turn up for the book

Originally from racecourse betting, from turn up (“stroke of luck”) and book (“record of betting; bookmaker”).

• "Her mother kept well away from us, which was a turn up for the book, and for the time being at any rate, I was a model husband."
• "What a turn up for the book. After 12 successive league wins[…]Charlton were nobbled by the First Division's no-hopers, who profited from a goalkeeping bloomer then held on to their lead for dear life."
• "All these turn ups for the book had lasting consequences."
• "'Well, boyo, this is a turn up for the book,' observed my friend David Llewellyn without a trace of irony. 'I never expected to wind up in a hospital bed next to you.'π"