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Challenge 60: The Rookie Bookie

Can you work out how much the gentleman bets on each horse?

 A gentleman walks into a bookmaker to have a flutter on the horses.

In the next race there are 9 runners with the following odds:

  • Chief Whip at 3-1
  • Golden Stirrup at 4-1
  • Rein Man at 7-1
  • Rellik at 9-1
  • Five other horses, all at 39-1.

The man thinks for a minute, then to the bookie’s surprise places nine bets, one on each of the nine horses to win. 

“You might as well give me my winnings now” says the gentleman. “Whatever happens you’ll owe me £200.”

How much did he bet on each horse?

(It might be useful to know a bit about odds. If you bet £1 on a horse at 2-1, you receive £3 back: £2 of winnings plus your original bet)