Fond memories: layers take a hammering on day four last year

Winners at 100-1, 50-1, 33-1, 25-1 and two at 20-1 over the first two days got bookmakers off to a great start at Goodwood this week, but going into day four of the meeting there will be memories of a frightening Friday last year, headlined by Franklin D landing an almighty gamble in the Betfred Mile.

The Michael Bell-trained runner was supported into 7-4 (from an already skinny 4-1) on the day of the race and scored by a head, with a torrid afternoon for the layers capped by Ryan Moore and Sir Michael Stoute completing a hat-trick of winning favourites when Poet's Word landed the closing handicap.

Overall damage to the betting industry was estimated to be as high as £10 million, one day on from Big Orange justifying favouritism in the Goodwood Cup.

William Hill's spokesman said on the day: "It's a horror show. Franklin D was a seven-figure loser alone and the estimate for the five winning favourites today is that it will have cost the industry £10m – bookmakers have taken another hammering."

It’s safe to say layers will be hoping history does not repeat itself, particularly after a bruising afternoon for them on Thursday when five winning favourites turned the tide in favour of punters.

Results from day four last year