Bookmakers on top at Royal Ascot despite fantastic Frankie Dettori four-timer

Despite Frankie Dettori's phenomenal four-timer to open Thursday's card at Royal Ascot, which left bookmakers fearing "the worst day in bookmaking history", the layers managed to come away smiling from the five days of action.

Coral, Ladbrokes, William Hill, Paddy Power and Star Sports all reported the week to have been profitable, with the defeats of short-priced fancies Hermosa, Battaash, Magical – and in Star Sports' case Southern France – proving the catalyst for success.

Ben Keith of Star Sports said: "Southern France was the biggest liability that we've ever had, but it would have been even better had Blue Point got beat – the bookies would have really done the clock at Ascot on Saturday."

However, it was the loss of the Frankie Dettori-ridden Turgenev, who opened at 25-1 before being sent off a 7-2 favourite for the Britannia Stakes on Thursday, that really saved the bookmakers.

Turgenev (right): beaten by Biometric in the BritanniaCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

After victories for Dettori's first four mounts – A'Ali (5-1), Sangarius (13-2), Star Catcher (4-1) and Stradivarius (Evens) – the liabilities were stacked up with many punters joining the bandwagon throughout the course of the afternoon, and it looked likely to become a red-letter day for the Italian maestro and his fans.

However, he hit the front 100 yards too early and Biometric's late run to collar Turgenev had the layers rejoicing.

Nicola McGeady, Ladbrokes' head of PR, said: "It could have been a very different story had Frankie Dettori ridden a five- or six-timer on Thursday, but thankfully we avoided the darkest day in bookmaking history. In the end it turned out to be a pretty favourable week for us."

Paul Binfield from Paddy Power compared the defeat of Turgenev to that of Annie Power at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival, which is believed to have saved the bookmaking industry an estimated £100 million.

Annie Power: Cheltenham fall comparable to Turgenev's defeatCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I've been working for Paddy for around 15 years and the two most exhilarating moments were Annie Power's unfortunate tumble at Cheltenham and Frankie cruelly getting beaten on Turgenev in the Britannia," said Binfield.

"These incidents would have cost the bookies tens of millions and we escaped by the scruff of our necks on both occasions."

However, not all punters had the courage to let their optimistic but exceptionally profitable Frankie Dettori multiples run the course of time, which helped William Hill.

Spokesman Rupert Adams explained: "We dodged a bullet on Frankie day, with an astonishing number of people deciding to cash out despite the fact Stradivarius was the final leg – that saved us a fortune."

Away from what can now be called 'Dettori day', the five-day royal meeting proved tough for favourite backers, with only seven of the 24 races ending with the market leader coming out on top, including just one over the first two days.

Stradivarius: many punters cashed out Frankie Dettori multiples before the Gold Cup with William HillCredit: Edward Whitaker

Adams said: "We had a fantastic day one and an okay day two and five. Considering what happened at Royal Ascot this year – a few favourites and Frankie's run – we couldn't be happier with the result at the end of the five days."

McGeady concurred by saying: "Turnover was really strong, we had plenty of big priced-winners, and with the likes of Magical, Battaash, Hermosa and Too Darn Hot getting turned over, we have emerged from the week unscathed."

Both Binfield and Coral spokesman David Stevens still feel relieved that Dettori didn't maintain his streak and instead boosted the publicity for horseracing.

"Even a fifth win on the day for Dettori would have been immensely painful, and when he went clear on Turgenev we were staring down the barrel," said Stevens. "But looking back – and knowing Biometric saved us – we will remember Gold Cup day as a great advert for racing."

Binfield added: "Sure we've come out of the week slightly ahead, and we'd have bitten your hand off for that at 5pm on Thursday, but the publicity the sport has generated from Frankie's superlative horsemanship is invaluable."

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