Result delivers monster £2,533 exacta in dramatic maiden hurdle at Fontwell

A £4,800 maiden hurdle at Fontwell on a Monday does not exactly promise endless drama, but that's precisely what unfolded at the West Sussex track.

First, champion jockey Richard Johnson, riding favourite Umndeni, was unseated at the start after Bigdeal jinked into his mount, with BetVictor and Paddy Power refunding bets on the 1-2 market leader.

The drama did not end there with the closest of close finishes as 66-1 shot My Destiny, a hurdling debutant for Brendan Powell, edged out 40-1 chance Carrick Roads, who was 9-4 to get the verdict in betting on the photo-finish.

What's more, 100-1 shot Crossley Tender followed them home in third, delivering an enormous exacta of £2,533, while the computer straight forecast amounted to £1,511.19.

Unsurprisingly there was a knock-on effect with the placepot paying £6,000 to £1 stake and the Quadpot paying £1,516 for the four races which included the maiden hurdle.

The drama even continued after the line with Harry Cobden unseated from the runner-up before saying on his return to the weighing room: "I'm surprised, I thought I'd won that."

The winner paid £91.70 on the Tote, with the place dividends £17.50, £7.70 and £30.50.

Richard Johnson: gets a lift back to the weighing roomCredit: Edward Whitaker

Johnson, who was trampled on by other runners, climbed into a buggy and was driven back to the weighing room.

Clerk of the course Ed Arkell said: "Richard is sore but he’s walked back in."

The champion jockey missed his final two rides on the afternoon, one of which – Night Of Sin – scored under replacement jockey Cobden in the 2m3½f handicap chase.

The shocks continued at Wolverhampton where the first race was won by 50-1 chance Deconso, who paid nearly 117-1 on the Tote.

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