Olly Murphy said that he was "a bit shocked" when Pickanumber transformed the Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle, which was supposed to be a competitive event, into a parade in the Haydock sunlight.
The six-year-old, who was purchased for £30,000 at the Goffs UK September sale as a nine-race maiden, had already proven to be a wise investment after winning three of his first four starts for his new connections.
Pickanumber was a 22-1 chance for what looked to be a considerably tougher test, even though he lined up on Merseyside in rude health, but he more than proved up to the task in the hands of 5lb claimer Dylan Johnston.
From the top of the home straight, the Shantou gelding was seriously threatening most of his rivals on the pace from flag-fall, and the outcome was all but certain by the second-to-last hurdle.
A gaping 15 lengths ahead of his nearest rival Tapley, Johnston was able to salute the audience and claim the lion's share of an £80,000 prize fund for a syndicate that included racing announcer Gary O'Brien. Meanwhile, riders in the rear were rowing away for all they were worth.
“I’m a bit shocked really, especially because I didn’t think they went very quickly and I thought there were a lot of horses turning in,” said Murphy. “He’s a horse we picked up cheap from Doncaster last autumn and he’s four from five for us now. He’s kind of not scraped home in a couple of ordinary races, but he hasn’t exactly been hosing up and it’s just a remarkable performance. I couldn’t quite make head nor tail of it really. I wouldn’t say I thought we were running in the wrong race, but I thought he’d done his winning and I’m as shocked as anyone. I don’t remember a Swinton winner winning by 15 lengths and it probably won’t help us going forward, but it’s a big pot to win today and we’ll enjoy it. I said before today, he’s been on the go all winter and probably wants a holiday, but that holiday might be cut short now and we might look over the Irish Sea at a Galway Hurdle.”