There was a huge shock in the opening race of the third day at Royal Ascot as Valiant Force romped home at massive odds of 150/1 - the joint biggest ever winner at the meeting.
The crowd were left stunned as jockey Rossa Ryan rode the two-year-old rank outsider home in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes race. Yet it wasn't a total surprise to his handler Adrian Murray who told Sky Sports Racing: "Just unbelievable... it's not a shock. He was beaten half-a-length by His Majesty on his first run. I couldn't believe the price he was." The runner up was also a big price with Malc coming in second at 66/1 and 7/4 favourite Elite Status in third.
Ryan, who had been sacked by AMO Racing earlier in the season as retained rider, was aboard as Kevin Stott - who is the new incumbent in the role - had to watch helplessly on the perceived first string.
The rider told ITV: "He's bred to be a sprinter and you look at him - he's something else to look at. He jumped well, did everything right and when I took the lead inside the two I was always in a rhythm and I would probably could have won further had someone come at me with a run. He's got the job done."
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