A RECORD-breaking racing punter has missed out in a bid to double his £878,939 winnings.

Ron Nicholson's amazing run of luck finally deserted him on Saturday when the horse which could have netted him £1.8 million went lame.

Ron, 51, duty manager at a Bournemouth hotel, entered the record books last week after scooping the jackpot on the Tote Scoop6 by picking six winning horses.

He was treated to a VIP trip to Sandown Park on Saturday for the bonus race in the competition, the Betfred Gold Cup Chase.

His choice, Scotmail Boy, was in the lead for much of the race but fell back and was pulled up before the end. The winner was 25-1 shot Puntal.

Ed Comins, general manager of Tote Direct, was with Ron during the race.

Mr Comins said: "He's fine. He's won so much money anyway. It was always a bonus if he won the big one. He's pretty relaxed."

Ron retreated to the bar after the race to have a drink with his brother and other family members.

Scotmail Boy had been a 16-1 outsider, but started as 6-1 joint favourite after word got around that Ron had backed him an hour before the race.

Mr Comins said: "It was going very well. It's a long old race and he just didn't get home. He was in the right place - in front - but he just didn't get home."

Ron - who was once regularly warned by his dad about the dangers of gambling - said last week he had not decided how to spend his winnings.

But he said he might take his 83-year-old mother on holiday to Tenerife and might consider replacing his M-reg Vauxhall Cavalier.

Mr Comins said: "I think he's a fairly relaxed, steady individual, so I wouldn't expect it to change his life too much. I'm sure you'll see him around the local area and life will go on for him."

Ron studied the horses' form before picking most of his runners, but he also picked one horse which shared the name of a wine sold at his hotel.

First published: April 26