'It was carnage - but the result was there for everyone to see'

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: Seyaady

The horses

Nobody could have predicted the drama that lay ahead as eight juveniles assembled for the opening race of Carlisle's 2017 Flat season.

Ventura Dragon, representing trainer Richard Fahey and owners Middleham Park Racing, was the well-backed 5-4 favourite for the 5f novice, having been third on his debut at Pontefract 19 days earlier.

Seyaady, on the other hand, was making his first start and despite his powerful connections – trained by Mark Johnston for Hamdan Al Maktoum – was overlooked somewhat at 10-1.

Another newcomer, Magic Mark, looked interesting given trainer Karl Burke won the race the previous year and had a 7-13 record with his two-year-olds at Carlisle in 2016.

The race

Seyaady and Ventura Dragon, the protagonists in this remarkable race, were drawn close to each other and had a coming together as they vied for an early position on the inside rail with Seyaady seizing it under Franny Norton.

Ventura Dragon was lit up by the slight skirmish and, after being checked, Tony Hamilton had to bustle up his mount to get him to settle into a rhythm off a fast pace.

Albarino and Shay C had gone off hard in front and although Albarino wilted approaching the furlong pole, Shay C looked to be still in command as the race reached its climax.

However, there was a pace collapse with those in the rear coming to the fore in the final half-furlong, with Seyaady moving out of Shay C's slipstream to narrowly take it up.

Meanwhile, Magic Mark enjoyed a clear run down the middle of the track, which was in stark contrast to Ventura Dragon, who momentarily got struck on the rail behind the retreating Albarino before joining in at the finish.

The three runners fanned out across the track and hit the line together in a three-way photo. Although it was extremely tight, it looked like Seyaady just had his nose ahead in the middle of the other pair.

A tight finish involving Ventura Dragon (far side), Seyaady and Magic Mark, but who won?Credit: Racing UK

Replays of the finish confirmed that impression and Racing TV's on-course presenters Peter Naughton and Martin Dixon agreed Seyaady looked the winner.

However, the deceptive angle of the line caught everybody out, and shock and confusion greeted the announcement that Ventura Dragon had won.

The 1.01 damage was double-fold. During the race, Seyaady traded for £46,977 at the minimum price on Betfair and another £38,975 was done in the photo. At a total of £85,952, Betfair reported at the time, it was ninth in the all-time list of most expensive 1.01 losers.

Ventura Dragon traded at the maximum of 1,000 (999-1) on Betfair for small money during the race (£1.10) and in the photo (£1.20).

Like virtually everybody else, Johnston thought Seyaady had won and got a shock when told otherwise. Speaking at the track that day, his son Charlie said: "I can't believe it but it's clear on the photo. Dad was driving down from Glasgow and stopped at a bookies to watch the race and left thinking we'd won as they called ours the winner in the shop."

The three-way photo-finish at Carlisle, with a sum of £85,952 traded on Seyaady (centre)Credit: Racing UK

The in-running comments

Ventura Dragon

Took keen hold, held up on inside, checked and pushed along after 1f, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on well final furlong to lead post

Seyaady

Tracked leaders, effort and ran green 2f out, led well inside final furlong, kept on, headed post

What they say

Tim Palin, director of racing for Middleham Park Racing, owners of Ventura Dragon

I don't remember how much dough was done at what price but it was carnage. The irony was the result was there for everyone to see – it wasn't like a lot of in-running drama when the result is changed afterwards.

You're always a bit biased when you own a horse that's just got beat, but we never saw him as a 999-1 shot. It's like The Emperor's New Clothes, when everyone is telling you you've got beat, you start to believe it. We thought he was probably just beat.

It was a bit like when another of our horses, Vertura Tormenta, won the Prix Robert Papin two years ago – it was heads up, head down. For 97 per cent of the nod he was beaten and there was only three per cent when his head was in front. Maybe it was just the percentage of the nod that he had his head in front that skewed everything.

Then there's the camera angle. When it's like that, the near side is visually favoured and doesn't quite give enough credit to the far side. That was what potentially misled everybody.

All the talk while it was happening was whether he had landed £10,000 for the Plus 10 bonus as well. We were texting Richard Fahey and he said knowing our luck we'll have got beat, but Tony Hamilton timed his run perfectly.

What happened next?

Despite showing plenty of promise for the future that day, it was the only time Seyaady really hit the headlines. He made three more starts in Britain, winning the last of those at Wolverhampton, before being sold by Shadwell for £22,000 at the Horses-in-Training sales.

Ventura Dragon went on to win three of his 13 starts for Fahey – including a 1m2f handicap at Doncaster on Lincoln weekend – before going jumping with Oliver Sherwood, where he was winless in eight runs over hurdles.

Read more from our Room 1.01 series:

Stick To The Plan: 'It was a split-second thing – I couldn't believe what I was seeing'

Scrafton: 'He tried to stop for a pint in the stand!' – how he spurned Kelso success

Whistledown: 'I did feel really sorry for Mick and Rose – they were such unlucky losers'

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