HerecomesFreddie hits 999-1 in running before shock bumper win

Tuesday: Huntingdon

The market proved a decent guide all afternoon at the Cambridgeshire track until the closing bumper when 66-1 chance HerecomesFreddie, who was traded at 999-1 in running on Betfair, came from the clouds to send bookmakers home happy.

The 1m5½f race looked a two-horse affair turning for home as second favourite A Shining Moon was putting 4-9 favourite Alazwar in the shade.

No one had reckoned on the late surge of the eventual winner, however, who was all but tailed off at halfway.

It was a remarkable turnaround by the Michael Scudamore-trained winner, who had finished more than 25 lengths behind the favourite at the track last time.

Jockey Richard Patrick said: "We fancied HerecomesFreddie here last time, but he was very disappointing and he was tailing off again until I gave him a couple of flicks down the back straight and he took off."

Gardens looking rosy

Salley Gardens and Katie O'Farrell return in triumph

Katie O'Farrell gave punters something to cheer in division two of the 2m4f handicap hurdle when partnering her second winner since joining Olly Murphy.

Riding 7-4 favourite Salley Gardens, the 5lb claiming conditional was always in command. She said: "I originally came over from Ireland to join Paul Nicholls but last year joined Olly, who I've known for a long time. I'm giving it a good go and as well as Olly, I currently ride out for Dan Skelton and Oliver Sherwood."

Colour clue

Members of the Rupert Dubai Racing in full dress after Onemorefortheroad wins

Colour co-ordinated owners are nothing new in racing but the members of the Rupert Dubai Racing syndicate added a new dimension when sporting smart leggings after Onemorefortheroad won the featured Michaelmas Handicap Hurdle.

The 3-1 chance had his own red, yellow and black colours well to the fore in the race when making all under Daryl Jacob to follow up a recent win at Stratford.

Winning trainer Neil King was represented by his new assistant Hetta Stevens, formerly understudy to Flat trainer and husband Olly Stevens.

She said: "I joined Neil in August and I'm loving it as I started out with Henrietta Knight back in the day. This horse loves tight tracks and quickish ground, so the weather gods are smiling on us at the moment."

No Comment

There was no unlucky 13th attempt over fences for No Comment in the veterans' chase for conditional jockeys as the 2-1 chance won handsomely under Sean Houlihan.

The ten-year-old was scoring for the first time in four years when taking the four-runner contest in which each of the quartet was still in contention with two to jump.

In the end, Philip Hobbs's charge, in the colours of JP McManus, went clear on the flat to deny favourite Militarian.

Houlihan said: "It was quite a strong race for a veterans' chase and I'm delighted that No Comment has finally got his head in front over fences. I had planned to hold on to him a bit longer but he wasn't stopping at the finish."

Not quite back in business

Huntingdon is still recovering from the floods which hit the track last winter but hopes to be back fully operational by January.

The main grandstand has not long dried out from floods which cost the track six fixtures between December and February, including Peterborough Chase day, which had to be switched to Cheltenham.

The annual members' bar and restaurant is now housed in a tent between the weighing room and the paddock as their regular venue has been taken over as a jockeys' changing room.

Results, replays and analysis

Upping The Ante star Gavin Lynch joins the Racing Post roster for a weekly Saturday column throughout the jumps season. He'll offer a guide to the weekend action, highlight the horses and races to watch and share his punting wisdom. Read it every Saturday in the Racing Post or online from 4pm every Friday.