Here’s why you should’ve known to back the winner of the Irish National
Coincidence backers were in luck at Fairyhouse as the first five races were all won by horses carrying the number eight.
Slowmotion (2-1 favourite) did not live up to her name as she got the ball rolling in the opening REA Grimes Property Consultants Juvenile Hurdle, before Sutton Place (13-8 favourite), Just Cause (16-1) and Value At Risk (11-4) followed up.
Anyone latching on would have plumped for Rogue Angel in the big race of the day, the BoyleSports Irish Grand National, and he came up trumps at 16-1 with a brilliant front-running performance for trainer Mouse Morris and jockey Ger Fox.
Just six runners in the sixth race stopped the run of 'eights'.
Punters placing a €1 accumulator on each of the five would have won almost €8,534.
William Hill spokesman Jon Ivan-Duke said: "Number eight is lucky in many cultures, but it appears to be our lucky number as we've dodged any dangerous accas."
Meanwhile, the victory of Rogue Angel, who got home by a short head from the well-fancied Bless The Wings, saved bookmakers from a major hit, including Hills, who suffered a terrible run of results at the Cheltenham Festival.
Ivan-Duke reckoned there was a €1million swing in favour of the firm with Ruby Walsh's mount being beaten.
He said: "We've got a million reasons to thank Ger Fox and Rogue Angel."
