A runner-up 22 times and placed another 13 - joy as one of racing's unluckiest horses ends two-year drought

One of the unluckiest horses in training finally came good as John Betjeman, who has been second 22 times, landed just his fourth win in 75 outings.

The nine-year-old won the 2m1f handicap hurdle, his first victory in more than two years, having been placed in 12 runs since for Mark Gillard and Joe Anderson.

He was fitted with a visor for the first time in his career and survived a mistake at the last to hold off Clear Storm by half a length.

Gillard, saddling his first winner since October, said: "This horse is terrible in front but he's game and we're lucky to have him. There's been a few seconds and he's been unlucky in life, but he's run 75 times and won more than £70,000 prize-money, so we feel fortunate to have him around. 

"He's been incredibly sound, we've never had a problem with him, and he'll be out in the paddock before he goes to bed. He's an amazing horse and we're delighted he's done it. 

"My son Fergus rang me up and mentioned the visor. We've had the blinkers on and off to keep him sweet but luckily it worked. We had a bottle of champagne after we won – and we'll be getting another!"

High time

Seconds have been a similar theme for Walk On High, who had a first success on his 11th outing in the 2m3f maiden hurdle for Harry Fry and Bryan Carver. The eight-year-old had filled the runners-up spot on his last two starts.

Double delight

Evan Williams and Adam Wedge had a 15-1 double with Pooroldmackley in the 2m5f handicap chase and Puddlesinthepark in the 3m2f handicap chase.

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