Unknown jockey stuns Willie Mullins as her first ever winner beats his huge odds-on favourite at Perth
AN unknown conditional jockey stunned Willie Mullins as her first ever winner saw off his huge odds-on favourite Dr Eggman.
Ella Herbison looked to have fallen off 11-1 Monty Searle two out in a 2m4f Class 4 hurdle at Perth.
And the writing looked on the wall with Paul Townend creeping up ominously outside on 4-7 Dr Eggman in the Rich Ricci silks.
Monty Searle crashed through the penultimate obstacle and Herbison was flung forward round the horse’s neck.
It looked for all the world like she would fall off but she showed tremendous balance to get back in the saddle.
Incredibly, the horse seemed to get a second wind from the blunder, powering home to the inside of Dr Eggman and eventual runner-up 7-2 Dexterity.
Multiples everywhere went up in flames as Gold Cup and Grand National-winning jockey Townend could only get his mount home in third.
Herbison admitted she thought she ‘was a goner’ after the near-fall.
But social media lit up in praise of her ability after the improbable upset.
One said 7lb claimer Herbison had a ‘ride of the season’ contender while another wrote: “Ella Herbison, an unheard of 7lb claimer, has just destroyed Sean Bowen and Paul Townend in the opener at Perth.”
A fellow punter posted: “That is as good a sit, recovery and finish as you’ll ever see from Ella Herbison to get Monty Searle up for the win in the Perth opener to turn over the Willie Mullins fav – wow.”
Herbison, who can now boast being unbeaten against Mullins and Townend, said: “I thought I was a goner with that mistake but the horse helped me out a lot, he lifted his head up and came home.
“I’ve had a few seconds but it’s great to get a first winner under Rules for Robert (Pudd, owner) and Nigel (Hawke, trainer) because they’ve been great to me.
“I’m based with Nigel in the mornings then do the point-to-point horses in the afternoon.
“It was a long journey to get here from Nigel’s yard in Devon but it was worth it!”
More to follow.
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