'He tried to stop for a pint in the stand!' - how Scrafton spurned Kelso success

Betfair's in-running market has seen some huge sums traded and lost after the impossible somehow became reality. In a new series called Room 1.01, we recall some of racing's most expensive defeats.

This week's subject: Scrafton

The horse

Scrafton won twice on the Flat for James Bethell before joining John Quinn for 32,000gns in October 2014 for a juvenile hurdling campaign.

After unseating his rider on his hurdling debut at Catterick, Scrafton finished a promising second at Wetherby and headed to Kelso in January 2015 with a favourite's chance of getting off the mark in this sphere.

He was sent off the 5-4 favourite in this seven-runner event over 2m2f on heavy ground with James Reveley maintaining the partnership in the saddle.

The race

From a long way out it looked a match between Scrafton and 14-1 shot Medicine Hat as their rivals gave way one by one in testing conditions, including 11-4 shot Stanley who was pulled up.

Reveley had a peek behind after the second-last as Scrafton ranged upsides the Joe Colliver-ridden Medicine Hat while still firmly on the bridle. This near enough looked a foregone conclusion.

Scrafton eased to the front before the last and was still on a tight rein, although a somewhat low and tired jump at the final flight suggested he might not have loads left to give.

Nevertheless, Scrafton asserted and went three lengths clear halfway up the run-in, only to then hang markedly to his right, taking a notable look at the crowd to that side and virtually pulling himself up to a halt.

Scrafton (left) leads on the bridle going to the last with Medicine Hat (right) looking beatenCredit: Racing UK

Favourite Scrafton asserts on the run-in but starts to look towards the stands' side at KelsoCredit: Racing UK

Scrafton begins to hang right and loses all momentum, while Medicine Hat starts to make up considerable ground to challengeCredit: Racing UK

Medicine Hat (right) grasps the opportunity close home as Scrafton (left) comes to a haltCredit: Racing UK

Medicine Hat passes the winning line five lengths in front of the wayward Scrafton in a dramatic conclusion to the juvenile hurdleCredit: Racing UK

Medicine Hat, who hit a high of 130 in running on the Betfair Exchange, seized the opportunity to grasp victory from a likely defeat, while Scrafton traded at 1.01 on the way to somehow being beaten five lengths at the line.

Members can watch the replay here

The in-running comments

Medicine Hat

Took keen hold, chased leader, led before 4 out, clear next, mistake 2 out, headed when mistake last, looked held when left in lead last 40yds, kept on

Scrafton

Held up in touch, smooth headway to chase winner after 3 out, led on bit approaching last, ridden, hung right and not run on run-in, virtually pulled himself up and headed last 40yds

What they say

Sean Quinn, son and assistant to John Quinn, trainer of Scrafton

Scrafton cruised into it and looked home and hosed, but he hit the front and tried to stop for a pint in the stand! It's one of those races we'll never forget but it was just one of those things.

He was a horse with a bit of a kink in him and he just lugged right, it was nobody's fault and James Reveley couldn't do anything about it.

Scrafton was straightforward to train at home but put him on a track and he did have his quirks.

If you have a horse who is a touch soft, those testing conditions at the uphill finish at Kelso are probably not ideal as you really need a horse who will knuckle down when the going gets tough late on.

He won on better ground on a sharper track around Market Rasen for us and those conditions suited him better.

What happened next

Medicine Hat finished in front of Scrafton again on their next start when second to Top Notch in the Victor Ludorum at Haydock but failed to win for a second time over hurdles, largely racing on the Flat for George Moore then Marjorie Fife.

Scrafton went on to win over hurdles for Quinn when partnered by Brian Hughes at Market Rasen that August before moving to Tony Carroll at the end of the year.

Medicine Hat: beat Scrafton at Kelso and confirmed the form at HaydockCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

His Market Rasen success proved to be his sole win over hurdles with Scrafton scoring six times on the Flat with two turf triumphs and four victories on the all-weather.

Five of his six wins on the Flat came under apprentices – Joey Haynes, Aled Beech and Poppy Bridgwater – with Tony Hamilton the sole professional to score on Scrafton when he won on his handicap debut at Newcastle for Bethell.

His final start came when seventh in a 1m6f amateur riders' handicap at Southwell under Sarah Bowen in November 2020.

Read more from our Room 1.01 series:

Whistledown: 'I did feel really sorry for Mick and Rose – they were such unlucky losers'

Tofino Bay: the day Patrick Mullins hailed a 'fantastic taxi' but still won at Cheltenham

Zarkandar: 'We left nothing out there' – how Reve De Sivola snatched dramatic Long Walk win

Minellacelebration: 'It's not like he fell in a hole or anything' – the horse beaten at 1.01, twice

Cotai Glory: 'I got absolute howls of abuse walking back in – it was horrific'

Go West Young Man: 'He turned sharp left and over to the far rail – it was a proper handbrake turn'

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.