Punter at Epsom races wins a cool £1 million on the eve of Derby day

A lucky punter scooped a cool £1 million from a bet on a race at the Cazoo Derby Festival.

The big-spending racing fan left it until the finale on Oaks Day to place their wager with Star Sports.

The £225,000 stake on Rhoscolyn (9-2) was one of a number of huge bets the firm accepted during Friday's card.

Heavy rain had eased the ground during the afternoon, which saw a record 16-length success for Snowfall in the feature.

The weather might have sent racegoers running for cover, but it delighted Rhoscolyn's supporter as his last two wins had been on similar going.

From stall five, James Doyle was able to get in a good position behind the leaders until he made his move over a furlong out.

Once he asked the son of Territories to quicken, the race was soon over as he pulled four lengths clear.

"You might imagine that the last would have been a fairly quiet heat with the big races all done and dusted," said the Simon Nott from Star Sports.

"Wrong, it was an absolute maelstrom of bets. There was a £300,000 punt on Dulus at 11/4, £110,000 for Paws For Thought at 17/2, £12,000 Shelir at 3/1, oh and the absolute killer, a bet that lost the firm over a million quid.

"£1,012,500 to £225,000 be exact, the winner. A million quid on a single bet."

A spokesman for the firm added: "We have become known for laying big bets at the big racing fixtures.

"They don’t come much bigger than Epsom’s Derby meeting.

"Business had been good all day and the big bets had largely gone our way.

"We’d already laid a substantial bet on another horse in the last so when the bet to win a million came in it seemed the right day, the right price and the right sort of race to take the bet in, it has enhanced Star Sports' reputation and highlighted our willingness to lay bets at the big meetings."

Ahead of the feature Cazoo Derby on Saturday, punters are getting behind Godolphin runners Hurricane Lane and One Ruler.

The latter was a much bigger price yesterday – and is now down to 12-1.

Traders at Ladbrokes hope Frankie Dettori won't be repeating his Classic heroics from Friday aboard his big race mount.

The firm's Nicola McGeady said: "The Derby has been an excellent betting race, with all runners attracting support at different times. Right now, the favourite is dividing opinion but if the ground dries up, he is bound to shorten.

"The horse we do not want to win is John Leeper, with Frankie fans praying he lands a Classic double.”

There was a shock result in the first race on Saturday, the World Pool At The tote Handicap.

Outsider Solent Getaway (28-1) came home a nose ahead of popular selection King Frankel (5-2).

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