| IRISH PUNTERS’ SILVER LINING!
 IRISH
race fans across Britain were toasting their luck this week after Silver
Birch’s surprise triumph in the Grand National.
The Irish-trained outsider romped home at odds of 33-1 leaving those
who backed him in the money.
A lucky Cork punter turned a ?20 bet into almost ?500,000 after correctly
predicting the winners of four races at both Aintree and Lingfield including
the Grand National.
And punters at a pub called the Silver Birch scooped £60,000 by
backing the boozer’s namesake in the National.
One drinker took the lion’s share, raking in £50,000 from
a £1,000 bet.
As an outsider Silver Birch attracted relatively few bets compared to
the favourites but it was picked by many Irish punters.
And some 21 regulars at the Silver Birch pub in Birchwood in Cheshire
also decided to have a flutter.
Landlady Janette Kelly won almost £45, one female regular took home
£800 and barman Wayne Callaghan won £200.
But the identity of the £50,000 winner was being kept quiet.
Ms Kelly said: “Nobody got all the drinks in after the race but
the atmosphere in the pub was amazing.”
Bets also piled in from Silver Birch pubs in other parts of the country
and residents and staff at the Silver Birches old people’s home
in Birmingham also won.
Corkman Bernie Croker was another Irish punter celebrating Silver Birch’s
success.
He banked ?500,000 after placing a ?20 wager on the Grand National and
three other races.
Mr Croker who lives in the suburb of Donnybrook with his wife backed Silver
Birch who won at 33-1, Kings Key at 16-1 and Al Eile at 12-1.
He then watched nervously as his final choice Paymaster General came with
a sweeping late run to win the last at Lingfield at odds of 10-1.
A spokesman for bookmakers Paddy Power who took the bet said: “It’s
fantastic to see one of our regular punters winning a life-changing amount
of money for a small bet. We wish him the very best of luck.”
Silver Birch’s win was the third Grand National triumph on the trot
for Ireland.
Owner Brian Walsh bought the horse at Britain’s Doncaster Sales
for just £20,000.
The Lancashire-born 26-year-old comes from an Irish farming family and
now runs the Rheindross Stud in his hometown of Kilcock in Co. Kildare.
The triumph made him the youngest-ever owner of a Grand National winner.
On top of the first prize of just under £400,000 he also backed
the horse at a rewarding 66-1. |
