BOOKIES MAULED BY £250m TIGER
People’s horse in repeat win Race chaos as bet sites crash
Wonder horse Tiger Roll hit the bookies for £ 250million yesterday when he romped into the history books and became the first back-to-back Grand National winner since Red Rum.
The people’s favourite carried the weight of the nation but delivered in style – with bookmakers offering 8-1 on the superstar gelding making it a hat-trick next year.
Tiger Roll, the smallest horse in the race, won by three lengths from Magic of Light and Rathvinden.
Estimates indicated bookies had taken a £ 250million hit – their biggest ever single loss.
Some major betting websites went into meltdown in the moments leading up to the start of the race as punters left it late to place a bet.
The glitch potentially saved the betting industry an even bigger pounding from gamblers looking to pile more money on the favourite.
After romping home, eight-year- old Tiger Roll was doused with buckets of water to cool him off under the Aintree sun.
His jockey Davy Russell said: “I can’t believe it. This is testimony to the great job done by all the trainers.”
The 39-year- old joked it was “some achievement” to win consecutive Grand Nationals “at my age”.
Tiger Roll matched the back-to-back success of the legendary Red Rum, who won the race in 1973 and 1974.
Asked to explain Tiger Roll’s talent, the winning rider added: “I don’t really know – but he’s got some heart.”
The horse’s owner, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, said: “I thought he had no chance as you just don’t win it twice in a row.”
Trainer Gordon Elliott added: “What a horse… but I have a brilliant team.”
Alan Alger, spokesman for Aintree’s official betting partner Betway, believes Tiger Roll’s win is the worst ever result for bookmakers.
He said: “The quarter- of- a- billionpound bombshell has landed. Tiger Roll has gone back-to-back and inflicted the most expensive result in Grand National history. People have been backing this horse since he got his head in front here last year and he will go down as the greatest ever result for punters.
“There’s been a few favourable results across the week for us bookies. But it was always going to come down to the National – and we’ve been well and truly wiped out.”
In the wake of yesterday’s victory, William Hill offered 8-1 that Tiger Roll will do it again next year and 20-1 that he wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Spokesman Rupert Adams said: “Tiger Roll winning is clearly not the best result but, fortunately for us, he was not that well backed on the day.”
Nicola McGeady, of Ladbrokes, said: “Tiger Roll is the most popular Grand National winner since Red Rum.”
McGeady had said ahead of the race: “If he does win, it will be the worst result in bookmakers’ history.”
Betting industry analyst Alex Donohue said: “Whatever the cost to the bookies, it’s a small price to pay to be a part of sporting history.”
About 150,000 people attended the event and more than 600million fans watched the race worldwide.
Sadly, the National had its first fatality since 2012 when Up For Review, trained by Willie Mullins, died after falling at the first fence. The 25-1 outsider had to be put down.
One For Arthur, the 2017 winner trained by Lucinda Russell at Mi lnathort, Kinross-shire, finished sixth.
Lake View Lad, trained by Nick Alexander, based in Leslie, Fife, did not finish the race.