped a hurdle.
"Wayne says he loves him and he was thrilled to bits with him."
There was also a victory for Ian Williams' Royal Max (13-2) in the bet365.com Handicap Hurdle.
