It was a shock for punters but 80-1 winner no surprise to Wilson

The four-year-old Hayward Field, who had been beaten the best part of 20 lengths and 40 lengths on his two starts this season, produced an 80-1 shocker for punters in the 1m4f handicap at Thirsk on Tuesday.

However, his win came as no surprise to his trainer Noel Wilson who said: "We had a few quid on, we thought 100-1, which he was at one point, was a huge price. Last time the ground was much too soft for him, he appreciated today's going."

Formerly with Roger Varian, having cost 150,000gns as a yearling, the four-year-old was placed in a couple of handicaps from five runs last season but was dispatched to Newmarket Sales last October where he was bought by owners Marwood Racing for 18,000gns.

As his form for his new connections had been poor it was no surprise he was sent off at long odds, but in a race in which the leaders looked to go off plenty fast enough he came from off the pace to score by two and a quarter lengths.

He was also a notable winner for rider Paddy Mathers, who had been sidelined for the first part of the season, and Hayward Field was his first winner since he resumed riding last month.

Wilson added: "Paddy rides out for us and he got it dead right as he said he would be best held up and he was spot on because they went off very fast."

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