300-1 Shot Crokes Cross Equals UK Racing Record at Kelso
A remarkable 300-1 shot at Kelso has equalled the record for the longest-priced winner in the history of UK horse racing, leaving its trainer to quip that he wished he had "put a couple of pounds on" the outsider. The horse, Crokes Cross, was making its British debut when it triumphed under jockey Jamie Hamilton in the two-mile novice hurdle event.
Matching a Recent Record
This stunning victory matched the record set only in December, when the Nigel Hawke-trained Blowers won at the same extraordinary price of 300-1 at Exeter. Interestingly, Kelso had previously been the stage for the record, with a 250-1 shot named Previously Equinoctial winning at the track back in 1990, a mark that stood until Blowers' success late last year.
Trainer's Delight and Regret
Crokes Cross earned trainer Stuart Coltherd his first success since March 2025, leading home stablemate Changemyluck, who started as the 5-2 favourite, in the ten-horse race. "I never had a penny on, I wish I had," Coltherd told Racing TV after the race. He added, "I knew they were both fit and I thought they would both run nice races. I thought Changemyluck would be there or thereabouts. It was a bit unknown with Crokes Cross, but she has done it well."
Reflecting on recent struggles, Coltherd explained, "I couldn't say anything about what has been going wrong. We just had horses maybe too high in the handicap. We have had two or three seconds and placed horses, but just never got their head in front." He humorously noted, "If I knew it was going to change today, I might have had a couple of pounds on. It's good for everybody to get another winner."
Watching the race unfold, Coltherd admitted, "I did see when I was watching it, 300-1, and I thought 'that's a huge price' and she does work well at home - it's too late now." The victory not only marks a personal milestone for the trainer but also cements Crokes Cross's place in racing history alongside Blowers as joint record-holders for the highest-priced winner in British racing.
