The famous roar was missing as the Cheltenham Festival got under way on Tuesday afternoon, but absent punters still had plenty to celebrate after bookmakers took a few major blows on the first day of racing action.
...after being backed off the boards in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and The Arkle respectively.
A worrying start for the bookies was compounded when hot favourite Honeysuckle maintained her unbeaten record to land the Champion Hurdle having been backed all the way in to 11/10 before the off.
However, a catastrophe for bookmakers was narrowly avoided when Black Tears edged a thrilling finish in the Mares’ Hurdle, with Willie Mullins’ 10/11 favourite Concertista just a head short of landing punters an abundance of opening day multiples.
80/1 winner Jeff Kidder provided further respite for traders in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle before punters hit back with popular 7/2 shot Galvin in the last.
Punters couldn’t have got off to a better start after odds-on favourites Appreciate It (8/11) and Shishkin (4/9) bolted up in the first two races""
...after being backed off the boards in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and The Arkle respectively.
A worrying start for the bookies was compounded when hot favourite Honeysuckle maintained her unbeaten record to land the Champion Hurdle having been backed all the way in to 11/10 before the off.
However, a catastrophe for bookmakers was narrowly avoided when Black Tears edged a thrilling finish in the Mares’ Hurdle, with Willie Mullins’ 10/11 favourite Concertista just a head short of landing punters an abundance of opening day multiples.
80/1 winner Jeff Kidder provided further respite for traders in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle before punters hit back with popular 7/2 shot Galvin in the last.