Man Who Won £168K On Cheltenham Bet Takes Seven Pals To Vegas With Winnings

A man is taking seven of his mates to Las Vegas after he won £168,751 ($237,436) betting on the gee-gees at Cheltenham. Honestly, I think I need to find better mates.

Martin Palk, who owns a cleaning company, managed to pick out five winners on his £62 ($87) Lucky 31 bet at Betfred. He'd previously told his pals that if the bet came in then he'd take them away to the gambling capital of the world.

And true to his word, when his horses did come in, he went and booked the trip.

Martin, 55, said: "It was a bit of banter but I'm a man of my word so the Magnificent Seven are off to the Strip. It will cost me £10,000 ($14,070) and I've told them they can bring their own spending money."

Martin was especially lucky, as he would have won £112,819 ($158,738) after beating odds of 68,000/1 on his five horses - Shattered Love, Delta Work, Penhill, The Storyteller and Missed Approach - via a series of singles, doubles, trebles, four folds and a five-fold accumulator.

However, as the bookie's manager Fred Done was offering a special Cheltenham promotion, his winnings were boosted by a whopping 50 percent - £56,409 ($79,368) - bringing his win up to £168,751 from his original £62 stake.

He continued: "I really didn't think I had any chance in the last race which was a 10/1 shot and that's why I promised we'll all go to Vegas on me if I did win. We are going to meet next week and sort out the details and check none of us have any criminal records! Then there is the question of permission from the wives but can't see any problem on that front.

"I still feel numb - like I am dreaming and someone will be pinching me and waking me up.

"Next day I was at work at 5am as usual. I had to be because everyone else had been celebrating with me - and phoned in sick.

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"Some money will be going to my daughters. As well as going to Vegas with the lads, Colleen [Martin's wife] and I have not discussed where we as a family might go. Perhaps Vegas again or the Caribbean.

"I tell you what, we won't be saving it or anything boring like that. Money is for spending and having a good time."