Laughing punter dubbed mad crushes Cheltenham bookies with ‘biggest bet of life’

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    Former jockey Paddy 'Mad' Merrigan took the bookies to the cleaners at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday having backed a horse from odds of 50-1 right down to 8-1.

    The Irish punter slapped down the biggest bet of his life in separate flutters over the past six months – backing The Real Whacker in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.

    Having tipped the horse at multiple tipping events in the build-up to the Festival, Merrigan banked at least £50,000 from a single bookies with his full win far higher.

    READ MORE: Meet world's tallest jockey who is 6ft 4in – and is hoping to win at Cheltenham

    As quoted by the Irish Mirror, Merrigan said: "The whole of Ireland has backed this horse for six months.

    "We have cleaned the bookies, it’s over. 50-1 is the first bet I had, don’t worry about I much I win. I can assure you it was the biggest bet of my life.

    "The bookies got educated today. This is a serious issue, I want to use this moment now." He added: "I backed this horse for six months, I told thousands of other people to back him, they all did."

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    Sam Twiston-Davies rode The Real Whacker to victory as the 11/2 third favourite in the race that is considered to be a stepping stone to the Gold Cup.

    Merrigan, who has spoken honestly about his battles with drink and drugs in the past, concluded: "I’m mentally addicted to this game since I was a kid.

    "The truth be told, I’m the biggest waste of talent that ever stood at Cheltenham. If I took to the horse racing I would have had a good career but it doesn’t matter."

    Merrigan now runs his own tipping service having previously worked with Patrick Neville, who trains The Real Whacker, owned by David Mann.

    Mann said after the exciting race: "My heart is pounding… I’m shocked. I can’t believe we’re after having this winner. This is the best day of my life. I’m so happy for myself, Paddy Neville and the other owners.

    "I’m not myself but this is unreal."

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