BOOKIES Ladbrokes have revealed why they are yet to pay out on a stable lad's winning £275,000 bet placed over one year ago.
The gambling giants say it is due to an 'ongoing investigation into the integrity' of the two races in question.
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Dylan Phelan placed a €30 (£26) each-way double on 80-1 Rocky's Diamond and 125-1 Diamond Nora, who were both racing on April 19 last year.
Rocky's Diamond was smashed off the boards and won at 22-1 at Irish track Limerick before Diamond Nora cruised home a little over 25 minutes later at just 16-1 at Ballinrobe.
Phelan had other small bets on the pair, who are trained by Declan Queally, the trainer Phelan works for, and bookies paid out on those.
But it is the monster, life-changing €319,440 (roughly £275,000) sum he is seemingly owed that has sparked uproar.
A video of Phelan, who is from County Waterford, explaining his situation has amassed millions of views on social media.
Ladbrokes have recently broken their silence in a statement issued to the Racing Post.
They say they have declined to pay out because of an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board investigation into both results.
The statement read: "The IHRB is conducting an ongoing investigation into these races and we are awaiting the outcome before settling bets related to this investigation.
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"When a sporting governing body is investigating the integrity of a sports event on which we have taken notable bets, we will await the outcome of those proceedings before settling bets relating to the matter under investigation.
"We take integrity matters in sport extremely seriously and our approach is entirely consistent with our terms and conditions and how we would approach any sports event under investigation."
Raceday stewards enquired about the apparent improvement in form of both horses.
Rocky's Diamond - who finished fourth in last month's Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival - was running for just the second time having been beaten 62 lengths on debut a month earlier.
While Diamond Nora had been beaten a combined 112 lengths in two runs under rules.
Phelan insists he placed the bet simply because he thought both horses - who passed drugs tests after the races - were overpriced.
Describing what happened, he said: "It's a one in a million thing, it will never happen again.
"I used to ride both horses regularly and look after them in the yard.
"I just hoped for a little bit of a return and it worked out, that's the long and short of it.
"I was in Limerick and watching Rocky's Diamond come in. I couldn't believe my eyes.
"Then I click onto my phone and see Diamond Nora in front - I just couldn't believe what was happening.
"I kind of forgot about the bet then it all hit me at once, I was on cloud nine.
"It was crazy, it was surreal. It's a life-changing amount of money.
"I could buy a house. I could build a house. The world's my oyster.
"But everything changed when I couldn't get paid.
"It's like sitting on a winning lottery ticket but you can't access it."
According to the Racing Post, Phelan, who is not the subject of any investigation, attempted to collect his winnings from a Ladbrokes shop on April 22.
But he was allegedly 'blocked' from taking home the maximum €100,000 payout Ladbrokes allow on bets of this type.
The discrepancy lies between those bookies who paid out under first past the post rules regardless of any subsequent investigation.
This is the rule across the board these days, even if the placings are later revised.
The IHRB said the investigation into the races is now nearing an end and 'a decision will be taken shortly'.
But Phelan is taking Ladbrokes to the Irish High Court seeking payment of his winnings plus interest.
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He told RTE Radio: "I can't see a judge overruling a young lad working in a yard who took a couple of chances.
"I do have hope I get my money and I'll fight to the very end for it."
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