If you haven’t seen the finish to the 4.15 at Down Royal today, do so before you read on – because, otherwise, you simply will not believe it.

Going into the final 50 yards of the concluding bumper, it looked as if the head-down drive of Colm Sharkey on Last Draw was going to get the better of a protracted struggle with Michael Fogarty on newcomer Milanette on his inside.

And supporters of the heavily-backed 5-4 favourite Ballymak seemingly didn’t have a hope of collecting, as the unbeaten dual point-to-point winner had his work cut on holding on to third.

But as Sharkey lifted his head up near the finish, he must have looked on in horror as he saw a rail in front of him, which his mount and Milanette duly crashed through.

This left the race at the mercy of the favourite Ballymak, who was backed at 999-1 in running on Betfair. There was £53.66 matched at the maximum price about the 5-4 winner, £100 at 199-1, and prices were matched at all rates down from 119-1, too.

And in an astonishing race, Milanette was backed at 1-11 in running on Betfair, Do The Bookies at 1-5 and Last Draw at 1-4.

But neither Last Draw or Milanette were even placed. Sharkey was unseated on the former, and the latter was disqualified, somewhat harshly, for not completing the course properly.

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin commented: “Four lucky Betfair customers backed the winner at 999-1 in running.

“One got £19.23, another £2.83, the third £2.78 and the final lucky punter £2.

“None were Irish - but I bet they are all doing a jig now.”