Dude Helps Hills Dodge Costly Cup Of Tea
Monbeg Dude saved the bookmakers a large payout in Chepstow’s Welsh National on Saturday as the 10/1 shot beat the heavily backed Teaforthree (11/4f) in the Grade 3 contest.
Prior to the race defeat seemed unthinkable for trainer Rebecca Curtis’ chaser. Teaforthree had been trained specifically for the Welsh National, had champion jockey Tony McCoy on board and had no doubts about staying the trip.
But William Hill went a stand out price of 5/1 about the favourite on the morning of the race and Kate Miller told Sportinglife.com that William Hill had taken 25,000 win singles over the course of Saturday.
The bookmakers looked to be in trouble as Teaforthree travelled well in the race, tracking the leaders, and seemed the likely winner until the last fence. But Monbeg Dude worked his way into contention under Paul Carberry and on the run in after the last battled to a half-length win over the favourite. Miller told the Sportinglife.com the defeat of Teaforthree had saved William Hill a GB£ 1.4 million payout.
A number of draws in the other third round FA Cup ties – not least West Ham – Manchester Utd – would have been good results for the bookmakers.