Astonishing grey horse lands 150-1 shock at Lingfield after trainer predicted miracle

150/1 winner at @LingfieldPark!

Monks Mead pulls off a huge shock on handicap debut for @MarkUsherRacing and Oliver Searle! pic.twitter.com/AA0ODOiZMg

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 26, 2023

But he showed tremendous heart to see off the fast-finishing 10-3 favourite Alfred.

Amazingly, the horse’s trainer Mark Usher knew the step up to seven furlongs would be perfect for his totally unfancied runner.

He tweeted: “Monks Mead makes his first start in a Nursery @LingfieldPark this pm, up in trip to 7f.

“Handicaps will suit him better and we are looking fwd to him showing some improvement on what he achieved in Maidens.”

Monks Mead goes down as one of the biggest price winners ever in British Flat racing.

The greatest remains Does He Know, who won at 300-1 in Ireland a in August 2020.

Winning jockey Oliver Searle said: “He’s improved with every run. His third run was a big step up.

“Look he was off a very low mark, it was easy for him to carry me round, and he quickened away nicely.

“He was a bit caught off his feet early on. Mr Usher said just get into a nice rhythm, quick away and see how we finish.

“I was definitely smiling after the line but he got a bit green afterwards and nearly got rid of me!”

Hilariously, one of the owners, named Bob, told Sky Sports Racing: “Just this morning we thought he needed to be retired he was running so badly but the extra furlong did the trick!”

Fellow owner Margaret, also part of the Rowdown Racing Partnership, said: “I just wanted him not to be last. When there were two horses behind him I was satisfied.

“I never thought he’d win!”