Dreams turn to despair after massive gambles backfires spectacularly after being smashed into 11-8
PUNTERS’ dreams of taking the bookies to the cleaners turned to despair when a gambled-on horse suffered a nightmare run.
Gavin Cromwell’s Shahbaz was all the rage with bettors having been obliterated in the markets for a handicap hurdle at Roscommon on Monday.
The heavily-punted horse looked to be travelling OK turning in, making ground up in the inside in the black silks
But the horse was ultimately ‘legless’ in the finish – having been smashed in the betting before the off
Having opened 16-1, the four-year-old gelding was hammered into 11-8 for the 1m7½f contest.
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Punters were expecting a massive run from the former Charlie Fellowes-trained Flat performer, whose most recent win came at Newmarket over 1m1f in October 2022.
But hopes of winning a life-changing sum never really got going.
Shahbaz, under recent Kerry National-winning hero Keith Donoghue, never got better than midfield.
He was eventually pumped a total of 33-and-three-quarter lengths, finishing a lowly 12th place despite the significant application of cash.
Trainer Darren Collins scooped the £6,000 first-place prize with 18-1 Sayitfirst.
But it was the devastating flop of Shahbaz and the lost money that was the real talk of the race.
One punter said: “Shahbaz ran like a 16-1 shot. Never got competitive.”
While another said: “Gamble goes astray. Shahbaz finishes legless. Never got competitive.”
And one bettor hopeful of a big run after backing the horse summed up the view of many when saying simply: “Terrible.”
Cromwell had more luck last week with Flooring Porter’s amazing Kerry National success.
The dual Stayers’ Hurdle king, now nine, set off on his own and made all in spectacular style to land the pot.
While the same trainer’s Sixandahalf ran a brave third in the Irish Cesarewitch on Sunday.
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