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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Small flutter scoops big fortune | Small flutter scoops big fortune |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A man who scooped more than £300,000 with a £2 flutter says he plans to upgrade his wife's K-reg Metro car. | |
| Tony Wonnacott, 44, of Teignmouth, Devon, won £310,000 after correctly selecting the winners of six races. | |
| He placed his £2 Scoop 6 bet at Ladbrokes in Teignmouth before going off to watch Exeter City play Morecambe as they pushed for promotion. | He placed his £2 Scoop 6 bet at Ladbrokes in Teignmouth before going off to watch Exeter City play Morecambe as they pushed for promotion. |
| "I've been shellshocked since I found out last night - I hardly slept a wink," said Mr Wonnacott. | |
| I reckon I'm just about even with the bookies now Tony Wonnacott | I reckon I'm just about even with the bookies now Tony Wonnacott |
| "I like a little flutter and usually place a small bet on a Saturday, but until now the maximum I've won is about £300 or £400 - never anything like this. | "I like a little flutter and usually place a small bet on a Saturday, but until now the maximum I've won is about £300 or £400 - never anything like this. |
| "I keep thinking I'm going to wake up in a minute and find out it's all been a dream." | "I keep thinking I'm going to wake up in a minute and find out it's all been a dream." |
| Mr Wonnacott says he has been betting - and losing - on the horses since he was a teenager. | Mr Wonnacott says he has been betting - and losing - on the horses since he was a teenager. |
| After the full-time whistle at St James Park, Exeter, he called back into the betting shop to check out the results and discovered he had won £310,408.40. | After the full-time whistle at St James Park, Exeter, he called back into the betting shop to check out the results and discovered he had won £310,408.40. |
| Mr Wonnacott has been having a regular flutter for about 30 years | Mr Wonnacott has been having a regular flutter for about 30 years |
| "I phoned my wife straight away and told her that I've now probably just about covered my losses since the late 1970s - I reckon I'm just about even with the bookies now," he said. | "I phoned my wife straight away and told her that I've now probably just about covered my losses since the late 1970s - I reckon I'm just about even with the bookies now," he said. |
| But Mr Wonnacott's fortune could more than double if he lands the Tote Scoop 6 bonus by picking the winner of just one race next Saturday. | But Mr Wonnacott's fortune could more than double if he lands the Tote Scoop 6 bonus by picking the winner of just one race next Saturday. |
| He will then collect a further £400,000 to become one of Britain's biggest winners for a £2 stake. | He will then collect a further £400,000 to become one of Britain's biggest winners for a £2 stake. |
| "It's a scary thought, but we'll be going to one of the race meetings next week and I'll try my luck again," Mr Wonnacott said. | "It's a scary thought, but we'll be going to one of the race meetings next week and I'll try my luck again," Mr Wonnacott said. |
| He said he has no immediate plans to spend much of his winnings. | He said he has no immediate plans to spend much of his winnings. |
| 'Overnight legend' | 'Overnight legend' |
| "I won't rush into any decisions, but I'll probably give me family something," he said. | "I won't rush into any decisions, but I'll probably give me family something," he said. |
| "My wife's got a K-reg Metro, so I think we'll maybe get that upgraded and after that we'll just wait and see." | "My wife's got a K-reg Metro, so I think we'll maybe get that upgraded and after that we'll just wait and see." |
| Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said: "Tony is living proof that if at first you don't succeed it pays to keep trying for 30 more years. | Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said: "Tony is living proof that if at first you don't succeed it pays to keep trying for 30 more years. |
| "Alistair Darling could do a lot worse than to follow Tony's tips. | "Alistair Darling could do a lot worse than to follow Tony's tips. |
| "We'll have our fingers crossed next weekend that he bags the bonus. He's become a West Country legend overnight." | "We'll have our fingers crossed next weekend that he bags the bonus. He's become a West Country legend overnight." |