Cheltenham Festival punter agonising over £500,000 accumulator takes a partial cash-out

After ‘four hours’ sleep and a long 5am walk’, the lucky punter sitting on THAT viral £500,000 accumulator has opted to take a partial cash-out – meaning he has scooped £250,000 from his incredible £5 bet.

Paul Dean’s mammoth five-fold accumulator went viral on Wednesday after Bob Olinger clinched victory in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham, meaning he was just one race away from sealing over half a million pounds.

His Twitter post, from the handle @istabraq_king, left thousands waiting with bated breath to hear what he was going to do, and he kept people guessing overnight before finally revealing his decision.

Cheltenham punter Paul Dean has opted for a partial cash-out on his mammoth five-fold acca

He would've won an incredible £322,000 if Envoi Allen won the Marsh Novices Chase

He would’ve won an incredible £322,000 if Envoi Allen won the Marsh Novices Chase

The ridiculous £5 five-fold accumulator will now scoop Paul at least a quarter of a million

The ridiculous £5 five-fold accumulator will now scoop Paul at least a quarter of a million

HOW PAUL BEAT THE BOOKIES

June 19, 2020: Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot: Golden Horde 

Paul’s accumulator odds: 12/1

Actual starting price: 5/1

June 20, 2020: Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot – Hello Youmzain 

Paul’s accumulator odds: 10/1

Actual starting price: 4/1

March 16: Arkle Chase at Cheltenham – Shishkin 

Paul’s accumulator odds: 4/1 

Actual starting price 4/9 fav

March 17: Ballymore Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham – Bob Olinger 

Paul’s accumulator odds: 25/1 

Actual starting price: 6/4 fav

March 18: Marsh Novices Chase at Cheltenham – Envoi Allen

Paul’s accumulator odds: 9/2 

Latest price: 4/9 fav 

Posting early on Thursday morning, Dean said: ‘So after celebrations last night, 4 hours sleep, an hours walk at 5am I’ve decided to take a partial cash out offer of 300 Envoi / 250 the field. 

‘With other bets my position on the race is £322,000 Envoi or £250,000 the field. Thanks to @BetfairBarry @Betfair #ComeOnEnvoi!’

Dean’s decision means that he has won a guaranteed £250,000, leaving him the luxury of watching the Marsh Novices Chase a quarter of a million pounds richer.

His decision not to bank on Envoi Allen to win also proved to be the correct one, after the odds-on favourite fell early on, meaning he could breathe a massive sigh of relief while watching the race at home. 

If Envoi won the race, his winnings from the £5 bet would have be an incredible £300,000. Add to that his other bets and the Envoi Allen victory would have scooped him £322,000 in total, but thankfully for Dean, he backed his hunch.

Speaking to Betfair after making his final decision this morning, Dean said: ‘It’s a fantastic offer and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve definitely done the right thing,’ before being asked what he planned on doing with the cash.

‘I’ll be going on a lot of holidays! It’s my mum and dads 70th this year so we’ll be going to New York and to some of the best golf courses in the world. I really want to play Bethpage and Sawgrass. And I think I’ll buy a horse.’

Before taking the offer from Betfair, Dean spoke to Racing Post about his incredible bet on Wednesday.

‘I’ve had a good week so far,’ he noted. ‘I put it on at the beginning of June and I didn’t realise Betfair had a max £250,000 payout, but Barry Orr said they’ll honour the full bet, which is really good of them as I was gutted at first.

‘Initially, it was offering me a cash-out of £182,000 for that reason but they’ve offered me £275,000. I haven’t decided what to do yet.

‘The thing is, if I cash out I haven’t got Envoi to cheer on, whereas if I can get enough money together myself to lay part of it off so I’ve a good win anyway but I’ll win a lot more on Envoi, that’s what I’d ideally want as I want to be cheering him on.

Golden Horde started off Paul's bet last June, winning the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot

Golden Horde started off Paul’s bet last June, winning the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot

Hello Youmzain clinched victory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot too last June

Hello Youmzain clinched victory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot too last June

Shishkin started off Paul's fortunes at Cheltenham with victory in the Arkle Chase on Tuesday

Shishkin started off Paul’s fortunes at Cheltenham with victory in the Arkle Chase on Tuesday

Victory for Bob Olinger means Paul now just needs Envoi Allen to secure £322,000 off his £5

Victory for Bob Olinger means Paul now just needs Envoi Allen to secure £322,000 off his £5

WHAT PAUL DEAN SAID ON HIS DECISION

On the decision to partially cash out: ‘It’s a fantastic offer and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve definitely done the right thing’

When asked what he will do with the money: ‘I’ll be going on a lot of holidays! It’s my mum and dads 70th this year so we’ll be going to New York and to some of the best golf courses in the world. I really want to play Bethpage and Sawgrass. And I think I’ll buy a horse’

On placing accumulators bets: ‘It’s all about Cheltenham for me and I love having small ante-post bets and the dream of a big win over the winter. I usually start placing my bets at the next best race meeting after Cheltenham, that’s Royal Ascot in June’

On how he picked the horses: ‘This year I really fancied Golden Hoard and Hello Youmzain at Royal Ascot. Shishkin was an obvious one while Bob Olinger looked so good in his bumper. I also love his trainer, Henry de Bromhead and Bob Olinger’s sire, Sholokhov, plus the Ballymore is my favourite race in the world. I’ve backed all the big winner of the race over the years’

On Envoi Allen: ‘I just love him and want to be able to cheer him home today, that’s why I have partially cashed out. Come on Envoi’

‘Half the people are telling me to cash out, the other half are telling me to let it ride. My phone’s going absolutely wild. The fact Envoi had switched from Gordon [Elliott] was a concern, but Sir Gerhard and Galvin have changed stables and won, so that’s a bit less of a worry.’

The lucky punter then ‘celebrated’ last night, according to his Twitter post, before going on an hour-long walk at 5am to think about his decision, and then taking the partial cash-out.

His decision allowed him to both rest easy during the race, but also count his lucky stars after Envoi Allen fell during the 1.20 race at Cheltenham. 

It has been a long time coming for Dean, whose first horse in the five-fold accumulator came in last June at Royal Ascot.

That was Golden Horde, winning the Commonwealth Cup at 12/1, before a day later, Hello Youmzain at 10/1 reigned supreme in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot. 

And fast forward to this year’s Cheltenham Festival, he won with Shishkin at 4/1 in the Arkle Chase on the opening day on Tuesday before Bob Olinger (25/1) triumphed on Wednesday. 

Racing fans flocked to social media to wish their best to the punter following his initial post on Wednesday, with one user commented: ‘This chap isn’t sleeping a wink tonight! Good luck.’

Paul amusingly replied: ‘Will try my best’, alongside a picture of plenty of alcohol – presumably to calm the nerves.

He then posted a picture of himself holding a champagne bottle called ‘Bolinger’ – with the caption: ‘Celebrating the Bob Olinger victory while deciding what to do.’

He will certainly rest a lot easier on Thursday night, with his bank balance significantly boosted by what is surely one of the best bets of all-time. 

Paul Dean took to Twitter to reveal the astonishing accumulator on Wednesday

Paul Dean took to Twitter to reveal the astonishing accumulator on Wednesday

Paul jokingly suggested on Twitter he will be drinking plenty of alcohol to calm his nerves

Paul jokingly suggested on Twitter he will be drinking plenty of alcohol to calm his nerves

Paul said he was going to celebrate Bob Olinger's victory by drinking this bottle of champagne

Paul said he was going to celebrate Bob Olinger’s victory by drinking this bottle of champagne