Bookmakers saved from '£50m' hammering at Cheltenham

Myretown (13-2) winning the Ultima Handicap Chase and Lossiemouth prevailing as 4-6 favourite in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle had matters finely balanced, but when 1-2 favourite Constitution Hill fell in the Champion Hurdle, the pendulum began to swing.

BOOKMAKERS: Bookmakers were spared an estimated payout of £50million (€59m) on an opening day of the Cheltenham Festival that saw the previously-unbeaten Constitution Hill crash out of the Champion Hurdle and Majborough beaten in the Arkle. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Bookmakers were spared an estimated payout of £50million (€59m) on an opening day of the Cheltenham Festival that saw the previously-unbeaten Constitution Hill crash out of the Champion Hurdle and Majborough beaten in the Arkle.

Kopek Des Bordes had got favourite-backers off to a good start when triumphing at odds of 4-6 in the opening Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle - but plenty of accumulators were scuppered in the very next race as 1-2 shot Majborough's jumping let him down, leaving Jango Baie (5-1) to come over the top and win the Arkle.