Killahara Castle shocks odds-on favourite with 200-1 success at Thurles

Killahara Castle - a 200-1 supposed no-hoper - caused the biggest upset in Irish racing history when taking Listed honours in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle at Thurles.

Killahara Castle eclipsed the previous biggest priced winner in Ireland at 100-1 (PA)

The six-year-old, trained in County Tipperary by John Burke, stormed past the 8-13 favourite True Self, from the all-powerful Willie Mullins stable, between the last two flights to run out a clear winner, scoring by five lengths under the trainer's brother, Martin.

It was Killahara Castle's first win in 21 starts, and the winning rider said: "We were just hoping for a bit of black type and stuck her in hoping it would break up a bit better than what it did, but once she was in, we said we might as well run her.

"She has rakes of ability, but it's all in her head, if we could get it out. They went a good gallop and they just came back and she stayed galloping. The smaller field suited her as well, as she is usually really keen but settled lovely today and everything went right."

He added: "We have four horses for the track and 14 altogether between breakers. I'm in with John every evening and ride work for Tim Doyle. That's my biggest win and first Listed win."

Owned by Elaine Burke, who is the sister of John and Martin, Killahara Castle is the first horse to win at 200-1 in Ireland this century, while the last to score at those odds in Britain was Dandy Flame at Wolverhampton in July 2016.

Foinavon's 100-1 surprise in the 1967 Grand National is the stuff of racing folklore, while 250-1 shot Equinoctial was the longest-priced winner ever when he won at Kelso in November 1990.

Killahara Castle's win at Thurles on Sunday saw him notch a piece of history in Ireland, as he joined the 200-1 winner club at the expense of an odds-on favourite. Here are the five previous winners at that price this century, all of which have come in Britain:

Five shock winners at 200-1:

Foinavon's 100-1 surprise in the 1967 Grand National is the stuff of racing folklore, while 250-1 shot Equinoctial was the longest-priced winner ever when he won at Kelso in November 1990.

Killahara Castle's win at Thurles on Sunday saw him notch a piece of history in Ireland, as he joined the 200-1 winner club at the expense of an odds-on favourite. Here are the five previous winners at that price this century, all of which have come in Britain:

Beechy Bank:

Having her first run back for Mary Hambro after a brief spell with Richard Phillips, the then four-year-old faced eight rivals in an extended mile-and-a-half contest at Warwick on September 21, 2002 and was ridden by Vince Slattery. Leading over a furlong out, the filly dug deep to beat Miss Gigi by a length.

Arctic Blue:

Another having his first run for a new trainer, Patrick Rodford's five-year-old won a two-mile novice hurdle at Chepstow on March 23, 2005 in the hands of 10lb claimer Keiran Burke.

Maoi Chinn Tire:

The first start for a new trainer theme continued with Jennie Candlish's runner, who was good value for his Listed hurdle win at Wetherby on October 29, 2010. Still racing, he has been no mean performer, winning another nine times since then and finishing fourth at 100-1 in a Grade One hurdle at Aintree.

Lights Of Broadway:

The mare was having her third run for Jo Hughes when winning at novice hurdle at Taunton on January 9, 2012, staying on in the hands of Mark Grant to beat another outsider, 50-1 chance Wishes And Stars, by three-quarters of a length.

Dandy Flame:

Trained and owned by Berkshire-based Jose Santos, a Monday evening at Wolverhampton on July 25, 2016 was the scene of Dandy Flame's turn-up. Making a mockery of the formbook, he surged two and three-quarter lengths clear of Elegantly Bound in the hands of Renato Souza.