Dettori treble has bookmakers sweating on final day at Royal Ascot

Rider just denied a four-timer.

Frankie Dettori proved to be the curse of the betting industry again as he blessed his legion of supporters with a 150-1 treble on the fifth and final day of Royal Ascot.

The ever-popular Italian, whose magnificent seven at Ascot in 1996 is part of racing folklore, enjoyed a fabulous four-timer on Gold Cup day 12 months ago and he cost the bookmakers dear on Saturday with a terrific hat-trick.

He started off with Campanelle (9-2) for American trainer Wesley Ward in the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes before completing a quick Group One double on Alpine Star (9-2) in the Coronation Stakes and Palace Pier (4-1) in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

The layers were saved further punishment when he was just denied a Group One hat-trick on 2-1 favourite Sceptical in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. The Irish raider was only beaten a head and neck by Hello Youmzain (4-1) and Dream Of Dreams.

William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams said: “Not for the first time William Hill was left cursing Frankie Dettori after he delivered an astonishing 150-1 treble on the final day of Royal Ascot.

“It could have been even worse as he very nearly won a fourth that would have deliver at 452-1!

“Frankie has ruined a number of Royal Ascots for the bookies and there are going to be a load of punters enjoying Father’s Day all the more.”

Dettori’s trio ensured punters ended Royal Ascot on a high, according to Ladbrokes.

Spokesperson Nicola McGeady said: “It could have been much worse had Frankie ridden a four-timer this afternoon, but a treble for the most popular jockey in the world is still enough to make us sweat.

“It’s been an incredibly close battle between punters and bookies all week, but thanks to Frankie, punters have ended the week on a high.”

Although the bookmakers just held sway after a close-fought week, Paddy Power was relieved Dettori did not have four winners on the day.

Spokesman Paul Binfield said: “Palace Pier was an appropriate final day winner as today was a bit like the roller-coaster at the end of Brighton Pier.

“The bookies eventually won on the day and indeed the week, but Frankie sure gave us a few scares and it was a huge relief to see him denied a four-timer by wafer-thin margins on Sceptical in the Diamond Jubilee.”

The big shock provided by 150-1 winner Nando Parrado in the Coventry Stakes plus other little victories in the Silver Wokingham with Chiefofchiefs (20-1) and Hey Jonesy (18-1) in the Wokingham itself was just about good enough for the bookmakers despite Dettori’s heroics.

Coral’s David Stevens said: “The first four days of this year’s unusual Royal meeting had passed without any great betting dramas, but that man Dettori had other ideas on the final day, winning three of the four races leading up to the Diamond Jubilee, and the weight of money running on to Sceptical meant he was sent off the 2-1 favourite.

“The earlier 150-1 success of Nando Parrado seemed a distant memory when Frankie took the Irish raider took the front, but to the relief of bookmakers everywhere, both Hello Youmzain and Dream Of Dreams reeled in the market leader, and spared us a four-timer for the punters’ favourite that would undoubtedly have taken the gloss off the week.

“The Dettori treble was still costly, but both the Silver Wokingham and the Wokingham went our way, along with that record-breaking Coventry Stakes SP, so we can’t complain about the overall results this week.

“Great credit is due to all those involved in ensuring the biggest week of the Flat season went ahead, indeed it was bigger than ever this year.”

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