|
Bookies the biggest winners at Cheltenham 
Yet again it’s been an all-consuming Cheltenham Festival with storms,
shocks and stout aplenty.
Thousands of Irish flocked to the Gloucestershire racecourse hoping that
they’d continue their stranglehold on the annual meeting. Most of
the hype surrounding this year’s event focused on the battle between
the Irish and English-owned horses but the overall winner turned out to
be another auld enemy.
Just two favourites out of 25 prevailing and with 50/1 and 33/1 shots
romping home it was quite the few days for the bookies.
In the Gold Cup bets as high as £200,000 were placed on Kauto Star
where in contrast the largest recorded bet for winning stablemate Denman
was just £5,000.
The race had been billed as the clash of the titans with bookies facing
a massive £20million payout if Kauto Star won. As had been the case
earlier in his career it was Kauto Star’s jumping that let him down.
When Denman surged into an early lead he never looked like surrendering.
In the end Denman romped home while Kauto Star narrowly finished in second.
It was the biggest win for 23-year-old jockey Sam Thomas who was only
given the ride after Ruby Walsh opted to stay loyal to Kauto Star.
“The writing was on the wall going out on the second circuit. I
knew there was no way Denman was going to stop,” said Paul Nicholls
who trained the first three horses home.
“The pressure was on this time to get a one-two-three and it doesn’t
get any better than this.”
Irish jockey Walsh rode Kauto Star into second place but felt that the
horse wasn’t at his best. “Denman was the better horse on
the day, but I’ve ridden Kauto Star when he has been better,”
said Walsh, who was top jockey at the festival for the second time in
three years.
“Maybe it was the ground, I couldn’t tell you but he just
didn’t sparkle like he can do. We weren’t going that hard
but it seemed to me he just wasn’t going as well as he can.”
Yet there were concerns over whether the Gold Cup — or any races
for that matter — would take place after Wednesday’s meeting
was abandoned due to stormy weather.
It was the first time weather had affected the festival in 30 years. The
huge gusts tossed racing personality John McCririck through three portaloos
and a caravan which gave the disgruntled punters something to smile about.
It resulted in the 19 races taking place over the last few days which
gave a return of sorts to the old three-day format still favoured by many.
The other big winners over the three days were Master Minded, who destroyed
the field in the Queen Mother chase and Inglis Drever, who became the
first horse to win three stayers’ crowns.
“It’s been a fantastic week, a very good meeting,” beamed
one bookmaker.
Lets hope in 12 months’ time the tables will have somewhat turned.
|
