A horse named Blowers, a 300/1 outsider named after cricket commentator Henry Blofeld, made history on Thursday by becoming Britain’s longest odds winner after claiming victory at Exeter. The five-year-old gelding, father to the stallion Jack Hobbs, carries a strong cricket-themed heritage inspiring several racehorse names in the sport.
James Best, the winning jockey, was on course to achieve a rare cricket-related double, having been set to ride Bradman — a horse named after Australian cricket legend Don Bradman — in a later race. Unfortunately, heavy rain led to the cancellation of that race. A fortunate bettor from Southampton turned a £10 each-way stake on Blowers into £3,620, celebrating an early Christmas windfall, joining many others who placed bets with Coral bookmakers.
Coral’s David Stevens expressed surprise at the bettor’s return to back Blowers early that morning, highlighting the unexpected nature of the win. The previous longest odds winner in Britain was Equinoxal at 250/1 in 1990, with other recent long shots like Glory and Cicero’s Gift making notable wins in major British races.
Blowers, without the form to qualify for a more prestigious race, is trained by Nigel Hawke, a respected but low-profile trainer based in Exmoor. Hawke, known for his 1991 Grand National win with Seagram, found the horse thrived in heavy, challenging weather, leading until near the finish and crossing the line with rivals far behind. Other notable horses like On the Bayou and Las Code de Obeau finished second and third, well behind Blowers in the muddy conditions.
Hawke, who also bred Tiger Roll — a two-time Grand National winner — explained Blowers’ unruly temperament, which required jockey James Best to rein him in during the race successfully. Despite having only raced twice, Blowers surprised everyone by thriving in tough conditions and winning at incredible odds, something Hawke views as an impressive achievement.
The horse is homebred by Robert Padd near Taunton, with local connections further adding to the story’s appeal. Hawke praised the victory as a significant western triumph and expressed pride in the local talent involved.
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Fan Take: This incredible upset is a thrilling reminder that horse racing always has room for surprises and underdog victories, keeping the sport exciting and unpredictable. Wins like Blowers’ inspire both fans and participants by proving that dedication and talent can shine through, regardless of the odds.
