Racing: 100-1 Juliet plays havoc

A STRING of long-odds winners, including 100-1 shot Playful Juliet at Uttoxeter, brought Christmas cheer to the bookmakers yesterday. Other unfancied horses to oblige included 25-1 winner Neltegrity at the same track and Greenacres Lad (50-1) at Catterick.

The latter came with a strong late challenge to capture the claiming hurdle. 'He'd been off the course since May 1992 before reappearing here earlier this month and has got dodgy old legs,' trainer Les Eyre said. 'But at that price, I just had to have a little wager, so I put pounds 20 each-way on him.'

The results of the dope tests taken on Jodami after his flop at Chepstow earlier this month were still not forthcoming yesterday. It is hoped they will throw some light on the reasons for the Gold Cup winner's poor third in the Rehearsal Chase. The Jockey Club said yesterday that because a blood sample rather than a urine sample had been taken from Jodami it was taking longer than usual.