Daylight robbery: Buster Edwards hits 999-1 before finishing like a train

It wasn't quite the Great Train Robbery, but the equine Buster Edwards did his best to live up to his namesake when recording the unlikeliest of wins at Haydock, having traded at the maximum 999-1 in-running on the Betfair Exchange.

The David Pipe-trained six-year-old produced a late swoop when getting up from a seemingly impossible position in the 3m½f handicap hurdle for conditional riders.

Buster Edwards was pushed along by Jack Tudor for most of the final circuit before two untidy leaps at the final two hurdles appeared to end hopes of even placing.

Watch the replay as Buster Edwards flies home at Haydock

The 7-2 favourite, who jumped the last in seventh, about eight lengths off the lead, was not even visible on the Racing TV cameras until the last 50 yards but suddenly appeared and flew home to nail 25-1 Strike West by a head.

Tudor said: "Mr Pipe told me not to get there too soon, and we didn't. They went real fast and he was just flat out.

"I was always rolling away on him and just behind the bridle. He was responding all the time but I didn't think he would finish the way he did.

"I tried to switch him to keep his mind thinking and then we came wide for a late run and he flew to the line."

Betfair Exchange reported £289 was matched on the winner at the ceiling price of 999-1.

Who was Buster Edwards?

Buster Edwards was a member of the gang that carried out the Great Train Robbery in 1963 who escaped with £2.6 million in used banknotes (worth £53m today). The gang intercepted a mail train in Buckinghamshire but many of the criminals were quickly arrested.

Edwards, however, evaded arrest and fled to Mexico before returning to England in 1966 where he was arrested and jailed for 15 years.

Billy Garritty looked to have settled the argument in a messy race on Strike West, who traded at 1.01 for £7,332 in-running, before getting a nasty surprise.

"I thought there were only two dangers down the inner and it was a case of keeping him straight to win and then one out wide flies at the end and comes and does you," Garritty said.

Less than two lengths covered the first four home with the third Donnie Brasco (2.12) and fourth Passam (1.15) also trading low in the closing stages.

It was another memorable occasion for Tudor after winning Friday's Welsh Grand National on Potters Corner.

"That was a massive highlight, especially when you're a first season conditional," he said. "The prize-money is a big boost for everyone and hopefully we can get a few more on the board."

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