The old adage about racing's only certainty being its uncertainty sprang to mind after the raging hot 4 to 9 favourite Have Merci crashed out at the first obstacle in yesterday's Devon Inn Hurdle at Listowel.
Rated the best juvenile hurdler seen out so far this season, the Jessica Harrington-trained filly approached the hurdle at the rear of the field but her seemingly nondescript task was made impossible when the 33 to 1 outsider Youme The Gatepost jumped left and crashed into her.
"Have Merci absolutely pinged the hurdle but the number 11 horse came right across her in mid-air and my filly never got a foot to the floor," said a frustrated Conor O'Dwyer as the grateful bookmakers totted up their winnings.
Star To The North proceeded to justify Pat Hughes' high opinion of him by putting a length and a half between himself and Goldanzig at the finish but even Hughes admitted he thought he had been racing for place money.
"I've never had a horse take so well to hurdles but we only decided at the last minute to declare him. I thought we'd beat the others but not the favourite," Hughes said.
As the 22 prison officers who make up the Town and Country Racing Club gathered around Storm Gem, the winner of the Aer Rianta Handicap, one acerbic hack was heard to remark: "It would be a good day for a break out!"
However, nothing could dampen the happiness of the owners who had seen their mare beat off Rathbawn Prince by a length under amateur Peter Fahey (19), who was riding his 12th winner. Storm Gem is in a three mile hurdle here on Saturday but the Cesarewitch is a longer term objective.
