A punter who turned £2 into a whopping £112,000 on Gold Cup day has given his big race verdict.
David Jackson scooped the huge sum when Minella Indo, his final bet in an £1 each-way accumulator, won last year's renewal. The 41-year-old was thrilled when Henry De Bromhead's chaser defeated stablemate A Plus Tard in the Festival's feature race.
He placed a £1 each-way four-fold on the 14-1 ante-post bet, with Galvin (20-1), Sir Gerhard (16-1) and Quilixios (20-1). One by one they won at the famous meeting, leaving the dad-of-two pondering a cash out of £8,790 from bookies Bet 365 before the Gold Cup.
But he held his nerve – and cheered on Minella Indo from the comfort his living room. "It was brilliant, the best feeling I have ever had," he said about the incredible triumph. I wasn't really expecting to win. It would have been better celebrating with the lads at the track, but we made the most of being at home."
After the money reached his bank, Jackson and his wife Jade gave their four bedroom house a makeover. The couple are also planning a family holiday to Cyprus.
After landing some nice ante-post bets on Sir Gerhard and Facile Vega this week, Jackson is looking forward to seeing whether Minella Indo can retain his Gold Cup crown. The huge racing fan expects him to go very well again.
"As Galvin and Minella Indo were both in last year's bet, I would love to see them gallop around the home bend together," he said. "I think Galvin is the one to beat this time. He has plenty of stamina after winning the National Hunt Chase and it's his first year in open company. "I like to go for a horse that has never run in it before. There are very few negatives. I'm very keen on him."
Jackson believes it is a good renewal of the race, as Galvin bids to give Gordon Elliott his second Gold Cup after Don Cossack's 2016 triumph.
"People are saying it's not the best race this year, but I would disagree," he added. "I think A Plus Tard will go off favourite with the Rachael Blackmore factor.
"Al Boum Photo has won it twice. Protektorat is an unknown quantity. But I would be very surprised if the Irish don't win it again, I'm looking forward to seeing how Galvin gets on."
Jackson and fellow supporters of Galvin will have to wait until raceday to see if his jockey Davy Russell will be back in action – after he was stood down by the doctor on Thursday.
The rider, with more winners than any current professional at the Festival, had a heavy fall from Conflated in the Ryanair Chase.
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