{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreihfa3murbj5nxsqaw5gt67lwxx5esc7xon3xb67tx4xhqp7eeafqe",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:oznbnvgr7dmvddiyvr7dih52/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjbwpw6jlpk2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreibwgqzqjohppwipjv4aqmzfqqjbzn7bbguk7oh3jfr5ad337hhz3q"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 85377
  },
  "path": "/sport/horse-racing/grand-national-bet-bookies-refuse-instant-payment",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-12T07:52:06.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "I Am Maximus wins Grand National for the second time and secures £500K prize money",
    "Grand National jockey 'rushed to hospital' after serious fall as health update released",
    "Grand National horse dies tragically as animal group release furious statement",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nA racegoer walked away from Aintree nearly £1million richer yesterday after placing a staggering six-figure wager on I Am Maximus to triumph in the Grand National.\n\nThe punter staked £100,000 on the Willie Mullins-trained horse at odds of 8-1, securing a total return of £900,000 when the 10-year-old crossed the finish line ahead of the field.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nPaul Townend rode the JP McManus-owned gelding to victory, beating Iroko by two-and-a-half lengths with Jordans finishing third.\n\nThe bet was placed with on-course bookmaker Fitzwilliam Sports before the 4pm race, with the horse subsequently shortening to 9-2 favourite by the time the field set off.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nFitzwilliam Bookmakers confirmed the wager represented the largest they had ever accepted.\n\nJohnny Dineen, who was fronting the firm's pitch at the Merseyside course, spoke to ITV Racing before the race about the extraordinary stake.\n\nHe told the broadcaster: \"We've laid a whopping bet on I Am Maximus, and it's the biggest bet we've ever laid by a mile.\"\n\nThe revelation left ITV presenter Brian Gleeson stunned.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe responded: \"Oh my God. One hundred thousand at 8/1. That's what you call a proper bet.\"\n\nDineen acknowledged the potential consequences before the race began, noting: \"It goes without saying it would be a bad result for us!\"\n\nThe victory cemented I Am Maximus's place in racing history as the first horse to reclaim the Grand National crown since the legendary Red Rum achieved the feat in the 1970s.\n\nThe bay gelding had previously won the world's most famous steeplechase in 2024 before finishing as runner-up last year.\n\n### LATEST SPORT NEWS\n\n\n\n\n  * I Am Maximus wins Grand National for the second time and secures £500K prize money\n  * Grand National jockey 'rushed to hospital' after serious fall as health update released\n  * Grand National horse dies tragically as animal group release furious statement\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSaturday's triumph also made I Am Maximus only the sixth horse ever to win the race twice.\n\nAdding to the achievement, he became the first horse to carry top weight to victory since Red Rum's era.\n\nThe 10-year-old stayed on strongly after clearing the final fence, pulling clear of his rivals to secure the historic double.\n\nMichael Gannon, a colleague of Dineen at Fitzwilliam, spoke to the Liverpool Echo following the race and admitted the result had left him feeling \"numb.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe bookmaker revealed the firm had taken immediate steps to protect itself from the substantial loss.\n\nGannon explained: \"We will have to work around it so we don't go into liquidation, and that is what we've done.\"\n\nHe confirmed the winning punter would receive their payout on Monday morning rather than collecting at the course.\n\nWhen asked whether the successful gambler would face any restrictions on future bets, Gannon was emphatic: \"No, no, no. We have a relationship with the person who had the bet. We play a big boys game, and we will keep kicking.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Grand National punter wins £900,000 on single bet as 'numb' bookies refuse instant payment"
}