A ST HELENS man and his pal took home more than £3,500 after winning big in a bet on Wigan Athletic's shock FA Cup triumph over Manchester City.

Dad-of-three Darren Wright and friend Karl Preston were two of only six football fans nationwide who had £10 between them on Latics striker Will Grigg to score first in a 1-0 win against the then quadruple-chasing City at odds of 350/1.

The duo, both mechanics, discussed the bet for Monday night's cup tie in the pub after work and overheard bar room chatter about a forthcoming horse race at Kempton Park.

And as they put a fiver each on the Wigan fifth round tie scorecast at a Betfred shop they remembered the conversation they had overheard where a customer was heavily tipping Outrath in the 5.20 at Kempton – so with the horse about to get under starting orders got a tenner on and won at 7/1.

Darren, from Carr Mill, said: “I got a bit excited watching the match at home and had a few too many beers until the early hours.

I had to get a taxi to work next day because I have got loads of money now!

“I’m going to buy a new settee because my bull mastiff Maya who weights seven stone has ruined it.

Winning a total of £3,570 from two bets totalling £20 bet has come at a good time as I had just paid £200 in vets fees the same day, “ added Darren, 46, who is an Everton fan..

Manchester United supporter Karl runs the Central Car Repairs garage in Warrington with Darren and will treat his 18-year-old son Daniel with his half of the winnings.

Karl, 46, from Padgate, Warrington added: “My lad is 18 and I’m going to buy him his first car. I have had my eye on a Vauxhall Corsa.”

Betfred boss Fred Done said: “I have already paid out on City winning the Premier League, which is obviously in the bag, and they are favourites to win the EFL Cup final against Arsenal on Sunday. The Blues are also in the driving seat in Europe, having beaten Basel 4-0. But, as was proved at Wigan, anything can happen in the FA Cup."

He added: "I really did think City were going to land the quad, and it is remarkable that they should come up unstuck at Wigan of all places. They, of course, beat them in that famous FA Cup Final in 2013. The cup may have its critics, but after Rochdale held Spurs and now this, the famous old trophy is alive and kicking!”

“The 1-0 triumph for Wigan cost me over £100,000, with fans piling on the competition’s top scorer Grigg to score first at 12/1 – and loyal Latics supporters were out in force on a 1-0 win at 40/1. Then there was the handful including Karl and Darren who finished me off with the 350/1 scorecast.

"The horse on which they won and picked up a handy £70 to rub salt in my wounds hadn’t run for over a year."