Southwell's 3:45 contest on Monday afternoon proved there is no such thing as a certainty in horse racing.
Plenty of punters would have had their fingers burnt if they had backed the long odds-on favourite Locker Room Talk in the two-mile novices hurdle, after one of the outsiders True Romance caused a massive upset on Nigel Twiston-Davies's six-year-old.
Sent off at odds of 1/16, the son of Beneficial was making his first start since an easy victory at Kempton in May, but was easily passed and beaten by Julia Brooke's grey horse - who stretched on clear in the closing stages to win easily.
Locker Room Talk had no answer to his rider's callings and urgings, and became the shortest-price loser of 2019 in the process of defeat.
The previous unwanted record had been held by Queens Cave, who was pulled up at odds of 1/14 at Ayr in January, and beaten by a 25/1 chance in the shape of Leverock Lass.
Locker Room Talk may have been a ridiculously short price, but there was certainly no luck or fluke about the winner True Romance - who despite making his first start over hurdles, looked a complete natural over the timber obstacles and did it very comfortably in the end.
The five-year-old grey had just switched from the flat to the National Hunt frame after a rapid decline in his form, which saw his mark plummet by 20lbs in the weights to a rating of 52.
Trainer Julia Brooke - with her son in the saddle [Henry], was delighted with the victory.
She said: "I'm absolutely delighted with him. The change to hurdling has made the difference, although our horses were not quite right last year.
"He's jumped really well from day one and has liked the change in routine.
"Henry said he had lots of horse underneath him and he wasn't given a hairy moment."
Shortly after the fifth race at Southwell on Monday, it looked to be a hard-going day for favourites, with just Stony Stream in the 3:15 contest landing the odds.
However Magna Cartor and Docte Dina dually obliged for jolly-backers in the final two races, sending them home revitalised and happy.
Magna Carta proved age was just a number when he beat young four-year-old Groveman in the two-mile Handicap hurdle, whilst Docte Dina gave former Champion Trainer Nicky Henderson a tidy winner in the concluding bumper.
Southwell's next jumping card takes place on Monday 24th June.
There’s no such thing as a certainty! 1/16 favourite Locker Room Talk is turned over by True Romance in convincing style for Henry Brooke and @jb_racehorses at @Southwell_Races… pic.twitter.com/tqHPEdRwHT
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 4, 2019
Credit - ATR