Cheltenham’s Irish punters to help wagers top €125m

An estimated €125m will be wagered in Cheltenham this week as hundreds of thousands flock to the iconic course for AP McCoy’s swansong.

According to Paddy Power, it could be make or break for the bookies as early as today as a win for each of Willie Mullins’ four big favourites (Douvan, Un De Sceaux, Faugheen, and Annie Power) would leave them facing an uphill struggle for the remainder of the festival.

The Irish challenge for this year’s festival is as strong as ever, with trainers of the calibre of Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott, and Noel Meade all expected to feature strongly over the four days.