Dylan Phelan Takes Ladbrokes to High Court Over £274,000 Bet Payout

Dylan Phelan, a 25-year-old stable hand from Ireland, is taking Ladbrokes to court after the bookmaker refused to pay out over £274,000 in winnings from a €30 each-way double bet on two long-shot horses he helped train. Both horses, Rocky’s Diamond and Diamond Nora, showed dramatic improvement in form and won their races at significant odds, leading to suspicions and an ongoing investigation by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board. While other bookmakers paid out smaller bets Phelan placed on the same horses, Ladbrokes has withheld the larger sum pending the regulatory inquiry. Phelan and the trainer explained the horses' improved performances as a result of better health and tactical changes, and both animals passed post-race drug tests. The case has sparked widespread debate among racing fans and punters, with many expressing support for Phelan's claim to the life-changing winnings. Legal proceedings in the High Court are ongoing, with Phelan describing the prolonged ordeal as emotionally draining.