Ms Eagleton winning at Ballinrobe yesterday© Photo Healy Racing
Ms Eagleton's Ballinrobe maiden win yesterday left overnight betting markets in disarray for another race at Sligo today, with turbulence surrounding a possible Rule 4 deduction by bookmakers.
Ms Eagleton was declared to run in maiden races at both Ballinrobe yesterday and Sligo today, but having won at Ballinrobe was thus ineligible to run at Sligo.
The trouble arose as she had been priced the 6/4 favourite for today's Sligo maiden before winning the 7.15pm race at Ballinrobe, and was not officially withdrawn until 9.45am this morning. By that time, most bookmakers had cut her from 6/4 to 5/6, meaning a 50%, rather than 40%, Rule 4 deduction for punters.
However Betfair have confirmed that they will revert to the original 40% deduction with representative Barry Orr stating “nobody will be out of pocket regardless of what wins the race. There will be no extra Rule 4 deductions on both the Sportsbook and on the Exchange and any Rule 4 deductions will be credited back.
“I don't know if there was money for the horse (Ms Eagleton) but SIS left the horse in and we didn't pick it up.”
