Shock 200-1 win Lights up Taunton

There was an extraordinary upset in the European Breeders’ Fund Mares’ “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle at Taunton yesterday as 200-1 shot Lights Of Broadway led home Wishes And Stars and Fortuna Rose at 50-1 and 33s respectively.

The best Jo Hughes’ mare had managed from four previous starts was fourth in a Southwell bumper, although she was given a huge helping hand when 3-1 shot Night Rose took a crunching fall at the second-last flight when looking like assuming the lead.

Mark Grant was then able to push out the big outsider to a three-quarter-length success.

“I’m not a gambler, but I did think she was capable of running well and the better ground and the shorter trip have helped,” said Hughes.

Grant added: “They have always liked her at home and maybe she’s got a bit stronger now.”

The Tote dividends revealed some extraordinary pay-outs. For a £1 straight forecast, punters were paid £3,484.82, while a £1 win bet paid £190.70. The big-priced runners that filled the first three places finished ahead of 15-8 favourite Pyleigh Lass, who trailed in fourth in the 12-runner field.

Meanhwile, Gold Cup-winning rider Sam Waley-Cohen left the course in frustration after picking up his third suspension in less than a month.

As Waley-Cohen is an amateur, he can only be banned on days where there is a race staged in that category, but he had already amassed a total of 15 days to serve during January and February, with a dozen of those coming about when he rode a finish a circuit too early at Fakenham. He was also given three days for allowing Long Run to hang in on the bend entering the second circuit of the King George and received the same amount on what was only his second ride under Rules since that occasion on Time For Spring in the tauntonracecourse.co.uk Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

The stewards found he had used his whip without giving his mount time to respond approaching the second-last fence. The new days will be 16, 17 and 19 February.

The 29-year-old, whose next major engagement is likely to be on Long Run in the Betfair Denman Chase on 11 February, was reluctant to speak to reporters and said: “I’m not sure if I’ll appeal and I really don’t want to comment at the moment.”