Nicky Martin ends big week with 200-1 surprise at Taunton

Just three days after winning the Welsh National with The Two Amigos, trainer Nicky Martin was celebrating again when the 200-1 chance Inspiratrice ran out victorious at Taunton.

Heading into Christmas, Martin had only trained two winners this season, but she will not be forgetting this festive period in a hurry.

With her stable stalwart providing her with the biggest success of her career at Chepstow on Tuesday, Inspiratrice and Sean Bowen were surprisingly friendless in the market.

The three-year-old filly had shown precious little in two previous starts but dropped right out by Bowen, she steadily moved into contention before pulling clear of Fourofakind to win the Alne Park Stud Juvenile Hurdle by four and a half lengths.

When asked if she thought Inspiratrice would win, Martin replied: “In a word, no.

“It was her third run and while I like her, I didn’t think she was good enough.

“But she enjoyed the ground and because they went a decent pace it suited her as she’s quite gassy. Sean was able to just drop her in and let it all unfold.

“The last twice she’s run there’s been no pace and she’s burnt out, but she got into a nice rhythm today and won comfortably.”

Martin was not on course at Chepstow having been hit by a bad dose of flu, but said: “I’m at Taunton today, this has been my first venture out!”

Astapor was a 200-1 winner at Hamilton in June. The longest-priced winner in history is Equinoctial who won at Kelso in 1990 at 250-1.

Elsewhere on the card, Harry Fry’s Credrojava (4-1) maintained her unbeaten record when gamely landing the Byerley Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, running down Dan Skelton’s odds-on favourite She’s A Saint after the last.