'I'll be having some party tonight' - jubilant owner lands five-figure punt

Wincanton: Saturday

A heavy shower forced the small crowd at Wincanton to huddle in the stand to watch the 2m5f handicap hurdle but excitement soon got the better of owner Jon Pike, who was dancing in the rain as his beloved 13-year-old Jepeck rolled back the years to net him a special and rather lucrative win.

The son of Westerner had not won since taking the Veterans' Handicap Chase Final at Sandown on this day in the calendar two years ago and had refused, been pulled up and well beaten across nine runs since. Retirement was considered but Pike and trainer Anthony Honeyball were not ready to give up just yet.

That desire seemingly inspired 5lb claimer Ben Godfrey, who rode him confidently from the front. The pair led by a wide margin on the turn, looked somewhat in trouble as the pursuers edged closer, but had enough in reserve to pick up again and score by six and a half lengths at odds of 40-1.

The switch to hurdles and testing ground sparked the improvement and Pike was confident that might be the case ahead of the race, so much so he headed home with a handsome reward.

"I had £200 each-way at 50-1. I'll be having some party tonight," he said.

"The bookies dismissed him and it was unfair because this ground is the secret to him. I talk about the horse a lot and particularly to the bookie I had the bet with as I know him as a steward at Larkhill.

"He's been a fantastic horse. Everybody had written him off but Anthony had told me not to, so I'm over the moon."

There was another upset when 80-1 shot Pilsdon Pen landed the 1m7f handicap hurdle for Jeremy Scott. Winning owner Darren Langley said after the race he would celebrate with "a few pints of Guinness".

Change of luck

Unanswered Prayers was demoted when first past the post at Warwick in November and then second again behind subsequent Grade 1 winner Stage Star at Newbury, but things went in his favour in the 2m5½f novice hurdle.

He finished powerfully up the straight to see off 4-5 favourite Flemenstide and his trainer Chris Gordon is already excited to go chasing with him next season. He also praised wife Jenny for the success of Unanswered Prayers.

"She keeps him a lot sweeter than she does me," he joked. "She rides him out every day and absolutely adores the horse. He's going in the right direction and he'll be a three-mile chaser next season."

Clown gets serious

The Emma Lavelle-trained Killer Clown landed the feature 2m4f handicap chase and is likely to be tested in a bigger handicap next.

"We know he's a nice horse," said Lavelle. "It just hasn't been straightforward and he hasn't won as many races as he should have. Two and a half miles on a bit of nice ground would be ideal."

O'Brien treble

Tom O'Brien rode a 46-1 treble with Great Ocean and Island Run taking the two divisions of the 1m7f maiden hurdle for Philip Hobbs, before the Noel Williams-trained Another Crick struck in the 1m7½f handicap chase.

Results, replays and analysis

Read more on Saturday's racing

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'Really special' - Prime Venture comes good for Evan Williams in veterans' final

'Fantastic' novice Bavington Bob delivers again for in-form Ann Hamilton

'I'm sure there is more to come' - Chance continues Coakley's good form

Early strike in new year for Liam Burke as trainer dedicates win to late owner

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