Valiant Force provided 150-1 shock as he led from start to finish in the Group Two Norfolk Stakes on day three of Royal Ascot 2023.
The pre-race betting market was all about a match between warm 7-4 favourite Elite Status, from the Yorkshire stable of Liverpool FC Karl Burke, and Wesley Ward's American raider American Rascal (4-1). But the race was all about Adrian Murray's Valiant Force, who jumped out to lead under Rossa Ryan, in the the purple colours of Amo Racing. It seemed he was setting it up for those in behind with both Elite Status and American Rascal both sitting in just behind Valiant Force on the far side. But as American Rascal faded it was the Malibu Moon colt, who had been second and fifth in his two runs at the Curragh, who powered clear to land a shock success by a length-and-a-quarter from another outsider, the Richard Fahey-trained Malc (66-1). Favourite Elite Status stayed on to be half-a-length back in third with Aidan O'Brien's His Majesty (11-2) three-quarters-of-a-length further adrift in fourth – coming home first on the stands' side group.
Trainer Murray landing a first Royal Ascot winner, said: “I can’t believe it. I fell into racing by accident. A friend of mine got me involved in the Flat. It's magic. We were third here on Monday and I wondered if that would ever happen again. We knew he was a nice horse and I couldn’t believe the price – he was only beaten less than a length by His Majesty (at The Curragh on May 1) first time out and he was 150/1 today. It didn't make sense – I knew he was much better than that. It’s the stuff of dreams. It’s great for the small man. I’m based in Mullingar and have had some right nice jumpers in the past. I love it, love racing.”
