A big gamble involving five horses trained by one trainer has the bookies trembling today.
Across three different meetings Gloucestershire trainer David Jeffrey's runners have all been cut significantly in price.
Beginning at Southwell, the trainer's Notnow Seamus (1.00) has been backed into 6/4 from 20/1, while later on the card Perfect Predator (2.03) is no bigger than 6/5, having been 12-1 on Sunday.
Jeffreys has two runners in the 3.40 race at Kelso and both have been cut, with Getaman 5/4 from 12/1 and The Gold Bug 4/1 from 8/1.
Finally the bookies could be quaking by the time Blood Eagle runs in the 4.20 at Plumpton. The gelding has been backed from odds of 50/1 all the way into 6/4.
Notably none of Jeffrey's horses have been placed in any of their previous runs for the trainer.
The trainer told the Racing Post this morning: "I'd love to tell everyone about it, but it's really not what it seems. I've no idea where it has come from.
"The only thing I thought was we had a winner at Plumpton the other day [Ayr Of Elegance] and Getaman races in the same colours. We've also done well at Kelso [2-5; 40% strike-rate] and it's a track I like to have a good time at. Outside of that I think everyone is jumping on the bandwagon.
"I don't mind having the odd punt and I'd love to tell all the punters out there, but I'd be very surprised. I'm struggling like hell with some of these horses. Blood Eagle is not a great mover at all. Notnow Seamus has had a tough life. Perfect Predator doesn't try at all and I've put cheekpieces on him."
The gamble comes after bookies escaped a huge payout last month when the last leg of a big-priced treble came up short at Musselbrugh.
The horses on that occasion were trained by three different trainers in Laura Morgan, Iain Jardine and Daragh Bourke.
