In a moment that will be etched into the annals of British horse racing, a five-year-old gelding named Blowers defied astronomical odds to secure a historic victory at Exeter Racecourse on Thursday, 18 December 2025.
A Record-Shattering Triumph
Sent off as a complete 300/1 outsider, Blowers pulled off a staggering upset in the pricedup.bet Maiden Hurdle, the opening race of the day. Trained by Nigel Hawke and ridden by jockey James Best, the horse surged through testing conditions to edge out the hot favourite, On The Bayou, who started at odds of 5/4. This remarkable win officially establishes Blowers as the longest-priced winner in the history of UK horse racing, eclipsing the previous record set by Equinoctial, who won at 250/1 at Kelso back in 1990.
From Point-to-Point Obscurity to Rules Racing Glory
The victory was all the more shocking given Blowers' modest prior form. Before this career-defining run, the horse had only raced twice in his life. He was well held in a point-to-point at Larkhill and was pulled up on his rules debut at Chepstow, where he started at 200/1. Trainer Nigel Hawke expressed astonishment at the market's assessment of his charge. "I was a little surprised at his price but I guess it’s the way the markets go," Hawke admitted. He revealed that breathing issues had hampered Blowers at Larkhill and that an amateur jockey struggled to control him at Chepstow, in stark contrast to James Best's masterful ride.
Despite the long odds, Hawke maintained a kernel of belief. "I think 300/1 was a bit ridiculous to be fair," he said. "We knew we had a horse with some ability and the owners always breed a nice type of horse." He also confessed to a punter's regret, exclaiming, "I wish, I wish, I wish!" regarding his decision not to back his own horse.
Punters, Records, and a Sweet Homebred Story
The racing world was left reeling by the result. Bookmaker Coral reported just 82 bets placed on Blowers, with the largest being a £2 each-way wager. Paul Binfield of Paddy Power marvelled at the few punters who showed "Mystic Meg-like" foresight, placing £10 and £15 each-way bets on the monumental outsider. The win draws parallels with similar 300/1 shocks in Ireland, courtesy of Sawbuck in April 2022 and He Knows No Fear in 2020.
For owners Mr and Mrs Pudd, West Country locals, the victory was particularly poignant as Blowers is a homebred horse. "It’s a lovely story behind him," Hawke concluded, savouring the moment. Looking ahead, the trainer was confident this win was no fluke, stating, "He will have learned a lot today and he can’t do anymore than win... He definitely won’t be 300/1 next time." Jockey James Best's "peach of a ride" was secured after amateur Ella Herbison, who rode Blowers on his debut, missed her flight, a twist of fate that led to a permanent place in racing history.
