Horse trainer's 40-1 shot beats ex-wife's £450,000 odds on favourite in race

Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam pulled off one of the biggest shocks of the racing season - over his ex-wife of all people.

His horse Sharona was a heavy outsider for the British EBF Maiden Stakes at Leicester on Tuesday (October 17), coming in at odds as high as 40/1. However, there was only two other runners.

One was the 3/1 Loved By You, and the other was odds-on favourite Primo Lara, a £450,000 colt trained by Peter's other half of 18 years, Jane. As Loved By You slipped away, it was a two-horse race to the line.

And to the surprise of virtually everyone watching, it was Sharona who found the legs to win by two lengths under jockey Callum Hutchinson. The biggest shock of all would've been for Jane, with Primo Lara now 0-2 since he was bought at Tattersalls last year.

Some fans took to social media to suggest the result had been a fix, with one rather brazenly asking: "Is that an upset or is that just a fix? He was n*****g her for 16 years."

In response, Peter quipped back: "No mate, just married." Before the fan added: "Incredible placing by the happily married couple to land the forecast. Go ring up the register Mr Chapple-Hyam get the whisky and the brandy out for the yard staff tonight."

Peter, who split with Jane in 2005, hit back: "Ha ha like it but been divorced for 18 years sorry to ruin your theory."

The 60-year-old has trained two Epsom Derby winners in his career - Dr Devious in 1992 and Authorized in 2007. He's had a successful 2023 with 14 winners helping to rack up over £100,000 in prize money.