'You sometimes see horses drift - but rarely see one run towards the crowd'

Betfair's in-running market has seen some huge sums traded and lost after the impossible somehow became reality. In our series called Room 1.01, we recall some of racing's most expensive defeats.

This week's subject: What's The Scoop

The horses

What's The Scoop, a son of Presenting, was bidding for a first victory at the third attempt over hurdles and was third in the betting for this four-runner novice hurdle at Sandown in March 2016 despite representing powerhouse connections in trainer Nicky Henderson, jockey Barry Geraghty and owner Michael Buckley.

He arrived off the back of a debut third at Ascot and a fifth at Kempton, and was priced at 7-2 in a race Henderson had landed with Oscara Dara and In Fairness in previous years.

The six-year-old had shown no traits or tendency to hang on his first two starts, but that was soon to all change on his third outing in the week before the Cheltenham Festival.

The race

It was all going so smoothly. What's The Scoop's cause was helped by 6-4 favourite Air Horse One unseating his rider at the first and Henderson's runner was jumping neatly and travelling strongly.

Geraghty's mount breezed into the lead after a big jump at the second-last and he cleared the final flight with a healthy advantage over the Rod Millman-trained Starving Marvin.

What's The Scoop was six lengths in front and on the way to a first victory, but in a blink of the eye he had somehow thrown the race away, remarkably careering very sharply left and heading straight to the bewildered racegoers rather than the winning post.

What's The Scoop clears the last with a healthy lead and looks certain to gain a first winCredit: Racing UK

What's The Scoop increases his advantage as he heads up the Sandown hillCredit: Racing UK

It's all change as What's The Scoop sticks his head in the air and turns violently leftCredit: Racing UK

Barry Geraghty tries to correct his mount but What's The Scoop maintains his sideways momentumCredit: Racing UK

What's The Scoop faces the crowd and only the running rail stops him from entering the enclosureCredit: Racing UK

Starving Marvin (left) is now in front and set for an unlikely victory as What's The Scoop consents to run in a straight line againCredit: Racing UK

Starving Marvin passes the winning line six lengths in front of the errant runner-up What's The ScoopCredit: Racing UK

What's The Scoop ended up facing the stands' side rail before thinking twice about joining the crowd, eventually relenting to run on again up the Sandown hill when it was all too late.

It was a terrific piece of horsemanship from Geraghty to even stay on board the runner-up, who finished six lengths behind Starving Marvin at the line.

What's The Scoop hit the basement 1.01 on the Betfair Exchange, while Starving Marvin, the mount of Leighton Aspell, was matched at the ceiling price of 999-1 (1,000).

The in-running comments

Starving Marvin

Led, stayed far side in straight, ridden and headed 2 out, 6 lengths down and no chance when left in lead 100yds out

What's The Scoop

Held up behind other pair, not fluent 3rd and 5th, came near side in straight and closed to lead 2 out, soon clear, 6 lengths lead and cantering when turned 90 per cent left, careered towards rail 100yds out and stopped, got going again but no chance to recover

What they say

Barry Geraghty, What's The Scoop's jockey

I wouldn't have thought he was tricky until that day; he never gave any indication he was going to do anything like that.

He travelled into the finish brilliantly, and led just before the last. It was all plain-sailing and we had reservations about the ground being soft, so I was being patient with him for that reason.

He was going on to win his race, but then halfway between the last and the line he just veered violently left.

I think he thought he was at the chute to the track; he was heading for home as far as he was concerned until he realised there were rails in front of him.

What's The Scoop heads for the crowd rather than the winning post up the Sandown hillCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

It was only when he hit that dead end that he changed his mind and headed up the hill.

When he ran on again I even for a second thought he might get back up to win, but we couldn't do it.

I don't recall the rest of the race so well, but that finish I still remember.

James Millman, son of Rod Millman, trainer of Starving Marvin

Starving Marvin had been off for nearly four years before that season and ran well on his previous two starts at Huntingdon and Sandown so we thought he had a decent chance going into the race.

We thought he had every chance in the race but then he started stopping up the hill. We were disappointed with how he had run, then suddenly a hundred yards from the line What's The Scoop did a U-turn and gave us the race.

We certainly didn't expect that to happen and Starving Marvin was walking up the hill so slowly there was a little worry that What's The Scoop might straighten up and still beat us!

Starving Marvin: kept straight and true to land this eventful novice hurdle at SandownCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

You sometimes see horses drift over to a rail and lose some momentum, but rarely see one basically run towards the crowd. Horses are unpredictable creatures though, and you never quite know what they are thinking.

It was nice to get a little good fortune on our side for once and it was one of the few bits of luck Starving Marvin had. He won a bumper on his debut and was found to have a defibrillating heart, then got a leg and unfortunately had so many problems. Sadly he broke down badly on his chasing debut and we lost him. Apart from that day at Sandown, he was a very, very unlucky horse.

What happened next

What's The Scoop failed to hit the target on three subsequent starts for Henderson before being bought for £32,000 by Sue and Harvey Smith.

He built up some consistency in ten starts for the West Yorkshire yard and gained a sole success in a 2m½f handicap chase at Newcastle when partnered by Danny Cook in January 2020.

What's The Scoop (near side): a winner for Sue Smith at Newcastle in January 2020Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The now 12-year-old returned to action at Carlisle in April, trailing in last of 12 in a 2m1f handicap hurdle.

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