Bookies spared 'significant' seven-figure payout as 40-1 shot wins bumper

Bookmakers were spared a hefty payout, including seven-figure sums for Sky Bet and Paddy Power, when Pink In The Park was beaten in the final race of the Dublin Racing Festival after six favourites had earlier won on the card.

Pink In The Park was sent off 5-4 in the concluding mares' bumper after day two of the Dublin Racing Festival had been a happy punting game for favourite backers.

She hit the front under Patrick Mullins in the straight but faded in the final furlong to be fifth in a tight finish, the race narrowly won by outsider Lily Du Berlais.

Galopin Des Champs, Chacun Pour Soi, Honeysuckle and Sir Gerhard had all duly delivered on market expectations to win at odds of 4-9, 4-7, 1-5 and 8-13, while handicap favourites Party Central (7-4) and Birchdale (9-2) ensured an uncomfortable few hours for bookmakers and plenty of positivity for favourite backers.

Sunday's results, replays and analysis

However, the outcome of the final two races, won by 20-1 and 40-1 shots, saved several bookmakers a particularly costly afternoon.

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “Racing is a game of ups and downs and that’s been demonstrated so well at the Dublin Racing Festival. With only one winning favourite yesterday, the books came out on top, but we knew today would determine our weekend given all the shorties.

“But Sunday couldn’t have begun any worse with six jollies winning in a row, including in the handicaps and all of the big four short ones, before lady luck struck for the layers with Call Me Lyreen prevailing at 20-1.

“Lily Du Berlais’s photograph will also be taking pride of place on the wall at Power Tower after winning the lucky last at 40-1 with favourite Pink In The Park being furiously backed for bumper kings Willie and Patrick Mullins and her victory has helped save us a significant seven-figure payout today.”

Four of the odds-on winners at Leopardstown on Sunday - Sir Gerhard (clockwise), Galopin Des Champs, Chacun Pour Soi and Honeysuckle

Sky Bet had also reported they were facing a seven-figure payout if Pink In The Park won, while Coral described it as a "Sunday to forget for the layers".

Coral's David Stevens said: "Hot favourites Galopin Des Champs, Chacun Pour Soi, Honeysuckle and Sir Gerhard were always going to feature in plenty of accumulators on day two of this year’s Dublin Racing Festival, and so it proved, with wins for all four meaning there was no escape for us.

"On top of that, Party Central got favourite backers off to a great start, and with Birchdale landing a gamble in the feature handicap chase to add insult to injury, this really is a Sunday to forget for the layers.”

Overnight prices before Sunday's racing

9-4 Party Central (won at 7-4)
1-2 Galopin Des Champs (won at 4-9)
4-7 Chacun Pour Soi (won at 4-7)
5-1 Birchdale (won at 9-2)
1-4 Honeysuckle (won at 1-5)
5-6 Sir Gerhard (won at 8-13)
11-2 Carrarea (sixth at 7-2)
6-5 Pink In The Park (fifth at 5-4)

How the day unfolded:

'I've never experienced that before' - Blackmore and Honeysuckle send crowd wild

'Up there with the best novices I've ridden' – Galopin Des Champs wows Townend

Disaster for bookies as Sir Gerhard completes memorable six-timer for favourites

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