Coral take evasive action to avoid liabilities on Dettori's Sandown mounts

The threat of spiralling liabilities on Frankie Dettori's mounts at Sandown on Saturday prompted Coral to place restrictions on five-folds and six-folds involving the rider.

Dettori's four-timer at Royal Ascot last month had helped fuel interest in his rides, spearheaded by Coral-Eclipse favourite Enable.

Coral took the decision on their big day to accept multiple bets on Dettori – but only offered odds at starting price (SP) on his mounts in races five and six to punters seeking five-folds and six-folds.

Dettori's mount in the first race, Rumble Inthejungle, was well beaten, but he ended up with a treble after wins for Mojito (4-1), Enable (4-6) and Falcon Eight (10-11).

Speaking before the first race, Coral spokesman David Stevens said: "In terms of managing liabilities on a big Saturday we've taken the decision on multiple bets to just offer SP on the last couple of legs - just to give us that safety net to manage them. Frankie's got a really strong book of rides, headlined by Enable, and Royal Ascot proved how popular he still is and what huge figures can build up in a relatively short space of time.

"We didn't want to not take the multiples as they are a popular bet, but to give ourselves a chance of managing our position we're SP only races five and six on multiples – for punters looking for five-folds and six-folds. Anyone who wants them in a double, treble or Yankee will be able to take a price."

Frankie Dettori's Sandown rides

1.50 - Rumble Inthejungle
2.25 - Mojito
3.00 - Muchly
3.35 - Enable
4.10 - Chapelli
4.45 - Falcon Eight

Other firms allowed punters to take a price on all of Dettori's rides, but would have been hoping and praying he did not have another magical day. Betfair spokesman Barry Orr said: "We are trading as normal and welcome business from multiples punters. Having said that, there has been renewed interest in the ‘Frankie multis’ since Royal Ascot and we are monitoring our liabilities closely."

Rupert Adams of William Hill added: "We're currently comfortable taking multiples but it is becoming a fairly impossible situation for firms with massive liabilities building up each weekend as you are forced to take a position and it becomes a gamble rather than a trading decision.

"Our current position would see us lose £15-£18 million were he to win on all his rides. On the Friday of Royal Ascot [the day after Dettori's four-timer] those liabilities were close to £180 million – so, the simple reality is, as a trader there's the daily possibility of something terrifying and you're just hoping he doesn't have a magical day at the office."

On the final day of Royal Ascot bet365 and Sky Bet refused certain multiples featuring Dettori's rides.

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