In-running punters got their fingers burned at Carlisle when over £70,000 was matched on Seyaady at the minimum price, only for him to be caught in the final stride by Ventura Dragon.

The Richard Fahey-trained Ventura Dragon was sent off the 5-4 favourite in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes after a promising debut at Pontefract, but once again, it looked like he would be seen to better effect over further.

Seyaady hit the front for Franny Norton inside the final furlong and appeared to be doing just enough to hold off Magic Mark on his outside.

Ventura Dragon could be spotted making ground on the far rail, but he had hit a high of 390-1 in the exchange in-running market, looking like he had too much to do.

Tony Hamilton got Ventura Dragon really rolling, but as all three horses flashed across the line together, Seyaady looked to the naked eye to have held on.

However, Ventura Dragon got the verdict by a nose, and the £73,988 matched on Seyaady secured a spot in Betfair’s top 10 of the most expensive losers for those who trade at the minimum price.

The winner, owned by Middleham Park Racing, is highly thought of and could have booked himself a ticket to Epsom on Derby day.

“He was green on his debut and was slowly away, and really, he probably needs six furlongs," said Tom Palin of Middleham Park.

“But this was decent prize-money in the context, especially when you added the £10,000 (Plus 10 Race) bonus, and with the stiff track, we thought he might get away with it.

“It did look like he was finding it too sharp again, though. I thought he was running on nicely for third and then I thought he might get second.

“I was watching it at Doncaster sales and, when they crossed the line I thought we were second at best, so it was a very nice surprise when I heard the result."

“We have always liked him though, and there is a Group Three in Italy that’s an option," Palin added.

“But given he’s shown he can handle an undulating track, he might be one for the Woodcote at Epsom. We’d be confident he’d stay further.

“Down the line, he might be a type for the sales races, but we’d hope he could be a bit better than that.”

The Johnstons were also out of luck after Peach Melba was also narrowly denied in the Durdar Maiden Stakes by Ralph Beckett’s Moonwise (10-11 favourite).

Fahey, Hamilton and Middleham Park made it a double on the day when Right Action (4-1 favourite) took the second division of the seven-furlong handicap.

The first division was won in quite controversial circumstances by Kevin Ryan’s Heir Of Excitement (9-2) after he had a coming together with the second, Our Charlie Brown.

The interference took place two furlongs out but was quite significant and the winning margin was only a neck. However, there was no amendment to the result.

Pensax Boy was a 16-1 winner in the mile handicap for Daniel Mark Lougnane and Andrew Mullen.

Making his debut for the yard and having his first run since July last year, he swooped late to beat Michele Strogoff by a neck.

Merdon Castle was a well-backed 4-1 winner of a Grassroots Sprint Qualifier for Ruth Carr and James Sullivan.