Bookmakers were claiming that they face a massive payout after Tony McCoy's near 127 to 1 five-timer at Ascot on Saturday.

McCoy dominated the card with four winners for trainer Martin Pipe and another for Henrietta Knight.

David Hood, head of public relations at William Hill, said yesterday: "I almost wish the meeting hadn't got the go ahead now! "Tony's five winners will mean punters are queueing up on Boxing Day to collect their winnings.

"Thank goodness Westender got beaten or the liabilities would have been nearly half as much again and approaching the same magnitude as Dettori day.

"What has helped is the fact that the prices of Tony's winners were a lot shorter than Frankie's, but his popularity among punters who blindly follow a jockey, is probably greater than Frankie, who shared his support at the time with the likes of Kinane, Eddery and Fallon."

"Boxing Day will be interesting, because punters will be queueing down the high street to play up their winnings on McCoy's mounts and another day like Saturday will certainly be a Christmas cracker for them!"

One of McCoy's winners, Shooting Light, is now a 12 to 1 chance from 33 to 1 with William Hill for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup after another amazing performance and connections are keen to have a tilt at the Gold Cup in March.

Coral spokesman Simon Clare said: "Bookies everywhere are sporting black eyes while the nation's punters are celebrating a Christmas bonus to remember.

"Thank heavens they were all short prices and Westender got beaten or we could have been looking at another Dettori day scenario.

"As it is, most bookmakers will be licking their wounds and saying it could have been worse."

McCoy rides 9 to 4 second favourite Best Mate for Henrietta Knight in the Pertemps King George VI Chase on Wednesday and 3 to 1 favourite Take Control in the Coral Eurobet Welsh National.

Bookmakers will be bracing themselves for an even bigger payout if he lands the big race double.