Blowers, a horse named after former cricket commentator Henry Blofeld, created history at Exeter by becoming the joint longest-priced winner ever on a British track at odds of 300-1. The five-year-old finished three-quarters of a length ahead of the 5-4 favourite, On The Bayou, in the card’s opening race.
Jockey James Best rode Blowers, who had only two previous starts and had been pulled up in his most recent race at Chepstow. Despite limited experience and long odds, Blowers excelled in testing ground conditions, making all the running to secure the remarkable victory.
This triumph surpasses Equinoctial’s 250-1 win at Kelso in 1990 as the longest-priced winner in British racing and ties the record with Irish horses Sawbuck and He Knows No Fear, who both won at 300-1 in Punchestown and Leopardstown in 2022 and 2020, respectively.
Few bets were placed on Blowers, highlighting the unexpected nature of the win. Trainer Nigel Hawke expressed amazement at the starting price but praised Blowers’ natural talent and potential.
Blowers’ extraordinary performance demonstrates that even the most overlooked contender can achieve historic success under the right circumstances.
Bookmakers reported very few winning bets on Blowers, reflecting the shock nature of the result. Coral recorded 82 bets on the horse, the largest being £2 each-way, while Paddy Power noted only two winning each-way bets of £15 and £10. The limited betting activity highlighted just how unexpected Blowers’ victory was, underscoring the horse’s status as a true longshot.
