A RACING fan from York is celebrating after she placed an £8 bet at Cheltenham Festival and won £43,616.

Carole Jones, 53, has attended the festival for 28 years, but never had a Gold Cup win of this level until last Friday.

She staked £8 on a ‘placepot’ bet at the start of racing and just two of her six picks won. However, she was among 21 of the thousands of gamblers whose horses all finished in the top four of their races.

Carole, a former human resources worker, said: “It is my best day at the races ever and I am just a win or each way better, and the only multiple bets I do are the occasional placepot.

‘It couldn’t have worked out better. I adore Cheltenham - it is one of the best week’s of the year. And the timing was perfect as it was my daughter Emma Sage’s 21st on the Saturday and we were going to The Tramshed in London for a celebratory family meal.”

Carole backed the 20-1 winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup Lord Windermere and Lac Fontana at 11-1 in the big handicap hurdle.

Her runners-up were Guitar Pete (who placed third at 7-1), Deputy Dan (finished second at 10-1), On The Fringe (finished third at 11-2), and Thomas Crapper (finished second at 10-1).