A punter missed out on winning £425,000 by taking a bookmaker's offer before the final leg of two bets.
The Betfair customer decided not to let the last horse run in their Lucky 31 and five-fold accumulator. Credrojava, the 15-8 favourite for the closing mares' bumper at Aintree, went on to win under jockey Jonathan Burke.
The mare held the runner-up by half-a-length – and the result would have landed the racing fan the huge six-figure sum. However the backer, who wishes to remain anonymous, did not risk it and collected just under £58,000.
Betfair's Barry Orr said: "I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision to make and he obviously had mixed emotions having seen the last leg win but I imagine there are very few people who wouldn’t have banked the cash."
Many on social media wondered why the punter did not let one of the bets run, rather than ending both. They contained the same selections from a stake of £67 – and the Harry Fry-trained Credrojava would have made it a full house of winners on Sunday afternoon.
The 16-1 Old Roan Chase hero Riders Onthe Storm was the longest-priced selection, adding to successes for Dingo Dollar (12-1) and Honor Grey (9-1) at the Grand National venue. Spring Meadow (7-2) overturned the favourite from Credrojava's stable, Hymac, in a novices' hurdle at Ffos Las.
Had the punter kept one of the bets, the winnings would have been significantly greater. "Why cash out both? Surely worth letting at least one run for that level of payout," one person said on Twitter.
Another said: "You've got to be leaving one of the bets at least!! Cash the lucky 31 and leave the acca." A third social media user added: "Why cash out both bets? Madness."
Others suggested they would find it hard to make a decision about what to do in such a situation. The outcome was called "heartbreaking" and "a sickener" in the comments online.
Riders Onthe Storm, the most high-profile of the punter's winners, got his head in front for the first time since February 2020. Trained by Richard Hobson, it was an extra special triumph for part-owner Carl Hinchy at his local track.
"My late dad worked in Long Lane Aintree for 30 years and drank at the Old Roan pub after work. To win the #oldroanchase is such a privilege for us local boys! Huge day and we shall enjoy celebrating all week!! Great to share with so many pals! @itvracing @AintreeRaces," he tweeted.
The chaser rolled back the years to deny Paul Nicholls' 100-30 chance Hitman by a head in the feature contest, which had a first prize of £45,054.
Hobson said: “The break and the turning out and bringing him back in nice and fresh has done him the world of good, obviously he’s plummeted down the handicap and he was given a fantastic ride."
