The Patrick Payne trained The Cunning Fox claimed a second win in the J J Houlahan Hurdle at Ballarat, having previously landed the 3250m contest in 2024.
The 2026 edition arguably provided as good a race as you could wish for from a three-horse field, with the way the field came together over the concluding stages lifting the level of excitement as The Cunning Fox, the $1.65 race favourite, made a late grab for the honours with, ultimately, only 1.75 lengths covering the field across the line. Those looking for the best horse racing betting sites saw the short-priced favourite deliver in a thrilling finish.
The closeness of the finish was in stark contrast with the way most of the race played out as the $3.40 second favourite Untethered went to the lead early and, under a daring ride by Darryl Horner (Jnr) went further and further ahead as the race progressed, opening up from a six length lead leaving the home straight the first time to lead by as much as twelve lengths with three fences left to jump.
All the while, The Cunning Fox held an unchallenged second place ahead of Bitcoin ($5) who was content to track the favourite.
Untethered still had a full ten lengths in hand approaching the home turn, but Tom Ryan was really busy now aboard The Cunning Fox … and the deficit was down to six lengths on straightening with two fences left to jump.
You could make that four lengths when Untethered cleared the last fence, but the long-time leader was now starting to tire, but was still full of fight, and he did kick to a degree … but The Cunning Fox was now in full cry, and closing fast with Bitcoin to tow, chasing hard behind the favourite.
Untethered had given his all, but, in the end, he did not have enough to ward off the fast finishing The Cunning Fox who went past ever so game Untethered with 75m left to run and hit the line hard to secure a thrilling victory. Bitcoin also snared Untethered late to claim second place, relegating Untethered to third place.
The margins at the end of the 3250m contest were one length between first and second and 0.75 lengths between second and third place.
The Cunning Fox now has a race record of thirteen wins and seven minor placings from forty-three starts with $830 090 banked in prize-money.
