A ‘MAD’ former jockey who splurged £1million on drink, drugs and woman in a terrifying downward spiral had the last laugh – after bashing bookies with his monster Cheltenham win.
Paddy Merrigan was a promising young rider who competed against the likes of Ruby Walsh and AP McCoy.
GettyMerrigan, on the far right with both arms raised, took the bookies to the cleaners with his monster bets on The Real Whacker[/caption]
But his life soon spiralled out of control and he admitted ‘taking cocaine every day for six months‘ at his lowest point.
After cleaning up his act he rediscovered his love of racing – and used his knowledge to money-making effect at last week’s Festival.
Merrigan, who was known as ‘Mad Merrigan’ during his riding days, had been banging on about The Real Whacker for weeks.
He had been backing the horse for ages and put money on from 50-1 all the way down to 8-1.
His faith was rewarded when the Patrick Neville-trained chaser took the Brown Advisory in a head-bobbing thriller over 5-4 fav Gerri Colombe.
Merrigan said he ‘murdered’ the bookies with his bets – including whacking one firm to the tune of £50,000.
Most read in Sport
OFFERS OF THE DAY
William Hill: Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets – CLAIM HERE
Betfair: Bet £10 Get £30 – CLAIM HERE
Paddy Power: Bet £20 and get it back as Cash if it Loses – CLAIM HERE
Coral: Bet £5 Get £20 – CLAIM HERE
William Hill – 18+. Play Safe. When you sign-up via Mobile using promo code N40 and place a bet of £10/€10 or more we will give you 4x £10/€10 free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. begambleaware.org
Betfair – Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly 18+ begambleaware.org
Paddy Power: New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any market at odds of min 2.0 (EVS) and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Coral: Eligible UK+IRE players. Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cash-out, restrictions & T&Cs apply. 18+ T&Cs Apply. Begambleaware.org
The ex-jockey, who used to work with Neville, said: “The whole of Ireland has backed this horse for six months.
“We have cleaned the bookies, it’s over. 50-1 is the first bet I had, don’t worry about how much I win.
“I can assure you it was the biggest bet of my life. The bookies got educated.
“I went into this business when I left Paddy a few years ago, he came to England, and now I have a tipping service.
“We crushed the bookies. I backed this horse for six months, I told thousands of other people to back him, they all did.
“No one believed in this horse. Paddy and myself, I used to work with him years ago in Ireland, I was assistant trainer with him and through finances and business and Covid, we couldn’t stay together.
“Paddy went to England and I set up a couple of businesses and now the two of us are flying.
“I used to be a jockey, I rode when I was a kid. I came to England when I was 16, I rode winners for Paul Nicholls, Peter Bowen, all the best of them.
“I retired at 20 and I was ten winners clear of being champion conditional. I was one of the best conditionals to ride in this country.
“I’m mentally addicted to this game since I was a kid. The truth be told, I’m the biggest waste of talent that ever stood at Cheltenham.
“If I took to the horse racing I would have had a good career but it doesn’t matter.”
With more than £50,000 in his bank account, we’re inclined to agree.
FREE BETS GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERECommercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chases their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – www.gamcare.org.ukGamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org Read More