The Cheltenham Festival is the biggest meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar, with bookmakers expecting to take around £250 million in bets over the four days. But with some big-priced winners and several favourites failing to deliver, the bookies have taken a significant hit this year. In this article, we’ll take a look at how much the bookies have lost at Cheltenham and some of the biggest winners and losers from this year’s meeting.
The Early Running
The festival got off to a strong start for the bookies, with favourite Sire Du Berlais winning the opening race – the Marsh Novices’ Chase. The 8/13 favourite held off a late challenge from the Paul Nicholls-trained Black Op to land the spoils, and the bookies breathed a sigh of relief.
The favourites also came to the rescue in the second race, the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle, as the 2/1 shot Not So Sleepy held off the challenge of the 5/1 shot Defi Du Seuil to provide a winner for the bookies.
The Big Winners
The bookmakers were dealt a blow in the third race of the day, the Ryanair Chase, as the 33/1 shot Rachael Blackmore made history by becoming the first female jockey to win a Grade One race at the Cheltenham Festival. Blackmore steered A Plus Tard to victory, and the bookies were left counting the cost of the upset.
There was more misery for the bookies in the fourth race of the day, the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, as the Willie Mullins-trained Minella Indo sprang a surprise at 14/1. The six-year-old stayed on strongly to deny the Paul Nicholls-trained favourite, Frodon, and the bookies were left counting the cost of another upset.
The Big Losers
Favourites continued to disappoint in the fifth race of the day, the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle, as the 5/1 shot Siruh Du Lac held off the 7/2 favourite Galvin to take the spoils. The bookmakers were also dealt a blow in the sixth race of the day, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, as the 4/6 favourite Chacun Pour Soi was pipped to the post by the 5/1 shot Put The Kettle On.
The bookies were dealt a further blow in the seventh race of the day, the Stayers’ Hurdle, as the 4/1 shot Paisley Park held off the 11/8 favourite Lisnagar Oscar to take the spoils.
The Later Races
The bookmakers enjoyed some success in the later races, as the 7/2 favourite Envoi Allen won the eighth race of the day, the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, while the 11/4 favourite Champ took the honours in the ninth race of the day, the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase.
The favourites also came to the rescue in the penultimate race of the day, the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase, as the 10/3 shot Fakir D’Oudairies held off the challenge of the 5/2 favourite Actinpieces to take the spoils.
The Final Race
The bookmakers breathed a sigh of relief in the final race of the day, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, as the 4/1 shot The Shunter held off the challenge of the 6/1 shot Allart to take the spoils.
The Final Tally
So how much did the bookmakers lose at Cheltenham? Many bookmakers have reported losses in excess of £10 million over the four days, with some sources claiming that the total losses could be as high as £20 million.
The Biggest Winners
The biggest winners at Cheltenham were undoubtedly the punters, who made a killing on some big-priced winners. The biggest payout of the festival came in the Ryanair Chase, as A Plus Tard provided a 33/1 shock, while the 14/1 shot Minella Indo also provided a big payout.
The Biggest Losers
The biggest losers at this year’s Cheltenham Festival were undoubtedly the bookmakers, who have been left counting the cost of some big-priced winners and several favourites failing to deliver. The biggest losses for the bookies came in the Ryanair Chase, as 33/1 shot A Plus Tard denied the favourites, while the 14/1 shot Minella Indo also provided a big payout.
The Changing Landscape
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest betting events of the year, and this year it has highlighted the changing landscape of betting. With the emergence of big-priced winners, the bookmakers are having to reassess their strategy in order to stay competitive.
Conclusion
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most eagerly-anticipated events of the year, and this year’s meeting has provided plenty of thrills and spills. The bookmakers have taken a significant hit this year, with some sources claiming that they have lost in excess of £20 million. The biggest winners at this year’s festival were undoubtedly the punters, who made a killing on some big-priced winners. However, with the emergence of big-priced winners, the bookmakers are having to reassess their strategy in order to stay competitive.