St. James’s Place Foxhunter Chase: It Came To Pass springs 66-1 surprise

It Came To Pass caused a mighty 66-1 upset in the St. James’s Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup at Cheltenham.

It was a family affair, as the winner is trained in County Cork by Eugene O’Sullivan, who sent out Lovely Citizen to take this prized hunter chase in 1991, and was ridden by his daughter, Maxine.

Marcle Ridge made the running and soon had the runners stretched out before he came back to the field and was headed three out.

Shantou Flyer went on under his owner David Maxwell, but it was not long before It Came To Pass came on the scene with a well-timed challenge.

The 10-year-old put daylight between himself and his rivals and had 10 lengths to spare over 11-4 favourite Billaway at the line.

Shantou Flyer was five lengths away in third, with Staker Wallace another three and a quarter lengths back in fourth.

The winning trainer said: “We bought this horse last year with a view to running him in this race, but we only picked him up after Christmas and couldn't get him fit in time. Maxine has done an awful lot of work on him at home, and she gave him a savage ride today. All the big guns were queuing up behind but Maxine knew what she had, she rode him accordingly and I'm very proud of her.

"I've been trying to win this race for 29 years - I won it when I was very young and I'm a lot older now. I just hope I don't have to wait another 29 years to win it again. I was like a Jack-in-the-Box the whole way, feeling nervous for Maxine and nervous for the horse. I expected a big run from the horse, but I've been disappointed here in the past.

"I knew if he came around the final bend anywhere near the front he would stay and quicken up. Jim Culloty trained the horse three years ago when he ran in the race and fell at the third-last when going very well. So I had a horse with course experience and just had to get him here in good order.

"No, I didn't back him!

"He pulled up last time out in a point at Kilfeacle, but the ground was very heavy and two shoes of his shoes were pulled off. We were just praying for good dry weather all week and we more or less got it.

"His owners, Gerald and Alary O'Sullivan are from Manchester. They are not related to us, but they are lovely people who have supported us with horses for the past 25 years. We met at a sale one day and it went from there."