Killahara Castle makes history with 200-1 defeat of odds-on favourite at Thurles
Complete outsider wins first race in 21 attempts
Killahara Castle etched her name into the history books at Thurles as she became the first horse to win at 200-1 in Ireland when causing a huge upset in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle.
The six-year-old, trained by John Burke, opened her account at the 21st attempt to take Listed honours at the main expense of 8-13 favourite True Self, from the champion stable of Willie Mullins.
Ridden by the trainer’s brother, Martin, and owned by their sister, Elaine, Killahara Castle led between the last two flights to run out a clear winner by five lengths.
The winning rider said: “We were just hoping for a bit of black type and stuck her in hoping it would break up a bit better than what it did, but once she was in, we said we might as well run her.
“She has rakes of ability, but it’s all in her head, if we could get it out. They went a good gallop and they just came back and she stayed galloping.”
He added: “The smaller field suited her as well, as she is usually really keen but settled lovely today and everything went right.
“We have four horses for the track and 14 altogether between breakers. I’m in with John every evening and ride work for Tim Doyle.
“That’s my biggest win and first Listed win.”
Elsewhere on the card, Joseph O’Brien’s Rhinestone earned a quote of 16-1 with RaceBets for the champion bumper at Cheltenham after he spreadeagled the field in the Ryan Tarmacadam (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race on his second appearance.
The 11-4 chance, ridden by Derek O’Connor, was left in front when the Burke-trained Darcis Boy ran out after five furlongs and steadily pulled away to score by 19 lengths from the 4-7 favourite Sancta Simone.
