A lorry driver is celebrating a "life-changing" £1 million win, eight years after the tragic loss of his teenage son.
Geoff from Bootle was the winner of the bookmaker's Millionaire Chase competition on Saturday afternoon.
Customers who made it through to the final, after a series of qualifiers, were allocated a horse in the Imperial Cup at Sandown, a race the firm sponsors.
Geoff had 5-1 shot Langer Dan and he was thrilled to watch him travel easily throughout the two-mile contest.
Going best at the final hurdle, he cleared it smoothly and was shaken-up to assert by four-and-a-half lengths.
Speaking to Paddy via zoom afterwards, Geoff said: “It’s amazing what it’ll do for our life. We lost our son eight years ago to cancer, he was just 18 years old.
“This is a life-changing amount of money and it felt like it was just meant to be. I love racing but I couldn't tip a winner. I couldn’t pick my nose normally!
“I felt like the coolest man in the world until about midday and then I was massively nervous. I couldn’t stop shaking. The feeling even now is incredible. It’s still sinking in.
“Langer Dan was incredible coming up to the last fence. He didn’t look like he could be beat. That was an amazing feeling, being able to watch that.
“Ideally now I’d love to go to a three-day week on the lorries now. The wife is trying to spend the million already so I need to keep her in check. We’re going to go on a big holiday now when they let us first. We can’t wait.”
All entrants in the final picked up £10,000.
Punters qualified by selecting a winner of a certain race and being picked out of a draw.
The Millionaire Chase was originally due to take place on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham, but poor weather cancelled the meeting.
Two rearranged dates were also scuppered by rain and snow.
Spokesperson Paddy Power said: “It’s incredible to be able to give Geoff his own Gold Card into the Millionaire’s Club, especially given what he has been through.
“Derek Acorah was previously the most famous person from Bootle, but Geoff can take his spot now. There’s nothing spooky about being a millionaire”
Paddy Power have also put up a £50,000 bonus for Langer Dan if he goes on to win a race at next week's Cheltenham Festival.
