Six lengths behind at the last but 999-1 shot fights back to grab unlikely win

Thursday: Market Rasen

Harry Du Berlais claimed an unlikely 999-1 in-running victory in the 3m novice handicap chase when dramatically collaring Fawsley Spirit in the final strides, despite being well behind in third jumping the final fence.

The Nick Kent-trained five-year-old was matched for £177 in running at 999 on the Betfair Exchange, and looked set to pick up place money only when trailing Fawsley Spirit by six lengths at the last.

However, Fawsley Spirit’s petrol tank emptied in the final furlong on his first run for 596 days, and Harry Du Berlais stormed up the rail to snatch victory by a short head under Charlie Hammond to give Kent his first winner of the season.

Asked if he thought he had a chance after the last, Kent said about his 100-30 winner: “No, not at all. I thought we were getting fourth, but he stayed and stayed and found more pace at the end.

“He’s not the quickest horse at home, but he was very gutsy there. It’s brilliant to see a horse do that, especially one that we like at our local track as well, but it didn’t look likely!

“I thought he must have blown up coming down the hill and wasn’t fit enough, but he got his second wind.”

How the race unfolded

Credit: Racing TV

Having been in touch with the leaders for much of the contest, Harry Du Berlais (circled) begins to drop back before the third-last fence

The five-year-old is a long way back and his price on the Betfair Exchange drifts accordingly

Harry Du Berlais finds a second wind and begins to close up on the leaders, but is still six lengths adrift jumping the last

Credit: Racing TV

Fawsley Spirit begins to tire on the run to the line and Harry Du Berlais is closing fast

Credit: Racing TV

Astonishingly, he gets up on the line to provide Charlie Hammond and Nick Kent with an unlikely victory

Fire looks hot stuff

The Whateleys could have unearthed their next star in Chasing Fire, who maintained his unbeaten record with an easy success in the opening 2m½f maiden hurdle.

Top-class jumps performers including Menorah, Captain Chris and Wishfull Thinking have starred in the Whateley silks, and there are high hopes the £170,000 purchase can follow suit having won by 16 lengths.

Chasing Fire is officially owned by Diana Whateley, and her husband Grahame said: “I’m absolutely thrilled with him. He’s so relaxed and that’s what an athlete does.

“You always live in hope because anything can happen. We’re still dreaming and living in hope, but we’ve got to step him up now and put him in with the big boys.”

Lady luck

Fantastic Lady finally ended Nicky Henderson and owner Joss Hanbury’s hoodoo in the Listed 3m mares’ chase when running out a brave winner under Nico de Boinville.

Casablanca Mix had finished runner-up twice and fell once for the same connections in three of the last four runnings, but they finally got their victory when Fantastic Lady kept on strongly to see off prolific mares’ Listed chase winner Zambella.

“We’ve been very close with Casablanca a fair few times, so it’s really nice to win it at long last,” Hanbury said. “They are half-sisters, so it’s nice to have won it for the family.”

Vegas trip on cards

The owners of Let’s Go To Vegas could be off to Nevada after the four-year-old landed the 2m4½f mares’ maiden hurdle on her rules debut.

Darren Cromack, who is part of the Let’s Go To Vegas partnership, said: “This is our first winner, which is a very special moment. We didn’t actually name her, but we might have to go to Vegas now!”

Results, replays and analysis

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