Premier League club owner eyes huge winner on day two of Cheltenham after punters bash the bookies on day one
A PREMIER League owner is teeing up a massive winner on day two of Cheltenham – after punters bashed the bookies on day one.
Banker double State Man and Lossiemouth got bettors off to a monster start and left the bookies fearing more misery on Wednesday.
The Willie Mullins double both won at odds on – before Corbetts Cross was another winner at a short price in the last.
CHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVAL
Brighton chief Tony Bloom is hoping he can get in on the mix with his horse Ile Atlantique in the first race on day two – where racegoers will be encourage to wear their finest gear for ‘Style Wednesday’.
But Bloom – who has been called the ‘cleverest man to ever place a bet‘ – will be up against another Mullins banker in the form of Ballyburn, who is co-owned by football superagent David Manasseh.
Amazingly, Manasseh, who is Gareth Bale‘s former agent, also looks after six Brighton players.
Manasseh counts among his stars the likes of England heroes Luke Shaw and Jordan Pickford too, and is a major player in the global football transfer markets.
Read More Racing
But all he and Bloom will care about at 1.30pm is the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle, a tactical race over two miles and five furlongs of the Prestbury Park turf.
Victory is worth more than £75,000 to the winner – a relatively small amount to these multi-millionaires.
But it’s all about the pride and rush of being able to celebrate in the winners’ enclosure.
Bookies will be hoping there’s less of that among the 60,000-strong crowd – which included Zara Tindall on Tuesday – after the results on day one.
The biggest winning price on the day was 9-1 Lark In The Mornin in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap.
While an emotional victory for Chianti Classico in the Ultima Handicap Chase also proved ‘extremely popular’ with punters.
Coral’s David Stevens was among the bookies who got battered – alongside this poor soul who had to hand over a fortune on State Man.
Stevens said: “It didn’t take Willie Mullins long to get on the scoresheet at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.
“His horse Gaelic Warrior was by far the best-backed Arkle contender and his many supporters had few concerns throughout the race as the 2-1 favourite strolled home in glorious isolation.
Templegate’s 8-1 banker on day two of Cheltenham
“Odds-on shots State Man and Lossiemouth were in many Mullins-based multiples, and neither let their backers down.
“All in all it means we head into day two already knowing victories for their stablemates Ballyburn, Fact To File in the race at 2.10pm and El Fabiolo in the race of the day, the Champion Chase at 3.30pm, will make it another costly day for us bookies.”
While William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps added: “Three Willie Mullins-trained favourites going in on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival is never going to be pretty.
“The State Man-Lossiemouth double, although short, was very popular, and there were plenty who rolled Gaelic Warrior into that too.
“Corbetts Cross was also an expensive result, and the only way it could have gone worse was if Milan Tino had won the Boodles. Overall, we’re well on the back foot heading into day two.”
FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org