The record for the longest-priced winner in modern British racing history was matched on Thursday when Crokes Cross triumphed at odds of 300-1. In December, Blowers claimed his first victory at that extraordinary starting price by winning a maiden hurdle at Exeter. Prior to that, the record had been held by Equinoctial, who won at Kelso in November 1990 at 250-1.

Kelso once again provided the backdrop for the latest record-equalling triumph as Crokes Cross, making her debut for trainer Stuart Coltherd, stormed to victory in the opening novices' hurdle. In her two previous outings in Ireland, the seven-year-old mare had been beaten by a combined 198 lengths in bumper races at Limerick and Kilbeggan.

Ireland has previously produced two 300-1 winners - He Holds No Fear on the Flat (Leopardstown, August 2020) and Sawbuck over jumps (Punchestown, May 2022).

Guided by jockey Jamie Hamilton in the 2m contest, she surged to the front on the run-in to defeat her better-fancied stablemate, the 5-2 favourite Changemyluck, by a length and a quarter. The victory was Coltherd's first of the season.

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"I never had a penny on," the trainer told RacingTV. "I knew they were both fit and would both run nice races. I thought Changemyluck, if she backed it up from the last day, would be there or thereabouts. It was a bit unknown with Crokes Cross but she's done it well."

The mare had attracted some punter interest, and one fortunate Ladbrokes customer struck gold after placing a £5 each-way bet. The wager, placed at a South Shields shop, returned a remarkable £1,810 from a £10 stake.

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes remarked: "Just a handful of punters across the UK backed Crokes Cross at 300/1 this afternoon, but this bet is by far the standout... £1.8k from a £5 each-way single will take some beating this weekend!"