BOOKMAKERS' prayers were answered at Ayr yesterday as Meditator climbed off the equine scrapheap to emerge victorious at odds of 100 to 1.

The 13 year old, returned 113 to 1 on the Tote, would probably have been one of the first crossed off the list by punters weighing up chances of horses in the Lickleyhead Castle Handicap Hurdle.

But in one of the biggest shocks of the jumps season, Meditator battled back powerfully under Sean Curran after being headed at the last to catch Nirvana Prince and score by three parts of a length.

His owner Jacqui Doyle, a former trainer, said: "This horse has been in our family since he was three and I'm delighted that he's finally won another race. Everybody thought he was gone and past it.

"I had a few quid on him at win and place on the Tote, so I've got a bit to collect."