125-1 and 100-1! Massive-priced Boxing Day winners stun festive punters

Racing on Saturday got off to an unexpected start with two of the first three races won by horses sent off at odds of 125-1 and 100-1.

Ballycallan Fame kicked things off by running out a wide-margin winner of the opening race of the day at Wetherby at 125-1, while Awkwafina narrowly clung on from odds-on favourite Palm Beach to score at Limerick at 100-1.

Ballycallan Fame, trained by Nick Kent, had been pulled on up her last start in a Listed novices' hurdle when handled by Dan Skelton.

The five-year-old was ridden positively from the start by jockey Charlie Hammond and opened up a significant gap on her rivals as the runners headed down the back straight for the second time in the 2m3½f mares' novices' hurdle.

Saturday results and race replays

Favourite Global Harmony, ridden by Bridget Andrews and trained by Skelton, tried in vain to close down the leader in the home straight but Ballycallan Fame was always in control despite her lengthy odds.

Hammond said: "I've done plenty with her at home and she's jumped really well, so we knew that was her forte. She's been quite keen in her races before and getting her into a rhythm early on was key and we've galloped everything else into the ground.

"It's a bit of a shock, although Nick [Kent] actually fancied her a bit each-way. It's a great training performance as it was a massive improvement on what she's done before."

Saturday's free racing tips: our expert selections for a Boxing Day bonanza

Awkwafina was making her debut over hurdles at Limerick having previously raced on the Flat. She responded gamely from the final flight to see off Palm Beach, who had been second on his debut over hurdles for Joseph O'Brien and JP McManus.

Winning jockey Philip Enright said: "I was talking to [trainer] Sam [Curling] this morning and he said she had only done one bit of work away from grass and she went well and he said she jumped well. He thought she'd handle the ground and she did and she galloped to the line strong."

Six meetings are taking place in Britain and Ireland on Saturday, all of which have no spectators due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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