History was made on Thursday in the opening race against Exeter when Blowers, with odds of 300-1, became the highest odds winner in British racing history. Trained by Nigel Hawke—famous for winning the 1991 Grand National with Seagram—the five-year-old horse had shown promise in point-to-point races at Larkhill but was considered a long shot at 200-1 during his official racing debut at Chepstow.
Despite the challenging conditions at James Best’s Devon Racecourse, Blowers stunned everyone by defeating Harry Fry’s favored 5-4 contender On the Bayou in the Price Up Bet Maiden Hurdle, earning a place in the record books. A bettor known as Mr. Coral placed 82 bets on Blowers, with his largest being a £2 each-way stake, but interestingly, trainer Hawke did not bet on the horse. He admitted surprise at the high odds, explaining that Blowers had only raced twice before and had experienced some breathing problems early on.
Hawke praised the horse’s improvement, noting that under Best’s expert riding, Blowers maintained a strong gallop throughout the race. The trainer acknowledged that the 300-1 odds were somewhat unreasonable but emphasized the potential they always believed the horse had. Blowers, bred and owned by West Country couple Mr. and Mrs. Pud, is a homebred with an inspiring backstory, and Hawke believes the horse gained invaluable experience from the race, suggesting the odds will be much shorter next time.
James Best, who took over riding duties for the first time after amateur jockey Ella Harbison missed her flight, guided Blowers to his unexpected victory. The previous British record was held by Equinoxial, who won at 250-1 in Kelso back in 1990, while similar 300-1 wins have happened twice in Ireland recently—Sawback in 2022 and He Knows No Fear in 2020.
Paddy Power’s spokesperson Paul Binfield noted that some bettors managed incredible wins, comparing their luck to predictions from a fortune teller, and highlighted the remarkable profits customers made from backing Blowers at such long odds.
Fan Take: This historic win is a thrilling reminder of the unpredictability and excitement that make horse racing so captivating for fans. It also shows how emerging talent and smart riding can defy expectations, promising more dramatic upsets and a richer future for the sport.
