Bookies Still Edging Ascot Spoils

Despite some big bets landed on day three of Royal Ascot, the bookmakers were again fairly happy with their lot.

Things have not really been going the way of the punters at this meeting so far and Yeats´ back-to-back victories in the Gold Cup came at the prohibitive odds of 8-13, although they were not prohibitive enough for one punter to stake a cool £110,000 to win £80,000.

And Winker Watson was smashed into in the ring as he showed his class in the Norfolk Stakes.

A whole raft of big bets were recorded, including one of £46,875-£25,000 and another of £45,000-£20,000 as Jimmy Fortune and Peter Chapple-Hyam´s golden run continued.

Then, although 15-8 favourite All My Loving was only second in the Ribblesdale Stakes, there was plenty of each-way money for the 4-1 winner Silkwood.

There was also a £225,000-£50,000 bet staked on Zaham as he came home the 7-2 market leader in the Hampton Court.

But David Williams of Ladbrokes said: 'I have to say we are winning again.

'The reason why is that the real big gambles ? Italian Girl on Wednesday and Colorado Rapid today in the Britannia ? have been beaten.

'We will put up with a few short-priced winners, and while we´re not opening the champagne yet, we´re happy.'

Coral´s Simon Clare added: 'It was a closer fight today than for the last two days but we have just about edged it again. Heron Bay in the last and Eddie Jock winning the Britannia were absolute skinners.'

Ben Clarke, representing William Hill, was not so upbeat.

'Overall it was not such a good day,' he declared.

'Silkwood and Winker Watson were popular and Yeats was many people´s banker of the meeting.

'We´re still in front, and two races went for us, but there was plenty of money for Zaham as well.'

(C) PA Sport