Agony for favourite backers as Elliott odds-on shot loses after hitting 1.01

Favourite backers were left ruing their luck when the Gordon Elliott-trained De Plotting Shed, who was sent off the 8-13 favourite, was beaten in the opener at Fairyhouse having been matched at the minimum 1.01 on Betfair.

De Plotting Shed, who travelled well throughout under Davy Russell and was matched for £835 at the minimum price, was denied by the fast-finishing Screaming Colours, who hit the maximum 999-1 in running in the 2m1f beginners' chase.

The winner, who had an industry starting price of 80-1, was matched for £105 at 999-1.

It appeared as if he had been given a lot to do by Roger Loughran but, as the leaders faultered, the William Durkin-trained outsider came through to prevail by a length.

Screaming Colours dropped from third to sixth entering the home straight and looked likely to fade into the distance as De Plotting Shed remained hard on the bridle. However, Loughran administered several reminders between the last couple of fences and the seven-year-old gained a second wind.

Jumping well at the final fence, Screaming Colours still had three lengths to find on the favourite, but eroded the gap rapidly once switched to the rail and won with a bit in hand come the line.

Loughran said: "I rode him here in the spring but he made a noise and I said at the time he was a grand horse who tries but [for connections] to tidy up his wind. Michael [Fitzsimons, assistant trainer] said to me today, 'I think you'll find a different horse' and he told me to jump out and be as handy as I could be as he probably wants 2m4f ideally.

"He winged the third-last and I was getting into it and I was catching Davy the whole way down to the last and I could see him emptying. I jumped the last, gave my lad a crack and he stuck his head down and won well.

"He's a big horse and is probably maturing and filling into his frame. Michael likes him and he handled that ground today – I don't know what he'd be like on better ground."

Result, replay and analysis

If you are interested in this, you might like:

Betfair history made after three horses beaten at 1.01 in one race

Pauls Hill powers home to score at Towcester after hitting 999-1

Johnston runner one of the most expensive losers in Betfair history