A DUBLIN punter's decision to take "morning prices" netted him almost £120,000 extra when Frankie Dettori's historic seven-timer came up at Ascot on Saturday.

But Stewart Kenny, managing director of Paddy Power Bookmaker, said yesterday the company would toast him with champagne when he came to collect his £132,000 winnings.

The winner placed his bet in a South Dublin office at morning prices rather than starting prices. His 120 combination bet cost him a total of £13.20, including tax.

"Had he chosen starting prices his winnings would have been about £13,000. He had the last race at 10 to 1 but the starting price was 2 to 1. However, we are happy to pay out in full. It's good for racing and good for bookmaking when something like this happens. Frankie Dettori is the rider of the moment. He is a jockey with style and the punters love him," Kenny added.

In Britain, a 30-year-old joiner was yesterday celebrating a massive £500,000 win after backing Dettori. Darren Yates, of Morecambe, Lancashire, was still shell-shocked when he arrived to collect his winnings at bookmakers' William Hill's branch in Morecambe town centre shortly after it opened at midday.

Yates laid out £64 on a 50p Super Heinz accumulator bet on Dettori's winners and collected £550,823.54.