Freddie Williams dies aged 65

Monday 23 June 2008 00:00 BST

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The bookmaker Freddie Williams, famous in betting circles for taking on JP McManus at the Cheltenham Festival, has died at his home in Ayrshire at the age of 65. He suffered a heart attack after working at Ayr races on Saturday afternoon and a Glasgow greyhound stadium that night.

Known as "Fearless Freddie", Williams also made headlines when he was attacked and robbed of £70,000 as his car was ambushed by masked bandits after a day at the Cheltenham Festival two years ago. He hired a helicopter to be airlifted in and out of the meeting last year.

Williams underwent a quadruple heart by-pass in 1998, a few months before paying £90,000 for the No 2 pitch at Cheltenham to realise what had been a life-long ambition to take bets at Prestbury Park.

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