BOOKIES FEARING £50MILLION CHELTENHAM BODY BLOW!
Big Punts at Cheltenham
Outside of the Grand National, the Cheltenham Festival is the single biggest betting event in racing and bookmaking giants William Hill are bracing themselves for what promises to be a £600million week of betting bedlam for the betting industry.
Britain’s biggest bookies are predicting that a staggering £150 million a day will be wagered industry-wide, on each of the four days of the festival, with another £1million per race staked on-course in cash.
That figure equates to around £24 million per race, for the 26 races, with betting reaching a £40million fever pitch on this year’s epic third ‘War of the Wolds’ rematch between Kauto Star and Denman in Friday’s Gold Cup.
But the bookmakers are treading with some trepidation into this year’s Festival – with a quartet of red hot favourites poised to strike a daily body-blow to profits. Dunguib, Master Minded, Big Buck’s, and Kauto Star are some of the hottest Cheltenham betting propositions for decades, and they line-up on each day of the Festival in unparalleled form. The last three all trained by Champion trainer Paul Nicholls and ridden by the Festival’s leading jockey Ruby Walsh.
Hills estimate that the betting industry would be rocked to the tune of almost £50million should the four festival bankers oblige, with punters lining-up in each of the UK and Ireland’s 10,000 betting shops to invest in the dream quartet.
David Hood, spokesman for William Hill, said: “Bookies really are starting on the back foot this year. These are FOUR outstanding chances for punters to get their teeth into – and each one dominates a day of the Festival. We can only hope to get one or more of them beaten, but realistically they look like bankers for the punter and if all four win it will put the bookies on their knees. Punters won’t be able to carry it all home!”
The Bookies Nemesis’
Dunguib – Running in the opening race of the Festival – The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Unbeaten in his last eight starts and is the sweetheart of Ireland for 2010. – William Hill Odds 4/5
Master Minded – The reigning Queen Mother Champion and is looking to notch-up an historic third successive win. Injured early season but showed a glorious return to his best when winning at Newbury last time out. Represents the ‘tour de force’ combination of Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh. William Hill Odds – 5/6
Big Buck’s – Supremely talented and found his niche over the smaller obstacles when winning the World Hurdle last year. Ranked as the highest-regarded hurdler in the Country and has shown nothing but contempt for every rival that has faced him this season. Another talent emerging from the punters’ favourite duo of Paul Nicholls & Ruby Walsh. William Hill Odds – 8/13
Kauto Star – The darling of National Hunt Racing and the last fancy from the deadly duo of Messrs Nicholls & Walsh. Made history in last year’s Gold Cup by becoming the first horse to regain the title after a loss. Romped to an incomparable 36-length win in the William Hill King George on his last start, and runs in the Festival’s biggest race. William Hill Odds – 8/11
Hills Banker Bundle: 17-2 Dunguib, Master Minded, Kauto Star and Big Buck’s all to win
