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This type of thread has probably been made before but oh well.
What is your favourite horse racing upset? Was it at 33-1 or maybe even 150-1?
I am partial to re-watching Mine That Bird’s Kentucky Derby, but closer to home I would have to say Norton’s Coin for my fave upset. Sure, no one wanted to see Dessie fail at getting a second Cheltenham Gold Cup, but NC had such a story. Maybe I’m just a sucker for an underdog :)
Thoughts? Stories?
-Jade
Time flies like a banana, flies are like arrows...fruit?.. wait, no....
Maybe not a big enough price to call an upset but I felt like the only person in the world who backed Lord Windermere when he won the GC …. I was the only the person at Ayr when Al CO won the Scottish GN at 66-1 who backed him …well i was the only screaming myself hoarse …
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
I was on Lord Windermere HDLG
He was a great price, think I’d have backed him if he was as low as 10s. Went off 33’s if I remember rightly.
Was it a photo finish?? I think my son had nabbed the TV so I went up the bookies and I’m sure there was a wait with me on Lord Windermere and every other punter about 5 or 6 on the other.Margot Did was a good one for me in the Nunthrope I backed her at 33’s think she may have gone off shorter. Had backed her in everything after the Albany even thought she’d go for the 1000 guineas..
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Definitely NOT Norton’s Coin – couldn’t win a Maiden Hunters’ Chase when I needed him to so I could go through the card when at The Guardian then wins the Gold Cup – beating Dessie! – two years later.
Definitely not Last Suspect either – knackered my 25/1 win only bet on Mr Snugfit and my tricast combinations in 1985.
Might have to be Serpentine – though I had backed three or four in the race.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Nothing wrong with backing more than one, Ian.
Neptune Collonges 50/1 was pleasing but have to say the following year was even better.
Aurora’s Encore‘s Grand National – had 119/1. Triumph for “time of year” stats. The fact he came into the race in poor form didn’t matter so much because pretty much every season he’d come to form in the Spring and well handicapped on his 2nd in the Scottish version.
and
Arabian Queen‘s Juddmonte International – had 179/1. Triumph for “Pace In The Race” and “Wind direction / speed”. With Golden Horn’s pacemaker totally outclassed there was always a good chance of him being left alone on the lead… and Arabian Queen seemed the most likely to race second. Although odds-on Golden Horn had made all on his previous start, connections were of the opinion it didn’t suit him – hence the pacemaker. All the other runners hold up horses.
I remember Wind direction was a factor in my bets. If I recall rightly it was fairly strong and blowing down the course (tail wind) which favours front / prominent runners – often being able to hang on for longer. Ignoring the pacemaker, Arabian Queen had around a 3 lengths advantage over Golden Horn turning in. Frankie managed to get to and just about head De Sousa. However, the effort of making up those 3 lengths and having been free early allowed Arabian Queen to get back up.
Fact my mum went to the village school with the trainer made it even better.
Later that week I met the owner at Newbury racecourse, he could not believe anyone backed her.Both tipped on here.
Value Is EverythingGold Cup day 1989, I’m in my pre booked seat in the main stand for the Triumph Hurdle, talking to the chap in the seat next to mine. Over the previous two days, we’d become friendly, both in the same seat for every race. He admitted to limited betting knowledge, but was a genuine lover of the sport.
After the Triumph Hurdle, I sympathised with him, as he’d told me he’d backed Highland Bud that had finished second. Not to worry he said, I did it win and place on the Tote. He then looked across the course to the ticker tape on the big screen which reported the Tote returns. That’s a surprise he said, the place has paid £16.40.
As Highland Bud had started 8/1, I said that didn’t sound right, so he showed me his ticket to confirm it matched the racecard number on the ticker tape. At which point, the light dawned. His ticket was £20 win and place on No 9 – Highland Bud was No 8. He’d actually backed the winner, Ikdam, by mistake.
The returns for Ikdam were £143.70 for the win, £16.40 for the place. He requested I go with him to the Tote booth inside the stand, where the clerk confirmed that his ticket was worth about £3,200. We had a cup of tea while he waited for enough cash to be delivered to pay him!
That’s brilliant apracing.
My late Dad always backed Norton’s Coin, but didn’t think he was worth doing in the Gold Cup! He wasn’t pleased! He rarely ever swore, but did that day.
Mind you, he had a whole shilling on Foinavon in the 67 National.
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Nice story AP, hope he paid for the teas.
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I trousered about £700 in what I think was the first Hunter Chase at NA some years ago. With the late Richard Woollacott in the saddle. Would have to dig out the details … which I’ve now done
Newton Abbot 28th May 2002 Hunters’ Chase Class H ~ Blazing Miracle. Trainer ~ G Chambers. Jockey ~ R.Woollacott
I had £50 at 10/1 but then decided that wasn’t enough, so came back down from the stands and had another score on it.
Analysis:
Blazing Miracle came from what appeared an impossible position to collect but, not surprisingly, the time was very slow and the race is probably inconsequential
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Early noughties when I was a pretendy pro punter. Soon found out that there were many more losing days than winning ones and that a big win was very rare.
That’s why I’ve always admired our very own TRFer AP
Not the biggest priced winner by a long way but 12/1 chance Quwetoo turning over 1/14 favourite Zaynar in the 2010 Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso. The favourite got bogged down in a Kelso glue pot.
I did see a William Haggas once raced maiden Al Hadeer turned over in a Hamilton maiden in May 2019 at 1/12, but that was more a question of the market over rating the favourite’s chances. The winner Southern Rock was only 7/2 so that tells you how much the bookies closed ranks on that one.
I backed Broadwalk Empire e/w in a Novice Hurdle at Lingfield at 80’s, just because my family were binge watching the show at the time. Profitable, but not too satisfactory winning through sheer luck like that. Biggest priced winner I’ve had mind.
The one that felt the best was Young Mick in the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot, backed the boy e/w at 33/1. He was thrown in as it turned out, but at the time most thought he was an AW specialist. I really enjoyed that one, and had a cracking weekend in Whitby couertesy of the winnings.
A month later, he won again at 10’s over C&D, with the runner up at the Royal meeting, Glistening, a beaten favourite at 2/1. Ridiculous book that was, there was only a one pound swing in the weights from Royal Ascot.
BUY THE SUN
On 21st September 2011 I was at Goodwood.
One of my racing pals Chris was keen on the second favourite Hunters Light in the Foundation Stakes and asked me what I thought of his chance. He’d run 5 times, winning twice and a good 1 1/4 lengths third in the Gordon (Group 3) all on a sound surface. Two disappointing efforts (including last time out) being on good-soft. So “today’s soft ground probably won’t suit, not for me”, I said, expecting him to be second favourite…On my way to the paddock I see the bookies boards have Hunters Light @ 14/1. In good condition walking around, nice shiny coat etc. Walking back around to the stands, now 16/1. Tote now 25/1 Hunters Light! Value Is Everything – worth taking a chance on the ground – so I backed him on the Tote and made my way back to the grandstand.
It won… and Chris hadn’t had a penny on!… And the price… 11.3… If he’d been that price I wouldn’t have backed the thing either! Chris didn’t accept any money
but it was my turn to buy the drinks.My least favourite “upset”.
Value Is EverythingNathan I spent the winter putting small sums on Lord Windermere when I had a winner after his RSA win , I told everyone he needed good ground and the cheltenham hill , on the morning of the GC i was at a funeral and I told everyone there I thought he was a great e.w bet to , I got 40,s at one point
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
There’s some really good stories on this thread! Thanks for sharing, I wanted to see if anyone else had their favourite upset too.
Usually the favourite or a shorter price wins, but its so interesting when a bigger price does too :)
Time flies like a banana, flies are like arrows...fruit?.. wait, no....
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