ROYAL ASCOT 2020: Cheeky 150-1 shot Nando Parrado makes history

Nando Parrado became the longest-priced winner in the modern era at Royal Ascot when defying odds of 150-1 to win the Coventry Stakes, writes Tom Harle.

It beat the previous record of 100-1 winners Fox Chapel in the 1990 Britannia Stakes and Flashmans Papers in the 2008 Windsor Castle.

Jockey Adam Kirby powered the rank outsider past 3-1 shot Qaader and Saeiqa for trainer Clive Cox, who saw it coming all along.

“It wasn’t a shock at all - the price was a shock!” said Cox.

“I did back him, so we are very happy. When I saw the price I did think it a little bit of an insult to our thoughts on him, so I’m delighted.

“Nando Parrado is a proper horse and we loved him from the start.

“Listen, it is all about having winners at Royal Ascot, and to have two like this is so, so special.

"I always thought he would be a horse for the autumn rather than the height of summer, to be honest with you, so that is what I’d be aiming for.”

'Does not look an obvious player’ was the low-key pre-race verdict in the Racing Post for a horse that no-one saw winning.

Nando Parrado finished fifth on debut at Newmarket in June and struggled with his stall placement.

The Paul and Marie McCarten-owned horse took the lead just inside the final two furlongs and saw off all challengers to score by a length.

The two longest-priced winners of the Coventry had been Chief Singer (1983), Landseer (2001), War Command (2013) all at a mere 20-1.

Cox touted Nando Parrado for the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket and a bevy of happy punters will follow this horse all the way.

“He was first in the stalls on a really windy day at Newmarket and stood there like a saint,” said Cox.

“He was a bit slowly away, and had been so good at everything that he had done at home, and then had to run a little bit forwards.

“But you have only got to look at the horse – he has got a real stamp of class about him, and he has clearly shown that today.

“Fair play to Paul and Marie McCarten, who own him. We were a little bit deflated at Newmarket, he ran well but he did not handle the track.

“It is a surprise because we’ve brought some very nice horses here in the past for this particular race and it takes a serious horse to win it.

“I am delighted to win it. We have fired a lot of live bullets in the race and I am very pleased to have the race won now."