A TV pundit once labelled ‘Britain’s unluckiest punter’ has revisited the devastating moment that denied him nearly £330,000 in winnings. Dave Nevison established himself as a professional punter and currently serves as the resident tipster and expert for RacingTV. Back in 2009, he stood on the brink of securing a life-altering windfall after staking a super seven accumulator bet.
His first six selections all romped home victorious, leaving everything hanging on his final pick, a grey mare called Topless, priced at 9-2 for a handicap chase at Taunton. Under jockey James Davies, she surged into the lead with four obstacles remaining, and by the time she sailed over the final fence, she commanded a commanding five-length advantage. Victory seemed assured as she approached the finishing line, but then catastrophe struck.
In a heart-stopping twist, she suddenly veered sideways and Davies tumbled to the ground just yards from glory.
Nevison appeared as a guest on RacingTV’s Friday Club when the dramatic finale was shown again. Former jockey Martin Dwyer, who also works for the broadcaster, watched the incident unfold for the first time with disbelief.
“Was that the last fence? How’ve you not won? How’ve you not won?” he exclaimed as Topless cleared the final obstacle.
“I’ll show you how he’s not won,” Nevison interrupted moments before Davies was unseated. “That’s how he’s not won. Fortunately I haven’t seen it for a while.”
The Racing Post’s analysis of the race stated: “There was to be high drama, however, as Topless had mastered Pangbourne down the home straight and had the race totally sewn up before jinking left and then right nearing the finish, causing her rider to fall off.
“Topless had returned to form over 3m last time out and was given a lovely ride through the race. She made her weight concession tell at just the right time and obviously goes down as being very, very unlucky.”
Inevitably, all eyes were on Davies whose unexpected exit saved bookmakers from a massive payout, but Nevison was convinced there was nothing suspicious.
“I went down to Chepstow the next day because all night after that I had journalists or so-called friends ringing me up saying, ‘Did you see that?'” he said. “I couldn’t work it out. What had I done to deserve that?
“I did go down to Chepstow the next day. James was riding there. I just asked him and I could tell by his face. He’d obviously read the papers and knew it was the last leg of a big accumulator for someone.
“He didn’t do anything. He said he was just knackered. She was knackered. She jinked one way, he went the other. I’m not saying it was his finest hour. I wouldn’t give him a ten for that, far from it. There was nothing deliberate.”
