There have been plenty of surprise winners on the horse racing circuit during 2021.
Whilst some went off as huge outsiders, others had to overcome huge in-race odds, eventually crossing the line in first place having at one stage looked like having no hope.
With 2021 coming to a close, we've taken a look at some of the most incredible rides which saw horses defy huge in-play odds with Betfair to make it to the winners' enclosure.
For Jim
Jockey Sean Quinlan was hailed by racing fans for pulling off the 'ride of the year' on For Jim at Hexham.
His effort on the grey saw his name trending on Twitter as stunned punters heaped praise on him.
The horse was a long way behind the leaders early on in the October 9 'Happy 60th Birthday Dave Burley Handicap Chase.'
But Quinlan refused to give in, knowing his mount would stay all day – and they gelled on the final circuit.
Still with plenty of ground to make up with a couple of fences to jump, they came into it as the leaders tired.
Somehow they were in front heading to the final fence and as the winning post loomed, the chaser just did enough to prevail by half-a-length from Classical Milano.
A tweet from @BetfairRacing read: "Unbelievable from@SquinlanSean and For Jim. Ride of the year? For Jim was matched at 80 on @BetfairExchange while the runner-up hit 1.39 in-running."
And one punter said: "Let's just give Sean Quinlan ride of the season now, shall we? What a ride on For Jim! Incredible. You're not going to see better than that..."
Wigglesworth
Sam Twiston-Davies just would not call it a day on Wigglesworth at Worcester.
His mount finished with a flourish in the Lewis Rally Sport Another Kind Of Horsepower Handicap Chase on October 7.
The commentator said Wigglesworth looked "held in fourth" – and therefore could not realistically win – approaching the final jump.
However after the runners navigated the obstacle, the chaser began to respond to Twiston-Davies.
In a flash, the horse took off along the short run-in.
His incredible late charge was enough to pip Starsky by a nose right at the post.
Twiston-Davies said: "It's a thrill to win like that. It doesn't happen every day, so you've got to enjoy it, but I get paid to push and kick and that's what I did."
A spokesperson for Betfair said: "Wigglesworth hit 999-1 in-running and over £50 was traded at that price."
Cool and Clever
Cool And Clever also reached 999-1 in-running in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden at Roscommon.
They were huge odds considering the juvenile was sent off the 10-11 favourite for the May 11 contest.
He started brightly, but he looked to have done his running when Sunset Shiraz took over around the two pole.
The Betfair exchange took £40 at odds at the maximum odds on Cool And Clever, who unexpectedly rallied under Kevin Manning in the last 50 yards.
The youngster galloped past 9-1 shot Sunset Shiraz by half-a-length, with New Star (22-1) six lengths back in third.
Taking the reins in the post-race interview, trainer Jim Bolger's daughter Una Manning said: “He battled back well and was very courageous. His previous experience helped."
An Forghas
Fans had to wait until the end of 2021 for one of the most incredible races of the year.
An Forghas started at 125-1 for a bumper at Limerick on December 27.
Around 30 lengths clear of the field at halfway, the four-year-old looked sure to have been far too exuberant.
Well behind on his only prior run, the jockeys in behind could be excused for letting the rank outsider go.
The pack loomed up coming into the straight – and An Forghas reached 999-1 on the exchange
However the inexperienced runner did not know his price and battled on pluckily.
He toughed it to prevail by three and three-quarter lengths.
"I knew he was going to be free so I decided to make the running and have him out on his own," Conheady told the Racing Post.
"He works at home on his own so it seemed the right thing to do."
