Bookmakers breathe easy after Wolverhampton gamble goes astray

Little-known County Donegal trainer Charlie Moore momentarily had the betting industry on edge after backing his two runners at Wolverhampton on Tuesday night to win "well over six figures". However, the attempted coup was foiled when Bazzat faded up the home straight in the 7f handicap and could finish only seventh.

Moore, who had not had a runner in nearly three years, along with his close friend and owner JP Sweeney, attempted to pull off a lucrative double on Bazzat (6.15) and Penny Green (8.15). Sky Bet had stopped taking doubles on the two horses before the first leg was run.

Bazzat was initially priced at 50-1 by Paddy Power on Monday night but was returned at an SP of 5-1.

Penny Green, who finished last of 13 runners in the 1m1½f handicap, was available at 100-1 before being sent off a 7-1 shot.

Speaking before racing on Monday afternoon, Moore said: "The horses haven’t run for two years but they’re spot-on and we’re hoping big things can happen.

"We haven't got a lot on the double to be honest, but if it comes off we’ll still have quite a lot to take back home, well over six figures."

Moore added: "Bazzat ran 19 times as a three-year-old and the owner has been very patient, keeping him for two years and resting him.

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"The mare, Penny Green, was just very weak and needed time, which is why she’s been off so long.

"We've got them fit and ready and they're in very weak races – if they can't do anything here we don't know where we're going to go with them."

Who is Charlie Moore?
Age: 56
Based: Letterkenny, Donegal
Main business: farming
Best memory: winning at the 2009 Galway festival with Steig

Paddy Power were one of the firms on alert. Their representative Paul Binfield said: "We were biggest about the two of them last night at 100-1 and 50-1 and laid small money on singles and the double before realising fairly quickly and going 20-1 the pair.

"It doesn’t take a lot of money at those prices to rack up some fairly significant liabilities; if four lads have a tenner double at the original prices you’re looking at £200,000. We’ve laid the double to lose a significant six-figure sum."

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