BRITAIN’S biggest energy companies last night expressed surprise after they all bet on the same horse to win yesterday’s Betfredbingo Novices Handicap Chase at Lingfield.
Obvious Cartel, a five-year old colt trained by Jenny Pitman, came out of nowhere to romp home at the head of the nine-horse field, coming in a full two lengths ahead of The Greedy Bastard.
Bookies’ favourite Laissez Faire, trained by Sir Mark Prescott and ridden by Adam Smith, had a dismal day out and came in a very poor last.
Wayne Hayes, from German power giant E.on Energy, said: “I didn’t even realise any of the other companies were at the races today. I must say hello to Trevor from Scottish and Southern.”
Npower’s Tom Logan said his company had originally intended to go to the evening meeting at Wolverhampton but switched to Lingfield at the last minute so they could all get home in time to catch the first part of Ashes to Ashes on BBC1.
He added: “We didn’t really know the field so we just got Julie from the office to pick one whose colours she liked.”
Henry Brubaker, from British Gas, said: “We don’t normally socialise with people from the industry and we definitely don’t swap tips when we do. Or talk about price fixing.”
A spokesman for the consumer group Energywatch said: “I think it's great they've all won a few quid on the horses. If I ever win any money I'll have an operation so that my head will no longer ZIP UP THE FUCKING BACK.”
