Absolute Steel a shock 200-1 winner at Exeter

Absolute Steel sparked celebrations at Exeter when the Herefordshire-trained 200-1 shot became one of British racing's longest-priced winners.

Stan Sheppard steered home Tom Lacey's five-year-old novice hurdler to win the second race of Sunday's card.

"I was surprised he won but I wasn't surprised he stepped forward," Lacey told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

Equinoctial won at Kelso in November 1990 at odds of 250-1 and remains the longest-odds winner in British racing.

Absolute Steel joins the exclusive ranks of those to have won at 200-1, including Lights of Broadway at Taunton in 2012 and Dandy Flame at Wolverhampton in 2016.

In 2022 Sawbuck became the longest-priced winner in the history of jump racing with victory at odds of 300-1 at Irish track Punchestown.

Absolute Steel's win was a remarkable contrast to his form in his first two runs.

He was a disappointing last - but by no means disgraced - when he made his track debut at Market Rasen on 7 December, Sheppard riding him at 17-2.

He then flopped when running for the first time over hurdles at Chepstow three weeks later at 200-1, before being reunited with jockey Sheppard at Exeter at the same odds.

"He was bought as an unbroken three-year-old in Ireland," said Lacey. "We then broke him in, put him away for the spring and summer - and he ran perfectly acceptably at Market Rasen but Chepstow was a complete failure.

"In his first run over hurdles he was very slow over the first couple and he was then on the back foot.

"So I said to [jockey] Stan 'look, just get him out of the gate, ride him aggressively and let's see where we are with him' - and nothing passed him."

The horse, syndicate owned by Value Racing Club, faltered close to the finish line, but hung on to beat odds-on favourite Lowry's Bar.

From last in his first race to second last in his second race to a 200-1 winner, it sparked jubilant scenes at the well-supported Devon track, chiefly among the student fraternity.

"It was superb," said Lacey. "There were 3,500 students there from Exeter and Plymouth - and I think many of them had put their £2.50 each way on him as he was such a big price.

"There was a big celebration from them. I believe one bookmaker paid out £70,000 in small bets.

"And I'm sure some of the owners will have had their 50p on, too. I also have a page on my website which raises money for the Katharine House Hospice up in Oxfordshire where both my parents died. I advise on there how we think our horses are going to run and I did suggest anyone who fancies a fun each-way bet on Absolute Steel at such a big piece ought to."

As to what next for Absolute Steel, Lacey said: "The handicapper will assess him a week Tuesday, which will probably be quite horrifying.

"And he's just run two miles two furlongs in heavy going at Exeter so he will now need three or four weeks off before we consider where to go next."

Tom Lacey was talking to BBC Hereford & Worcester's Tammy Gooding