Another Coup Foiled

Apparently markets on the colour of the Queen's hat at Royal York were suspended after the usual "unusual betting patterns". Unfortunately I can't find a link but I did read in the paper papers this morning that betting was suspended when a "punter" in Windsor tried to put £1000 on brown (which did indeed romp home). Aside from the question of why bookies offer markets that are so susceptible to inside information, it does paint an appealing picture of what happened :

Scene : Ladbrokes, Windsor. Enter a butler type in full dress suit and top hat

Butler Type : Good day my man, I should like to wager one thousand gold sovereigns upon the colour of her most gracious majesty's hat at the gymkhana festivities today.

Bookie : Hmmmm ...

Amateurs. Bad Beat would have had some lackey trailing around every betting shop in the Home Counties at a score a time.