Big disappointments and surprise winners over the festive period

It was another eventful festive period with shock victories and disappointments across Britain and Ireland. Here we take a look at the most notable surprises . . .

The surprise winners

Miracle Haydock win for Buster

A 7-2 favourite obliging in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at Haydock on Monday may not be a surprise to many but those watching the race were left in shock after Buster Edwards secured a most unlikely victory.

Watch the replay as Buster Edwards strikes from unlikely position

The David Pipe-trained seven-year-old appeared to be flagging in the 3m½f handicap hurdle – hitting 999-1 in running on the Betfair Exchange – before finishing with quite a flourish under Jack Tudor to deny Strike West in the final stride.

Burrows proves a Saint at Punchestown

The market suggested Burrows Saint – a potential Randox Health Grand National hope – was the third string of Willie Mullins’ four runners in the 2m3½f hurdle at Punchestown on Tuesday but he proved the pick by winning with authority under Rachael Blackmore.

Willie Mullins: a 1-2-3-4 in the feature contest at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

It was a 1-2-3-4 for Mullins with Burrows Saint lowering the colours of Saglawy, Sayo and Stratum with the winner shortened to 14-1 (from 20) for the Aintree spectacular by Paddy Power.

Watch Burrows Saint score stylishly over a trip short of his best

Roller strikes in decade finale

The last race of the decade in Britain went the way of 2-1 favourite Wilde About Oscar at Warwick but there was much more of a surprise element in Ireland as 66-1 shot Highstreet Roller belied her odds to win the concluding bumper at Punchestown.

The Thomas Gibney-trained six-year-old had been soundly beaten in five previous races but it was sixth time lucky on Tuesday.

It was not a total surprise to Gibney though, who said: “I thought she would do that a year ago. It's probably my fault as I delayed getting her wind done, and that's the first time she's got her ground since it was done.”

Supreme star Summerville bounces back

There should not be too much of a surprise about a former Supreme star winning a Grade 2 contest back at Cheltenham but Summerville Boy was largely unfancied in the market for the Relkeel Hurdle on Wednesday.

Summerville Boy: back to winning ways over hurdles at CheltenhamCredit: Edward Whitaker

Punters were unwise to dismiss the chances of the Tom George-trained eight-year-old, who bounced back to form reverting to hurdles in style to defeat Roksana by two and a quarter lengths. He earned a quote of 25-1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle with Betfair Sportsbook.

Watch Summerville Boy regain the winning thread at Cheltenham

The big disappointments

Fusil fails to fire

Fusil Raffles was expected to strengthen his Champion Hurdle claims in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle at Kempton last Thursday but the Elite Hurdle winner lost his place quickly in the home straight before pulling up.

Epatante: leads over the final flight to win the Christmas HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

It was stablemate Epatante who stormed to the top of the Champion Hurdle betting with victory, shortened to 3-1 (from 16), while Fusil Raffles drifted to 25-1 (from 8) after his below-par effort.

No show from Lost in King George

Hopes were high that Lostintranslation could prove a Christmas cracker in the feature Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on the same card but Colin Tizzard’s stable star never looked happy in the 3m contest.

Lostintranslation: pulled up in the Ladbrokes King George VI ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Robbie Power’s mount was never travelling with any zest. The Betfair Chase winner made several mistakes and was pulled up with a wind operation now in the offing. He should not be discarded for the ultimately different test at Cheltenham in the Gold Cup in March however, for which he doubled in price to 8-1.

Laurina not on a going day

A stellar Racing Post Novice Chase was won by the Henry de Bromhead-trained Notebook but star mare Laurina failed to live up to expectations.

Watch Notebook's smart victory in the Racing Post Novice Chase

Last year’s Champion Hurdle fourth was pulled up in the Grade 1 event but was found to have bled in the race. It is a run that can be discounted.

No dream result for Klassical

There was a Willie Mullins-trained winner of the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday but not the one most expected as last season’s all-conquering Supreme scorer Klassical Dream trailed in last of five behind stablemate Sharjah.

Klassical Dream: a bad mistake at the fourth hurdle led to a disappointing effortCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Klassical Dream made a bad mistake at the fourth hurdle, and despite taking closer order as the race developed, he could not land a blow on the principals in the straight with Townend easing his mount. The three-time Grade 1 winner has questions to answer next time.

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