Punters left sore, sorry and skint in bookmakers battle

IT was anything but a great day for the Irish at the annual Cheltenham nagfest yesterday.

Irish punters were left sore, sorry and skint after coming off very badly in betting battles with the bookmakers on day one.

Cheltenham National Hunt Festival is usually a joyous gathering for Irish racegoers, but yesterday it was carnage in the Cotswolds.

Bookmakers were firmly in the driving seat of the harvester after day one which saw too many Irish dreams mowed own.

The first five favourites were turned over starting with a defeat for Dunguib in the opening Spinal Research Novices’ Hurdle.

The Irish challenger had been seen as the banker of the entire four days for many punters and his defeat at 4-5 had the bookies jumping for joy.

More reverses followed with Chief Dan George’s victory at 33-1 in the William Hill Trophy proving to be a skinner for most bookies.

“Chief Dan George’s win was a satchel-buster,” remarked David Williams of Ladbrokes.

But Binocular, ridden by Tony McCoy, roared back to his best form to win the Champion Hurdle.

Last month he was effectively ruled out of yesterday’s event with a muscle problem but trainer Nicky Henderson managed to get the horse right in time for Irish owner JP McManus.

McCoy, 14-times champion jockey, said: “The other morning I schooled him and that was the first time he hurdled like I know he can. We’ve always had faith in him but it has not been an easy passage.”