Bookies take a battering on Monday of betting coups

Three of the runners – Agapanthus, Savaronola and Somersturm – were trained by Barney Curley, while Jeu De Roseau was having his first run for Chris Grant having previously been trained by Andrew Stringer.

Agapanthus scored at Brighton and Savaronola obliged at Wolverhampton, but Somersturm failed at the latter venue.

Jeu De Roseau – having his first run for 742 days – just got up at Towcester in the evening, going off at 6-4 having been available at 25-1 in the morning.

William Hill spokesman David Hood said: "There is no doubt the plotters have landed a few quid. But hats off to our trading boys who spotted these multiples very early this morning and managed the business accordingly. I am being told the payouts will be seven-figures, but we have only a fraction of that.

"After the first two horses had won this afternoon, we were getting the snowball effect from follow-up punters who wanted the last two in doubles, but it was SP (starting price] only business by that time.

"When Somersturm got chinned at Wolverhampton, it took the edge off and even though the last was 25-1 this morning, at 6-4 he has done a lot less damage. It is impossible to gauge what has been landed, maybe seven-figures, but I do know that it could have been a lot worse."

Meanwhile, Aidan O'Brien is still content to let St Nicholas Abbey do the talking in the Investec Derby at Epsom on 5 June.

Much was expected of the Racing Post Trophy winner when he was sent off the even-money market leader for the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, but he could manage no better than a one-paced sixth. However, he retained Derby favouritism after that reverse and those behind him at the all-powerful Ballydoyle empire have not lost faith.

The trainer said: "He was a highly rated two-year-old and you dream that the ability is still there. He has always been the number one contender and nothing has changed about that. I will let him defend himself. I am not trying to blow him up or hype him – I will let him show you.

"I say watch him. I hope he gets to Epsom in good shape and we can enjoy watching him.

"He has to stand up and do it, but he has to be forgiven for what happened in the Guineas."

Despite being bred for middle distances, O'Brien was encouraged by St Nicholas Abbey's homework over shorter trips in advance of the Guineas.

And such was the speed he showed on the gallops, O'Brien admits the son of Montjeu may have been slightly undercooked for the first Classic of the season. He said: "I didn't want to destroy him by training him too hard and he has come on nicely for the run. He had the last week off and we will start building him up again as there is a month to the race."

St Nicholas Abbey is just one of a clutch of possible runners in the Derby for O'Brien, with Midas Touch proving a welcome winner of the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on Sunday afternoon after a slow start to the month for the yard.

"We are just starting to come out of the jungle and the horses are just starting to come to hand," added O'Brien. "If that is the case then great as there are a lot of good races coming up."

O'Brien's Cape Blanco is set to take his chance in Thursday's totesport Dante Stakes at York despite a slight setback on Sunday. The unbeaten son of Galileo is currently in bandages having picked up a slight nick on his heel.

However, O'Brien is keen to see him in action on the Knavesmire in a race he has won twice in the last five years with Septimus and Black Bear Island.

"Cape Blanco nicked the back of a heel on Sunday and is wearing bandages, but he seems fine today and the plan is to run in the Dante," said O'Brien.