FOUR punters from a Bolton pub are laughing all the way to the bank after a bet on a horse named after Peter Kay's comedy Phoenix Nights won them almost £2,000.

Landlord Gary Charlton and three regulars at the Lord Clyde Pub in Folds Road could not resist a flutter on the 66-1 outsider, even though the horse's record was dismal.

Mr Charlton said: "We watched the race in the pub and when Phoenix Nights won, the roof came off. It was unbelievable.

"The odds suggested the horse was a donkey, but it romped home."

In its previous four races, the Irish three-year-old had finished at the back of the field.

But the lucky Lord Clyde quartet were inspired to risk £30 because they had been given "a sign". Pranksters had changed the street sign for Phoenix Road, just round the corner from the pub, to Phoenix Nights in honour of the popular series.

Regular David Longworth, aged 48, noticed the namesake nag was running in the 7.40 at Newcastle last Friday, and he was straight on the phone to his friends.

Mr Charlton said: "We didn't believe him at first but he told us to put Sky TV on. We did and there it was."

David placed a £10 bet, and the others -- Mr Charlton and brothers John and Simon Chadwick -- £20 between them.

Mr Charlton said: "It's all everybody's talking about in the pub. They are all envious of us. I don't think the bookies can believe it either."

Landlord Gary said: "That's my spending money sorted for Florida."

Phoenix Nights the horse was born in 2000, the same year that Peter Kay's award-winning series -- named yesterday by Radio Times TV editor Alison Graham as one of her top 40 shows of all time -- first hit the nation's screens.

Owner and trainer Alan Berry, of Moss Side Racing Stables in Cockerham, near Lancaster, is a huge Peter Kay fan and named the horse after his favourite show.