Punter wins £1m with 50p bet

A punter who gambled just 50p has become the country’s first betting-shop millionaire at odds of two million to one - after a horse called A Dream Come True romped home at Wolverhampton’s Dunstall Park.

The unnamed man staked his change on an eight-horse accumulator. The lucky winner from Yorkshire was relying on his final three choices all to win their races at the Wolverhampton racecourse last night.

The very first winner on his accumulator, at Sandown racecourse, was called Isn’t That Lucky, while the winning horse which gave him the windfall came in at 9.20pm last night. The bet was placed at the William Hill branch in Thirsk. The £1 million the mystery punter took home is the limit William Hill gives winners on horse racing.

Fergus Cameron, clerk of the course at Wolverhampton, said: “This is absolutely fantastic and you’ve got to be absolutely delighted for him - the rest of the country will be saying if only it was that easy.”William Hill has called the bet “staggering” and confirmed that it earned the punter a place in the history books in this country.

David Hood, from William Hill, said: “Even a scriptwriter couldn’t have dreamt this one up. His first winner was called Isn’t That Lucky at Sandown on Friday afternoon and his last winner was A Dream Come True in the 9.20pm at Wolverhampton.”

Last year the Express & Star reported how an internet punter’s fat fingers led to him losing £237,000 on a horse running at Wolverhampton - while other gamblers struck it rich because of his keyboard error.

The list of winners:

Isn’t That Lucky - 2.55pm Sandown (8-1)

Mutamarres - 3.05pm Nad Al Sheba (7-2)

Mutasallil - 3.40pm Nad Al Sheba (11-2)

Racer Forever - 4.15pm Nad Al Sheba (4-1)

Ede’s 4.50pm - Warwick (10-1)

Rio L’Oren - 7.50pm Wolverhampton (15-2)

Guadaloup - 8.20pm Wolverhampton (11-2)

A Dream Come True - 9.20pm Wolverhampton (5-2)