Punters hit by Gold rush

PUNTERS at Southwell were left scratching their heads yesterday when Tioga Gold produced a 125-1 shock in the Pontin’s Holiday Handicap.

A distant last of 11 runners on his previous start, the eight-year-old led approaching the final furlong and held on to deny Nayodabayo by three-quarters of a length to give Malton trainer Lee James his first winner in just under six years.

The gelding, whose only other career success came at Southwell in December 2001 when trained by Brian Meehan, was matched at 1,000-1 on Betfair to the tune of £40.