LONDON, Oct 15: David Junior sprang a 25-1 surprise to win the Champion Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. It was the second longest starting price in the history of the prestigious race and caught punters off-guard.

But trainer Brian Meehan told Channel 4 Racing: “We have liked him so much all season and we have given him time.”

Jockey Jamie Spencer took up the running with 200 metres to go and held off French filly Pride (12-1) by three-quarters of a length. Maraahel (25-1) finished another one and a quarter lengths away in third.

Oratorio, the 9-4 favourite after victories in the Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes, could do no better than fourth for jockey Kieren Fallon and trainer Aidan O’Brien.

The Dewhurst Stakes, the other Group One race of the day, also spelt disappointment for the Fallon-O’Brien duo when 8-11 favourite Horatio Nelson was edged out by a neck by 9-2 chance Sir Percy, ridden by Martin Dwyer.

Fallon was also beaten in the Cesarewitch Handicap, the noted end-of-season test for stayers, when finishing 28th of 34 on 3-1 favourite Afrad.

Victory went to 10-1 chance Sergeant Cecil, who was completing an historic treble after success earlier this year in the Northumberland Plate and Ebor Handicap.

Ridden by Alan Munro, the six-year-old won by three quarters of a length from 20-1 shot King Revo.—Reuters