Bookie Heaven

Irish Winners at Cheltenham to date.
Day 1
Champion Hurdle - Brave Inca 7/4
Wm Hill Chase - Dun Doire 7/1
Cross Country Chase - Native Jack 7/2
Day 2
Sun Alliance Hurdle - Nicanor 17/2
Sun Alliance Chase - Newmill 16/1
Coral Hurdle - Sky’s the Limit 11/1
Champion Bumper - Hairy Molly 40/1

Even with 7 Irish winners from 12 races to date, most Irish punters are now skint. This is because most of those winners were the less fancied horses in races with several Irish runners.

Yesterday was a bloodbath for punters, with no favourites winning. Indeed, only one winner was priced at less than 10/1. A William Hill spokesman on radio this morning said that they if the bookies had been allowed, in advance, to pick the winners it could hardly have been a better day for them. He estimated that bookies made about £50m profit on yesterday’s Cheltenham card alone. He shed some tears for the punters, but only because they’ll all be a bit short of cash to bet today and tomorrow.

I’ve had 8 bets to date and only one winner - Brave Inca @ 19/10. Today, I’ve only backed two horses to date - and may not back anything else until tomorrow - but I’ll probably be tempted.

Ryanair Chase: Sir OJ @ 9/1
World Hurdle: Golden Cross @ 12/1

I’m not holding my breath.