Stable boy waiting a YEAR for 'one-in-a-million' win as bookmakers refuse to pay out on bet placed

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A stable lad is in dispute with Ladbrokes after being made to wait more than 12 months to collect a life-changing sum of money following an audacious gamble. 

Dylan Phelan works for trainer Declan Queally in Ireland. On April 19, 2024, the 25-year-old placed bets with different bookmakers on two horses he works with in Queally's yard, Diamond Nora and Rocky's Diamond.

Among the bets placed by Phelan was a €30 (£25.70) each-way double with Ladbrokes on the pair. The prices he got were 125/1 for Diamond Nora, who was running in a mare's maiden hurdle at Balllinrobe, and 80/1 for Rocky's Diamond in a maiden hurdle at Limerick.

Both horses won – and in some style, too. Rocky's Diamond, whose first run had seen him finish 13th of 15 beaten 62 lengths at Gowran Park, put daylight between himself and his pursuers. He made nearly all the running and thrashed Palamon, the 11/8 favourite, by five lengths; he returned at 22/1.

Queally was asked by racecourse stewards to explain the dramatic upturn in Rocky's Diamond's fortunes and told them that a change of tactics, along with the removal of a protective hood, had worked in the gelding's favour.

Diamond Nora also showed a dramatic level of improvement in her form. In two outings before he trip to Ballinrobe, she had finished 20th of 25 at Naas then 10th of 16 at Gowran Park. But like her stablemate, she jumped every fence in front and obliged at odds of 16/1.

Dylan Phelan placed a €30 each-way double on two horses at races in Ireland last year

His bet with Ladbrokes would have seen him take home a staggering €319,440 (£273,669.04)

However the bookmakers have claimed that the decision not to payout amid an ongoing investigation is in accordance with their terms

As was the case with Rocky's Diamond, racecourse stewards were curious as to how Diamond Nora had undergone such an improvement. Queally's representative that day said the yard was under a cloud when she had previously run and she may have been sick.

Phelan claimed the win 'almost gave him a heart attack', and though he had collected his winnings from Paddy Power and Bar One Racing, the yield from Ladbrokes was set to be a staggering €319,440 (£273,669.04).

But officials at Ballinrobe were suspicious and referred the matter to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) for further investigation. Ladbrokes, as such, decided that they would not pay out on the bet until the findings were discovered.

Still, to this day, the payment is pending. The IHRB's investigation continues and, when it is concluded, Ladbrokes will settle the wager. They are insistent that everything they are doing in this case is in line with their company rules.

Since Phelan went public with his case there has been uproar. The bookmakers, the common consensus demands, should give him what he is owed and publicly apologise for making him wait more than 12 months to get this windfall.

There is a secondary issue, though. Any punters with a bet in either of those races in which Rocky's Diamond and Diamond Nora bolted up, they had lost their money before the tapes had gone up. Palamon, especially had been well punted but never stood a chance.

The Queally yard must have known that Rocky's Diamond had extravagant ability because his most recent run was at the Cheltenham Festival, when he finished fourth in the Stayers Hurdle to Bob Olinger. Prior to that, he'd run in Graded races at Gowran Park and Leopardstown.

Queally's planning to have Rocky's Diamond and Diamond Nora primed to run for their lives within 22 minutes of each other at courses 100 miles apart was audacious and the execution was meticulous and there is no suggestion he has done anything wrong.

Rocky's Diamond (pictured centre) ran in a maiden hurdle at Limerick and won by a clear margin

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board's investigation into the matter is still ongoing

As is the case with all these gambles, though, it tells you that unless you have specific information, you simply cannot win. This is a question of integrity and until the IHRB have drawn their conclusion, the remarkable bet will remain pending.

In a statement released to Racing Confidential, Ladbrokes said: 'The IHRB is conducting an ongoing investigation into these races, and we are awaiting the outcome before settling bets related to this investigation.

'When a sporting governing body is investigating the integrity of a sports event on which we have taken notable bets, we will await the outcome of those proceedings before settling bets relating to the matter under investigation.

'We take integrity matters in sport extremely seriously, and our approach is entirely consistent with our terms and conditions and how we would approach any sports event under investigation.'

Joy for Curtis at Fairyhouse 

What a joy it was to be at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday for the Irish Grand National. There was a bumper crowd, a young one at that, and the atmosphere was bouncing. The highlight, of course, was seeing Haiti Couleurs oblige in the big race for Sean Bowen and Rebecca Curtis.

The Irish National is one of the most ferociously competitive races of the season, so for Curtis to have the bravery to take on the might of Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Gavin Cromwell in their own backyard – and win – is a feat that must be applauded.

We are used to seeing Irish runners come over to contest races in Britain but it is a crying shame that too few British trainers are prepared to take on the challenge of going the other way during the jumps season, particularly when the prize money is so good.

Rebecca Curtis' (left) feat of entering the Irish Grand National Chase and winning deserves to be applauded

It is the Punchestown Festival next week and the highlight would absolutely be for Constitution Hill to go over and tackle State Man. If the horse is right, Nicky Henderson has got nothing to lose – he would also be given a rapturous reception. Sport, after all, is about embracing challenges.

Stage set for a Saturday Sundown epic  

Speaking of challenges, the conclusion to the jumps season has been enlivened by Willie Mullins going head-to-head with Dan Skelton. Mullins remains favourite to be crowned Champion Trainer again but Skelton has been wonderfully pugnacious and is not giving up without a fight.

Everything is building to a crescendo and the stage is set for an epic day of racing at Sandown on Saturday. It is primed to be one of the best afternoons in a long time – if you are at a loose end, it would be well worth visiting a track that is as good as any in the country.

The horse to follow at Ascot 

It's 10 days from the first Classics of the season but thoughts of Royal Ascot continue to burst through. Love Olivia, a flying filly for Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing, showed herself to be a lively candidate for the Queen Mary when dashing home at Wolverhampton on Saturday night.

The horse to follow into the Royal meeting this year, however, is Richard Hannon’s star miler Rosallion. He worked at Kempton on Tuesday and is being primed to return in the Lockinge Stakes next month before a tilt at the Queen Anne. If he’s in form, this brilliant colt will win both.