Bit of a plot today?

Oct 10, 2026 -- 3:16PM, mrcombustible wrote:

https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/monster-gamble-irish-trainer-who-has...

Bookmakers were placed on red alert after four horses trained by Cormac Farrell contracted heavily for races in Britain on Saturday.

Farrell, who is based in County Wexford and has never had a winner in Britain, is due to run Calm The Jets (4.45) and Honouramongthieves (8.30) at Southwell, Molly Des Bruyeres (5.10) at Chepstow and The Gloves Are Off (5.30) at Hexham.

As of 2.15pm, Calm The Jets had been supported into 8-11 favourite (from 5) for the mile selling handicap. Molly Des Bruyeres had been backed into 10-11 favourite (from 20) for the concluding bumper at Chepstow, while The Gloves Are Off was cut into 11-10 (from 7) for the bumper at Hexham.

There is then a near three-hour wait until the final of the four runners appears in the last at Southwell, with Honouramongthieves into 6-5 (from 14) for the 1m4f handicap.

Sam Boswell of BetVictor confirmed the firm has seen some interest in the gamble. He said: "We saw some interest at early prices yesterday evening, while it's not a notable enough liability to have us panicking at the moment it's certainly going to make the 8.30 at Southwell interesting if the other three land. One customer has a tasty looking Yankee if all four horses can win."

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An interesting owner
Two of the horses – Calm The Jets and The Gloves Are Off – are owned by Douglas Taylor, who was involved with a remarkable coup at Kilbeggan in 2010 with D Four Dave (a horse Taylor part-owned).

It was reported at the time that the Kilbeggan gamble featured the recruitment of 200 people to back D Four Dave, who had been available at 14-1 and eventually won at 5-1.

Taylor's name also had some connection to a monster gamble at Fairyhouse last year when Great Attitude was backed from 200-1 into 8-1 to win a maiden hurdle. He had been owned by Taylor until shortly before that run, although the second leg failed to land when Sticktotheplan, who had similarly been owned by Taylor previously, was beaten in the bumper.

Molly Des Bruyeres is owned by trainer Farrell, while Honouramongthieves is owned by B Sheerin.

Farrell was contacted by the Racing Post for comment.