LUCK finally ran out at the weekend for the student who won £163,000 with a £4 bet - but it could have been so different.

Norman Evans needed to pick only one more winner - in the 3.05 at Kempton Park on Saturday - to scoop a further £140,000.

Initially trusting his instincts, Norman plumped for the 16/1 outsider Broadway Score.

But he changed his mind when former professional jockeys - who had offered to help him select the winner - advised him to go for the favourite, Barolo, at 4/1. He decided to take their advice and watched in dismay as Broadway Score romped home leaving Barolo trailing in 14th place.

Norman, a mature student studying Bio Medical Science at Durham University, had the chance to win the extra £140,000 after correctly picking six winners the week before in the Tote's big Saturday bet, the Scoop6.

On Friday he stayed up most of the night in a hotel near the race course studying the form of the horses, the jockeys and the trainers.

The following day he appeared on Channel 4's racing programme The Morning Line, where he heard the views of ex-jockeys before making his decision.

"You have to listen to what these guys are saying," said Norman, 46, of Norton, Teesside. "They know what they are talking about - or are supposed to.

"They noticed that people were putting a lot of money on the favourite so I started to think someone must know something and that swayed my judgement.

"It cost me £140,000, but I can't blame then because it was my decision at the end of the day.

"It would have meant I would have had enough to not work again, but I am quite happy with what I have already got."

Mr Evans plans to use his windfall to pay off the mortgage and treat himself and his wife, Kerry, to a new car each.

He had planned to become a teacher after finishing his degree but now he is deciding whether to continue.

A summer holiday in Spain with Kerry and sons, Alex 17, and nine-year-old Nathaniel was already booked but now Mr Evans is also thinking about buying a property out there.