Grand National: Lucky few toast win

TO the delight of the bookies precious few had the foresight to back Grand National winner Auroras Encore at tasty odds of 66-1, but the lucky ones who did were celebrating the outsider’s victory at Aintree.

Plenty of people in Galashiels, the hometown of winning jockey, were handsomely rewarded for their faith in the local lad and there were a few celebrity winners too.

On the eve of the race, Mania told followers on Twitter the horse was “probably worth a bet at a big price”.

And after learning that Blue singer Duncan James, 34, had him in comedian Alan Carr’s sweepstake, he tweeted the pair, saying: “I will be doing the ­steering. Lets hope for the win #GN2013”

The sun also shone on STV weatherman Sean Batty. He tweeted: “I had a cheeky £1 each way on Auroras Encore too since I got to see the aurora earlier this year in Iceland! Yay!! :)”

Meanwhile, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew’s each way bet on 66-1 underdog Oscar Time who finished fourth, banked £4,125 for the NSPCC in a charity tipping challenge. Norwich City’s Chris Hughton and Kilmarnock’s Kenny Shiels also made £3,000 for the cause.