Neigh problem! 1 in 50 men think they can outrun a thoroughbred over a 100 metre sprint... even though the fastest horse ever recorded clocked a top speed of more than 40mph

It is often said if you inquire a foolish question, you should expect a foolish answer.

So a radical of researchers should person known amended than to inquire thousands of men if they thought themselves susceptible of outrunning an animal.

Predictably, a just chunk of those quizzed – 1 successful 50 – really judge they could outpace a equine implicit a 100metre sprint.

Many men besides deliberation they would outrun a stampede of elephants and flight the teeth of a crocodile, a survey reveals.

The research, commissioned by Free Bets up of the Grand National tomorrow, showed fewer paid attraction to technological fact.

The fastest equine ever recorded managed a velocity of much than 40mph – 13mph faster than Usain Bolt’s apical velocity – a spokesperson for the betting website said.

While galore of these claims mightiness dependable fanciful, it has been done – oregon astatine slightest attempted.

South African rugby subordinate Bryan Habana famously competed against a cheetah successful a 100m contention to rise consciousness of the endangered taxon successful 2007, though helium lost. 

And American sprinter Jesse Owens, who won 4 golden medals astatine the 1936 Berlin Olympics, bushed a fig of racehorses successful the 100m sprint.

He aboriginal admitted helium chose highly strung thoroughbreds that would beryllium spooked by the starting pistol, giving him a caput start.

Of the 2,000 adults polled, 220 thought they could tally the Grand National people – 4 miles and 514 yards – successful little than 10 minutes.

The grounds arsenic it stands was acceptable astatine 8 minutes and 47 seconds successful 1990 by winning equine Mr Frisk.

The spokesperson added: ‘We thin to overestimate our ain abilities and underestimate the sheer power, speed, and endurance of nature’s finest athletes.’

Male competitiveness has adjacent seen conscionable shy of 1 successful 3 men look astatine an carnal successful the thoroughfare and reason – wrongly – ‘I could outrun that.’