Dramatic three-horse photo finish leaves punters baffled as one admits ‘I thought the winner finished third’
THIS incredible three-horse photo finish baffled punters – as one confessed they thought the winner had finished third.
The dramatic finish took place at Dundalk racecourse in Ireland on Wednesday night.
You could have put a blanket over the three at the front of the race by the post in the 6f sprint.
Stellar Spirit, the 4-6 favourite, 100-30 chance Cheval Blanc and huge 125-1 outsider Eskimo Lil passed the line in unison.
With half a furlong to go it looked like the giant roughie was going to spring the ultimate shock.
But Stellar Spirit found a burst of speed down the middle while Cheval Blanc was a fast finisher on the outside.
Too tough to call with the naked eye, the finish went to the judge.
And the high definition image of the finish was a real cracker, with the total difference between the trio being just a short head.
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As it was, Jarlath Parley’s Stellar Spirit, expertly ridden by Gavin Ryan, just got his nose in front of Cheval Blanc to win the £5950 prize.
Eskimo Lil finished a further nose behind the runner-up.
Punters were none the wiser until the official photo finish emerged though, with some admitting they had called it totally wrong.
Upon seeing the actual finish, one said: “I had bet the winner but watched the race and genuinely thought I had got beaten.”
Another posted: “I thought the winner finished third.”
While a fellow punter wrote: “Backed the winner but no way does it look like Stellar Spirit got up there, I thought far side all day.”
But Royal Ascot-winning trainer Fahey said his horse deserved the win.
He told irishracing.com: “He was entitled to win that off ratings and has been running very consistent.
“It’s great to get a win out of him.”
This rare three-way finish comes after an incredible four-horse photo at Doncaster last year.
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