Bookmaker Insists £100,000 Grand National Wager Was Authentic and Not a Publicity Stunt
Paul Byrne, the owner of Fitzwilliam Sports, has firmly stated that the substantial £100,000 bet placed on the Willie Mullins-trained, JP McManus-owned horse at odds of 8-1 was entirely genuine. He emphasized that this high-profile wager, which captured headlines following Saturday's Grand National, was "real" and "not a publicity stunt." The bookmaker personally accepted this significant bet, which has sparked intense speculation and debate among racing enthusiasts and the wider public.
Speculation Swirls Around Identity of the Bettor
In the aftermath of the race, there has been rampant speculation regarding who placed the £100,000 bet. Many fans and observers have pointed fingers at JP McManus, the owner of the winning horse. When questioned about whether he had backed his own horse, McManus offered a cryptic response, saying, "I had a little on (the winner)." This ambiguous statement has only fueled further conjecture and discussion across social media platforms and within racing circles.
On social media platform X, one user commented, "Hearing it was JP McManus that put it on. They made it out like an ordinary raceday goer put it on." Another added, "Spare change for JP McManus. He'd probably have had 10x that on, if someone would take the bet." A third user posted, "Bet it was JP McManus (owner)," while a fourth asserted, "That is 100 per cent JP McManus." These reactions highlight the widespread belief that the horse's owner was behind the substantial wager.
Bookmaker's Detailed Account of the Betting Process
Mr. Byrne, who also owns the Irish Grand National winner Solider In Milan, provided a detailed explanation of the events surrounding the bet. He revealed, "It was a real bet. Someone wanted to back the horse – 8-1 was freely available, there was 9-1 in places and I thought it was an opportunity to get the bet away." He further elaborated on his strategy, stating, "I thought there was a way to trade your way out of the bet. There was about three hours before the race. At the time the exchanges were looking full of opportunities to get away at a bigger price."
He described the frantic final moments before the race, noting, "So it was panic stations come the end just to get rid of the money and I think that was most likely the reason for the SP. I was surprised how weak the market became for our marquee race. I would say that if there was a delay to the start he would have gone off even shorter." Mr. Byrne also addressed the business implications, admitting, "It wasn't this romantic way to say the bookmaker's going to lose £800,000. That was never the idea, it was to get the bet away, (although) I'd be lying if I said I didn't think of the business itself as well, that it looks good, there's no point saying otherwise."
