And finally…Red Rum rides again

A Scottish family have finally cashed in their winning Grand National bet nearly half a century after it was placed by a long since departed relative.

Joe Robertson died aged 85 in 1978, four years after he placed a £1 stake on Red Rum’s historic romp to victory in the 1974 race.

The legendary horse’s triumph was one of a still unmatched trio of wins by a single horse.

It was a piece of history, and while Mr Robertson would soon also be himself, his personal triumph that day has not been forgotten after his son-in-law stumbled across his winning slip during a clear-out.

Mr Robertson never went back to claim his winnings of £12 and after Bob Holmes, 76, and his wife Nancy, 75, from Houston, Renfrewshire, approached the betting firm in question, they were please to be offered their winnings.

Adjustment for inflation were also made on the bet which has been traced back to a William Hill branch in Paisley which now no longer exists.

It means that the family finally took the bookies for £130, as well as a gesture of a matching sum in free bets which they plan to lay a stake on this year’s race in tribute.

Mr Holmes said he spotted an old betting slip while going through his relative’s old papers that “piqued his curiosity” as it related to the historic race.

He speculated that his father-in-law must have searched all over the house for the winning slip.

He added: “I think he must have lost it - then turned the house upside down looking for it.

“It’s good fun. We’ve divided the winnings evenly among the three of us and hopefully we’ll have some more money.”

He added that he will not be repeating his father-in-law’s mistake if his horse wins at this year’s race.

“If my free bet comes in then I’ll be taking my winnings immediately,” he said.

“There’s been no paper exchanged for this so I have nothing for my children to find in 40 years.”

William Hill said the stake was by far the longest-uncollected winnings they had ever dealt with.

Spokesman Graham Sharpe said: “It’s difficult to understand how someone who backed Red Rum would not have collected their bet as anyone who did usually boasts quite a bit about backing the Grand National winner.

“Our previous record for an uncollected bet was in the 1970s when a woman only felt able to go through her late husband’s clothes after seven years and found a slip in his suit pocket.

“But Bob’s win smashes that by quite a distance.

“What I remember about Red Rum was that he would regularly take us to the cleaners in the 1970s and here he is more than 40 years on still doing it.”

Mr Holmes plans to bet on Blaklion at £20 each way on this year’s Grand national, which culminates tomorrow.

In an homage to Red Rum, his wife has backed Definitely Red at £25 each way while her sister Rhoda has backed Ucello Conti at £20 each way.