Record-Breaking Outsider Stuns Exeter in Mud-Splattered Triumph
The world of National Hunt racing witnessed an extraordinary slice of history on Thursday as the unconsidered outsider Blowers, sent off at staggering odds of 300-1, sloshed to victory at Exeter Racecourse. The gelding's triumph in the opening race means he is now the joint longest-priced winner in modern British and Irish racing history.
A Late Call-Up and a Traffic Jam Behind the Fairytale
The remarkable story behind the win was almost as unlikely as the odds. The winning jockey, James Best, was a late substitute for the ride. He revealed he only got the mount after the originally booked rider, Ella Herbison, was forced to give it up because she got stuck in traffic and missed her flight.
"I was on my way to riding out on the M5 at ten past six and a random unknown Irish number rang me," Best explained to Racing TV. "It was Ella. 'Do you want to ride one in the first at Exeter?'... Thank you to Ella for thinking of me."
Best and trainer Nigel Hawke devised a simple plan for the testing, rain-softened ground. "Plan A was to drop in last, but then we thought he might relax better in front," Best said. The tactic worked perfectly as Blowers, named after the legendary cricket commentator Henry Blofeld, handled the conditions superbly.
From Tailed-Off to Record-Breaker
The victory was a dramatic turnaround in form for the six-year-old. On his previous outings, he had been tailed off in a point-to-point bumper and then pulled up when a 200-1 shot on his hurdling debut at Chepstow.
His quirks were on display even during this winning run, as he looked like he might run out at one point. However, Best galvanised his mount after the final hurdle to hold off the hot favourite, On The Bayou, and secure a famous victory for connections.
The meeting at the Devon track had been in doubt all morning due to incessant rain and needed to pass a precautionary inspection, making the eventual fairytale result all the more surprising.
Where Blowers Stands in the Record Books
Blowers' win at 300-1 equals the modern record set in Ireland by He Knows No Fear at Leopardstown in August 2020. The previous British record was held by Equinoctial, who won at Kelso in November 1990 at odds of 250-1.
This result serves as a stunning reminder of the unpredictable drama that makes jump racing so compelling, where fortune, circumstance, and a horse finding its day can combine to create sporting history against all conceivable odds.
