'She should have been 4-1 not 40-1!' - Pay The Woman rewards Keighley faith

It may have been a shock winner for punters, but Pay The Woman’s 40-1 win was always in mind for trainer Martin Keighley.

The seven-year-old took the 2m mares’ novice hurdle under James Best, her first race for Keighley after moving to his yard from Ireland.

The winning trainer said: "We certainly fancied her more than the odds suggest, she was working super at home and there were bits and pieces in her pointing form. She should have been 4-1 not 40-1!"

Making her debut over hurdles, it was a remarkable improvement for the mare, who had finished 16th of 17 and beaten 74 lengths in her previous outing, her only other start under rules.

"She ran no race in her bumper," said Keighley, who brought the mare to his yard after that run at Cork. "However, she’s a big, scopey mare and will probably go chasing later this season. She’s been over fences at home and she’s really good."

Pay The Woman was one of two runners Keighley sent out on Thursday, and Enforcement ensured the Gloucestershire-based handler ended the day with a perfect record having struck at Uttoxeter 15 minutes earlier.

Keighley added: "With this and the win at Uttoxeter it was a really good 15 minutes, it’s been great to get that strong start to the season."

Easkey Lad sweeps to victory

Ben Jones landed a double in impressive fashion as Easkey Lad bolted up the rail to take the 2m handicap hurdle.

The 17-2 shot appeared completely out of touch at the back of the field two out, but flew the final hurdle to surge past the pack and prevail by half a length.

Results, replays and analysis

Members can click here to download the digital newspaper every evening from 9pm. Not a member? Click here to sign up and enjoy the digital newspaper every day.