'It's my biggest surprise in racing in 40 years' - 100-1 York winner stuns owner

It was just as well there were no punters present – Mr Carpenter had the absent bookmakers cursing their luck by springing a 100-1 shock on Thursday as racing resumed at York behind closed doors.

Bought for just 15,000gns at the Tattersalls horses in training sale last autumn, the four-year-old was stepping up markedly in trip in the 1m4f handicap on his first run for Tim Easterby.

Yet he saw the distance out well under Cam Hardie and held on by a neck from Sweet Celebration to score a success that would have silenced a packed Knavesmire.

"I'm shocked!" said owner Brian Valentine, looking on from outside the winner's enclosure. "It's my biggest surprise in racing in 40 years.

"I didn't back him. He'd only had five races in his life and I thought if he didn't finish last we'd be happy."

Mr Carpenter was only the second York winner for Beverley-based Valentine, who did not let the restrictions on owners spoil his enjoyment.

"I'll take a winner anywhere, no matter whether there's a crowd or not," he said.

Easterby was not so surprised at his new recruit's victory and said: "I thought he was a really nice horse. He's worked nicely and done everything right. I didn't look to see what price he was, I don't bet.

"We thought he wanted a bit of juice in the ground and with a drop of rain forecast we thought we'd run him. I wasn't shocked that he ran well."

Read more about big-priced winners:

Coventry hero Nando Parrado the biggest-priced Royal Ascot winner ever at 150-1

100-1 winner Fleur Irlandaise's price was 'an insult' – Nick Littmoden

'The owner's too excited to talk sense' - Intercessor wins at 200-1 at Newbury

200-1 Killahara Castle becomes biggest-priced winner in Irish history