ITALIAN jockey Frankie Dettori is numero uno as far as Rossendale punter Mick Bunkall is concerned.
Brilliant Dettori was first past the post in all seven races at Ascot winning Mick, 54, more than £56,000.
He backed six of the seven record breaking winners in a Lucky 63 bet, a combination of doubles, trebles, four-timers, five-timers and accumulator, at Ladbroke's offices in Bank Street, Rawtenstall, and then went home to watch the first four races on television.
In went Wall Street at odds of 2-1, Diffident flashed by at 12-1 to win by a short head in a photo finish, Mark of Esteem obliged at 100-30 and then Decorated Hero had an easy win at the rewarding odds of 7-1. Mick said: "By then my neighbours must have thought I was going barmy, shouting the horse home.''
He then calmed down and went back to the bookies' to watch the other races.
Fatefully came in at odds of 7-4, although Mick had taken the better morning price of 7-2.
Knowing that he had already won thousands, he put a "tenner'' on the only Dettori horse he had not included in the multiple bet, Lochangel. That won at 5-4.
By now Mick was on the crest of a wave and everyone in the shop joined in the cheering as Dettori won the last race on Fujiyama Crest.
The odds were 2-1, although Mick could have taken 11-1 earlier in the day.
He said: "By then I just couldn't believe it. The whole shop was behind me. The staff at the shop are very good but everyone likes to see the bookies get a hammering.'' Mick increased his stake this week to £63 after winning £800 on Dettori horses two weeks ago and £560 on August 16, again by following Dettori mounts. But he did not pay the £5.67 tax and that cost him over £5,000.
Yesterday Mick was back at work repairing heavy vehicles at a firm in Bury.
He said: "I am waiting to pick up my cheque later in the week.'' He then plans a holiday with his partner, Shirley, but has not yet decided what to do with the rest of the winnings.
He said: "We went out for a celebration at the weekend. We had a drink when the toast was to Frankie Dettori.''
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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