Millionaire punter shares money

Stuart Bolland plans to share some winnings with Jack Lee

The UK's first betting shop millionaire says he will share his winnings with a man dubbed Britain's unluckiest punter.

Stuart Bolland, 42, said he could hardly bear to watch as his horses raced to victory last week.

The software engineer, of Cadishead, Greater Manchester, won £1.1m after picking six winners in six races.

He will send a share to Jack Lee, a pensioner from Newcastle who lost out on more than £850,000 on a similar bet after one horse was disqualified.

Mr Lee, 75, was dubbed Britain's unluckiest punter after the race. Both men had placed bets on the totescoop 6.

Stoical mood

Mr Bolland could have doubled his winnings to £2m but he failed to pick the winner in a race at Cheltenham on Saturday.

As his horse was beaten to the finishing post he was in stoical mood, saying he knew he only had a 20% chance of winning the jackpot.

But when 3-1 favourite Monkerhostin came in third place he confirmed his promise to give a £15,000 share to Mr Lee.

"I am content because Jack Lee gets something now as well - he gets his £15,000," he said. "I am very glad he came in third for the old fellow - that was really important to me."

'Fortunate'

Mr Bolland's win was a rollover from September, when the last punter picked all six winners.

He said he did not see most of last week's race as he was on the phone to his brother, adding: "I didn't really want to watch it all because there was too much agony.

"I was fortunate that the bets that I did strike came in but I don't see it as luck.

"Luck is in the mix but there is quite a bit of know-how and empirical knowledge involved.

"I play fairly regularly. I have had a few big wins but nothing like this."