A MASSIVE gamble is taking place on a 'dire' horse trained by the controversial Charles Byrnes.

The trainer was hit with a six-month ban last month after one of his horses – Viking Hoard – tested positive for a drug designed to stop it winning.

Byrnes has appealed the ruling and is allowed to saddle runners in the meantime.

And one of his horses at Naas today has been the subject of a huge gamble from punters, despite finishing last in his previous two races.

Rough Terain has been cut to just 2-1 from a whopping 40-1 in the 1m7½f Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

The horse runs in the 3.25 at Naas and it will be shown live on ITV4.

The Racing Post describe Rough Terain as: "Bumper winner, transformation needed after dire runs in his first two handicaps."

Byrnes also saddles newcomer Hashtag Watt in the 4.35 Tipper Road (Pro/Am) Flat race at the same course.

And that has been cut to 10-3 from 8-1 as well as punters pile on the mega money double.

These follow money coming in for Dame Judi Dench's runner at Lingfield, with Amsby going from 11-1 to 7-1 in the 3.10.

Bookies are still recovering from a massive scare last weekend when an almighty gamble on three unfancied runners almost cost them £10million.

Fire Away won at Musselburgh after being backed into evens from 25-1.

Then Blowing Dixie won at 4-6 from an opening price of 16-1 over the Flat at Southwell.

It meant all eyes went to the 4.25 at Musselburgh – an otherwise unremarkable race – to see if Gallahers Cross could win at 4-5 after being backed from 33-1.

The treble came in at around 15,000-1 – but Gallahers Cross could only finish fourth.

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