A pundit for ITV Racing is said to have cost bookies over a million pounds by helping punters with an outrageous tip for the Epsom Derby. Lambourn was first past the post to land trainer Aidan O’Brien his third successive win at the famous race. It wrapped up an extraordinary two days for the Irishman, with Minnie Hauk winning the Oaks on Friday and Jan Brueghel prevailing in the Coronation Cup.
Punters who backed Lambourn were duly rewarded, given that he was priced at 13/2 before the start of the Derby. However, nobody would have done better than ITV Racing analyst Kevin Blake, who put up an 800/1 treble at the Cheltenham Festival two years ago. His incredible tip for the Derby was even better, leaving many bookmakers out of pocket and delighting fans who took his inspired advice.
Blake picked Lambourn, runner-up Lazy Griff and third-placed Tennessee Stud to finish in the top three at 8,249/1. Amazingly, his prediction was spot on, which turned what was a winning race for the bookies into a huge losing one.
Coral spokesperson David Stevens told The Sun: “It may have been the threat of considerable rainfall that sparked the support for the proven stayer Lambourn, but even without a notable downpour, the Cheshire Vase winner controlled the race from start to finish.
“An SP of 13-2 confirmed he was not without support. Whilst the winner alone was not the worst result in the Derby book, further pain was inflicted by Kevin Blake who incredibly put up the tricast on ITV’s The Opening Show.
“[It was] an outcome that paid a whopping £8,294.72 for £1. Plenty of viewers followed Kevin’s advice to our considerable cost.”
Paul Binfield from Paddy Power added: “The actual result was fine as our traders thought that the winner was likely to hit the frame and, in addition, he was towards the bottom half of our field book.
“However, an extra place on the race as well as Kevin Blake brilliantly tipping the tricast meant that it was a small losing contest for us.”
After the race, ITV co-presenter Oliver Bell brought up Blake’s incredible tip, saying: “I’ve heard from the trading floor at Coral that they have lost over a million pounds on the tricast on your selections.”
Blake, who reacted by flashing a smug grin, simply replied: “I’m due one.”