Ladbrokes insist decision to withhold six-figure payout from stable lad is 'entirely consistent' with their terms

Ladbrokes have stated their decision to withhold payment on a winning bet worth six figures placed by a stable lad last year is "entirely consistent" with their terms due to an ongoing investigation by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB).

Stable lad Dylan Phelan placed a €30 each-way double on Rocky's Diamond in a maiden hurdle at Limerick and Diamond Nora in a mares' maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe on April 19, 2024, taking prices of 80-1 and 125-1. Both won at starting prices of 22-1 and 16-1, resulting in a potentially life-changing payout of €319,440 for Phelan, who works for the trainer of both horses, Declan Queally, at his Waterford stable.

However, Ladbrokes have declined to settle the bet on the basis that both races were under investigation by the IHRB after the raceday stewards at Limerick and Ballinrobe inquired as to the apparent improvement in form shown by the winners and referred the matter on to an IHRB referrals committee.

In a statement on Tuesday, the IHRB confirmed that "winner all right was given on the day following both races" and that the investigation "is now nearing its conclusion and a decision will be taken shortly as to what further action, if any, will be taken". It also confirmed Phelan was not the subject of said investigation.

According to a letter sent in June by Ladbrokes to Phelan, a copy of which has been seen by the Racing Post, an attempt was made on April 22 to collect the bet, which the letter said was due to pay €100,000, the maximum daily payout limit for a wager placed over the counter in a betting shop for the type of races Rocky's Diamond and Diamond Nora won.

However, Phelan was blocked from redeeming the bet and has not been paid out.

Rocky's Diamond (right): part of stable lad Dylan Phelan's successful each-way double last year, which Ladbrokes have refused to pay out onCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Describing his frustration over the past year, he said: "It's been some emotional rollercoaster. Some good days thinking about it, but mainly bad and plenty of sleepless nights. 

"It's tough on the head and not easy, it's a fair burden to be honest. I had a few small bets on the same horses, nothing crazy, with other bookmakers and I got paid out."

He described the rationale behind both bets, noting that the Queally stable was out of form when the two horses finished down the field on the same Gowran card five beforehand in a month where the stable had one winner from 17 runners and none placed.

"We had been disappointed with a couple of horses at the time and we hadn't many winners," he said. "Diamond Nora won a point-to-point at Ballindenisk that January and had been disappointing afterwards, but I thought she turned a corner. Rocky's Diamond ran a lovely race beforehand at Gowran when he was only a baby and I just thought he was improving and looked better going to Limerick. 

"I know he's turned into a very good horse, but no-one knew that was going to happen, he exceeded all expectations. I took a chance and it worked out, that's it.

"There's market movers the whole time and they moved a little bit, but Declan's horses have a big following and plenty could have latched on. 

"At the end of the day I placed a couple of bets and I got lucky, that's the bottom line."

'My head is fried'

The saga could be set to roll on, irrespective of the findings of the IHRB investigation, as Phelan said: "We’ve launched High Court proceedings but we’re waiting on a date. I can't put into words how frustrating it has been. It's going on too long and my head is just fried with it."

In a response provided to the Racing Post, Ladbrokes said they take integrity matters "extremely seriously" and that the approach taken is consistent with the bookmaker's terms and conditions.

"The IHRB is conducting an ongoing investigation into these races and we are awaiting the outcome before settling bets related to this investigation," said a statement from the firm.

"When a sporting governing body is investigating the integrity of a sports event on which we have taken notable bets, we will await the outcome of those proceedings before settling bets relating to the matter under investigation.

"We take integrity matters in sport extremely seriously and our approach is entirely consistent with our terms and conditions and how we would approach any sports event under investigation."

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