Comer collects with a 200/1 winner - and third!

Luke Comer holds the record for the biggest-priced Irish winner and today, with a pair of horses priced at 200/1, completed a head-exploding '1-3' in Roscommon's Connolly's Red Mills Apprentice Maiden, won by Navajo River

Comer's Dunboyne yard sent three homebred runners for today's 12-runner 1m4f race with his Dark Miss making the running, with Navajo River, under Paddy Harnett, held up in rear.

Lazy-going 8/11 favourite Fisherman's Beach arrived with a yawning effort in the closing stages but on his left, Comer's Navajo River swooped to lead at the line, scoring at odds of 200/1.

Stablemate Dark Miss battled to finish third at that same price while Comer's shortest-priced runner Cold Cold Heart at 150/1, finished 70 lengths last.

Navajo River returned with a Betfair SP of 983 (982/1) and afterwards Comer's assistant Jim Gorman reported “we knew he was a nice horse and stayed well but he was a bit disappointing on his last run when he was very green. He was still green today.

“The other one, Dark Miss, ran a cracker and made it a good pace all the way. She was just unlucky that she didn't stay but he came home well.

“We haven't any plans where we go next, probably a handicap but I don't know. It's great to get a winner.”

Property developer-turned-breeder/owner/trainer Comer sent out He Knows No Fear to win a Leopardstown maiden at 300/1 in August 2020, a record since equalled by Sawbuck in May 2022.

Quotes from Gary Carson