Punter Plunges On Ketchum Treble A mystery punter has plumped for a high-risk and long-term investment by staking £10,000 at 14-1 on Black Jack Ketchum to win the next three Ladbrokes World Hurdles.The bet was taken in cash at a Ladbrokes shop in Abingdon, Oxfordshire at lunchtime, but the high-roller will have to wait until March 2009 to collect his £150,000 if Jonjo O'Neill's charge comes good.No horse has achieved such a feat in history but Black Jack Ketchum has not been beaten in eight races so far and is already 4-5 to win his first stayers' crown at Cheltenham. The special bet price was immediately cut to 12-1.The firm's spokesman David Williams said: 'We raised eyebrows when we only offered 14-1, but we're making no apologies now.'We reckon the only thing that can stop him is an injury. Everything we've seen and heard suggests he's got a sensational career over hurdles ahead of him.''He's the banker of the meeting and we fully expect him to cost us a fortune over the next few years.'Already a winner at the Cheltenham Festival last year, Black Jack Ketchum also won on his only run this season at Prestbury Park and is set to return on Saturday for the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle.O'Neill said his stable star 'definitely runs' in the big race at the weekend.'He's in great form. The ground is going to be heavy I think, but he definitely runs,' he told Racing UK. 'He has plenty of time to get over it before Cheltenham.'(C) PA Sport
