Smokethatthunders ridden by Daniel Muscutt (right) wins The Red Deer Handicap Stakes at Leicester Racecourse, Leicester. … Horse Racing – Leicester Racecourse … 07-10-2014 … Leicester … United Kingdom … Photo credit should read: Simon Cooper/PA Wire. Unique Reference No. 21124669 … Picture date: Tuesday October 7, 2014. Photo credit should read: Simon Cooper/PA Wire Credit: PA:Press Association
A RACING punter turned a humdrum £2.50 four-fold acca into a life-changing sum thanks to a last-gasp nose winner that sealed the jackpot.
Last weekend’s action was full of Derby trials as well as some top-tier action in France, where Aidan O’Brien’s Diamond Necklace stole the show in the French 1,000 Guineas.
But a winner pays the same wherever it comes and this shrewd punter shunned the best stuff for, with all due respect, some lower-level action.
The epic punt started with Foreseen’s 18-1 success over 7½f at Lingfield, where he won comfortably under Silvestre de Sousa.
It was over to Warwick next where father-son duo Martin and Freddie Keighley were successful with 6-1 Redbridge Rambler in a 3m handicap chase.
Myna then came out on top at 8-1 over 1m2f at Leicester, prevailing by a neck from 22-1 Gert Lush.
It meant the massive bet all came down to the Charlie Johnston-trained Union Island in a Class 6 handicap at the same track.
How the punter picked this horse out is anyone’s guess, especially as no one else fancied him.
Sent off 25-1 for the mile contest, 3lb claimer Jack Callan held the five-year-old up at the back of the field.
He had to switch wide into the centre of the track approaching the final two furlongs.
And it looked to have the desired effect as Union Island found a decent turn of foot.
It was tight at the finish, though, with the roughie and 9-2 The Sweet Escape involved in a photo.
Luckily for the punter it went their way, as stewards gave Union Island’s margin of victory a nose after mugging his rival right on the line.
All in all the £2.50 punt returned an astonishing £49,875.
Even better, the punter used the same selections in a 50p Lucky 15 – netting them another £15,000.
Sky Bet’s Michael Shinners said: “What a tremendous bet to land.
“The dream started at 3.15 with Foreseen winning at 18-1 and after two further wins, the climax of the bet was Union Island who won Leicester’s 8.25 at a whopping 25-1.
“Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say ‘fair play, thoroughly deserved!’.”
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