Ups And Downs For Ascot Punters

Bookmakers were sending out mixed messages after day three of Royal Ascot with both profits and losses reported by the leading firms.

Coral and William Hill were all smiles at the end of play but things were not looking so good for Totesport, Paddy Power and Stan James.

Dutch Art (11-4) proved popular in the opening Norfolk Stakes but Jamie Spencer's unlucky passage on runner-up Hoh Mike saved a massive payout with several big-bets laid, including £20,000 to win £50,000.

The 25-1 victory of Mont Etoile in the Ribblesdale also did the layers a favour when holding the well-backed jolly Scottish Stage, while market leaders Distinction and Reefscape were denied in the Gold Cup.

Yeats' big-race success under Kieren Fallon did not go unnoticed by punters, but most firms reported a break-even race.

The worst result of the week was to come, however, as Sir Gerard was backed in from early morning prices of 9-1 and bigger before eventually being returned the 9-2 favourite in the Britannia Stakes.

Wins for 33-1 shot Snoqualmie Boy and Uhoomagoo (25-1) in the last two races helped to relieve the pressure on the layers but the overall results were mixed.

'Sir Gerard winning the Britannia was a big hit for us and it was one of the biggest gambles of the week,' explained Coral's Simon Clare.

'We ducked it this morning but it takes an enormous amount of money to force a horse down to 9-2 from 9s.

'The other results were decent, even Yeats winning the Gold Cup took the book but wasn't a loser, and after looking as though we were going to have a losing day we dragged it back to levels.

'We have ended up with a small profit but it has been nip and tuck all week.'

A similar story was reported by Ben Clarke of William Hill, who said: 'It has been a winning day for us and while Dutch Art was very well backed in the morning he drifted on course but was still a looser.

'Yeats and Sir Gerard both proved popular and Sir Gerard winning would be our worst result of the meeting.

'The last two winners were good prices and enabled us to claw back our losses and we ended the day just in front.'

Glum faces prevailed at Totesport though with Sir Gerard taking the Wigan-based firm to the cleaners.

Spokesman Damian Walker said: 'It was a losing day for us and thank goodness for the last two races which got us out of jail.

'Sir Gerard was a six-figure loser despite the fact we ducked it this morning. Without the last two results it would have been a shocking day.'

Irish layers Paddy Power suffered a similar fate.

Communications manager Paddy Power said: 'Sir Gerard's win in the Britannia ranks among our worst results of the year. Every man, woman and dog wanted to be on it at 9-1 this morning and he returned half that price.

'We're licking our wounds and are just grateful that Mont Etoile won the Ribblesdale to provide a crutch to lean on as we limp our way home.'

? PA Sport