Local punters take bookies to the cleaners!

Punters in the Welshpool area won tens of thousands of pounds at the weekend after a horse co-owned by a local tipster came in at 28/1.

We’ve all been there. Someone we regard as the local ‘expert’ sharing the weekend’s red-hot tip with fellow drinkers in the pub, and normally it leaves us a few quid out of pocket!

But Saturday’s win at Royal Ascot was hailed as a ‘dead cert’ by Clive Jones, with the talk of the town this morning that Corals in Welshpool ran out of cash, with one winner alone pocketing £10,000 from a £500 bet when the odds were taken early at 20/1.

Clive has been a horse racing fan for as long as he can remember, and his part ownership of Get It under the MyRaceHorse scheme has reaped some healthy dividends. He owns one share while his partner, Margaret Cope, owns two.

He first started telling friends about its potential last August, with many locals winning big then after it romped home at 40/1 at the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.

Following a winter in Bahrain, it won well at 22/1 in May at Royal Ascot, and then on Saturday, it triumphantly returned to the course with a 7lb handicap to raise the roof of the King’s Head in Guilsfield, which was packed to the rafters with backers as it won by just a nose.

Clive said he was feeling the pressure with so many people putting money on, and admitted thinking “I might get lynched if it doesn’t win”. But Get It delivered.

“He gets out the traps really well, and was leading from the front, but then it eased up a little and I think people were starting to worry,” said Clive. “But, I was confident it was still going to win because it seems to have a breather and then goes again.”

With regular jockey Pat Cosgrave banned on Saturday, Seamie Heffernan was brought over from Ireland to pilot the charger to victory.

MyWelshpool has seen the betting slips and online confirmations showing wins in the thousands from people who put their faith in Clive’s knowledge and confidence.

One told us, “they should put a statue of him in the village!”.

Margaret said that they are awaiting news on when it may run again, but with increased weight it could find winning tough “unless it is over the shorter five furlongs”.

One thing is for sure though, there will be plenty of people keeping an eye open for news to see if they can ‘Get It’ in the bank again!

PICTURE: Clive and Margaret outside The King's Head, Guilsfield, which was packed to the rafters with quids-in customers on Saturday night!