Lough Derg traded at 399-1 in running on Betfair in winning an extraordinary totesport National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell today. 

My Way De Solzen had been backed at 1-10 in running when finally seeing off the persistent attention of Elusive Dream, who himself traded at 4-7, up the straight.

But Lough Derg showed remarkable battling qualities and persistence to come from the next parish to take it up on the run-in – much to the delight of the Betfair punter who had £5 on him at 399-1.

And, just to cap the most fascinating and fluctuating of in-running heats,  Elusive Dream, who had been backed at the minimum price of 1-100 in Betfair’s to be placed market, was run out of third place by Refinement. 

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin commented: “Lough Derg has a reputation in some quarters of having to dominate to win. But he traded at 49-1 in running when collaring Warne’s Way from behind at Ascot in January. 

“But, as the in-running prices suggest, this was an altogether more astonishing effort.”

Over at Ladbrokes My Way De Solzen is out to 20/1 (from 10s) for World Hurdle after the Fontwell run. Winner Lough Derg is unchanged at 20/1 for the same race.

David Williams racing spokesman from Ladbrokes said this afternoon: "My Way De Solzen was more than a shade disappointing although we may have prematurely written him off by going as big as 20/1. Connections didn't seem overly disappointed and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle remains the target. Nonetheless, we're happy to try to get the former champion into our book. We weren't that impressed."

Ladbrokes World Hurdle odds (3m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2008)
4/5 Inglis Drever, 7 Blazing Bailey, 7 Wichita Lineman, 8 Kasbah Bliss, 10 Hardy Eustace, 20 Lough Derg, 20 My Way De Solzen, 20 The Market Man, 25 Aitmatov, 25 Kazal, 33 Black Jack Ketchum, 33 Labelthou, 33 Special Envoy, 40 Al Eile, 40 Chief Dan George, 40 Ebazaiyan, 40 Flight Leader, 40 Material World, 50 Air Force One, 50 Millenium Royal, 50 Oscar Park, 50 Powerstation, 50 Refinement, 66 bar (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

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