A maths genius who has used his university education to win €15.5million for racing fans reckons he is onto another long shot jackpot - after picking out a 66-1 outsider to win today's Aintree Grand National.
Richard Brocklebank, 56, uses his number wizardry to place complex combinations of bets which produce the maximum return for minimum risk. His formula has produced an astonishing series of whopping wins for his syndicate of followers - including four of over £1m.
Richard's biggest success was in 2009 when Russian Trigger's Midlands Grand National victory at Uttoxeter netted him a £3.1m accumulator. His book about his bookie-bashing antics - £3 Million In 3 Weeks: The Squirrel Syndicate – A Gambler’s Tale - is a best-seller and set to be turned into a telly streaming smash.
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Richard, who graduated from Nottingham University with a degree in physics, snubbed a conventional career after his first ever bet as a schoolboy Well To Do won the 1972 Grand National at 14-1. He has gone on to back nine other National-winning long shots - including Mon Mome who romped home in 2009 at 100-1 and 2013 champ Aurora's Encore (66-1).
Now he has sent punters' hearts fluttering by singling out 66-1 shot Eva's Oskar in Saturday's big race. The dad-of-two from Hyde, Cheshire, said: "I would certainly never put anyone off backing a long shot in the Grand National.
"This year I spotted a long shot at 100-1 when the weights came out but was unsure if the horse would get in due to the maximum field size of 40. However, it is now in the top 40 remaining and is available at a still tasty price of 66-1."
Last year's winner Noble Yeats has been heavily backed to win the race again. But Richard reckons the 15lb in extra weight he will have to carry as his reigning champ handicap will be too heavy a burden.
"That extra lead in the saddle will make it tough to repeat," he said. However he does also fancy the chances of 16-1 shot Coko Beach. "It was eighth last year after losing a left hind shoe and could go several places better barring any further issues with his hooves," he added.
"Everyone loves Aintree as a great sporting spectacle. But you love it a little bit more if you win."
One professional gambler, whose win record led to him being banned by some bookies, said: "No-one knows his stuff like Richard. It's not just his knowledge of horses that makes him successful but the way he calculates the odds and hones his bets to produce the maximum possible return. He's to betting what Red Rum is to racing."
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