Punter lands €55,000 acca as winning favourites give bookies a 'day to forget'

Bookmakers were floored on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival with four winning favourites, including well-supported Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard under Rachael Blackmore, handing punters the upper hand.

Friday goes down as "one of the most expensive Gold Cup days in recent memory" according to William Hill, while A Plus Tard's victory cost Paddy Power a seven-figure payout and he was by far the best-backed in the race with Ladbrokes and Betfair.

"It's all gone the punters' way," William Hill's Tony Kenny said. "When you have four big-name favourites winning on Gold Cup day and a jolly winning the big race itself it’s going to be painful.

"Vauban, A Plus Tard, State Man and Elimay are horses who had been wrapped up in huge-priced multiples, some of which have settled at monster odds and left a number of customers celebrating six-figure wins."

Rachael Blackmore with the Gold Cup after winning on A Plus TardCredit: Edward Whitaker

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes added: "Rachael Blackmore has done it again. Not only has she made Gold Cup history but she's also made it a day to remember for delighted punters, and a day to forget for the bookies.

"A Plus Tard was by far the best-backed horse in the Gold Cup, having been smashed into favouritism early this morning. After a tricky three days for punters they certainly got revenge and ended the week on a high."

Blackmore's win on A Plus Tard earned one Paddy Power customer almost €55,000 from a five-horse accumulator staked last year.

The Galway punter placed a €10 accumulator on Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle, Energumene in the Champion Chase, Allaho in the Ryanair Chase, Flooring Porter in the Stayers' Hurdle and A Plus Tard in the Gold Cup.

Speaking to Paddy Power, the winning punter, who wants to remain anonymous, said: "I couldn't believe it. Rachael Blackmore is just unreal."

The winning bet

Honeysuckle at 7-4 (won at 8-11)
Energumene at 4-1 (won at 5-2)
Allaho at 7-2 (won at 4-7)
Flooring Porter at 10-1 (won at 4-1)
A Plus Tard at 7-1 (won at 3-1)

€10 accumulator returns: €54,450

He added: "I honestly didn't think it would come down to this [the Gold Cup]. Shishkin was the main man in the Champion Chase, obviously, so when Energumene won I couldn't believe it.

"I wouldn't normally back horses. I'd only have the odd flutter, but Cheltenham is Cheltenham. This is the kind of thing you only ever read about. It's unbelievable."

Some bookmakers may have edged ahead earlier in the week but Friday well and truly belonged to punters, thanks in no small way to Willie Mullins, who set a record with ten wins for the week, including five on the final day.

Betfred spokesman Matt Hulmes said: "Willie Mullins has caused chaos on the trading floor and ensured we have done our conkers. It was neck and neck in the bookies v punters battle going into Gold Cup day but Willie's winners have ensured a winning festival for the backers.

"Couple that with the punters' darling Rachael Blackmore striking gold on A Plus Tard and it was already a nightmare before Billaway and Elimay."

Friday started in the worst possible fashion for the layers with winning favourites Vauban in the Triumph and State Man in the County recording comfortable wins.

After a brief respite with victory for 18-1 shot The Nice Guy in the Albert Bartlett, there was more misery for bookmakers when 3-1 favourite A Plus Tard ran away with the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Betfair had reported the Vauban-State Man double to be popular, while Star Sports saw significant support for Vauban in particular, taking a bet of £25,000 at odds of 15-8 on the Triumph winner, who returned the 6-4 favourite.

Mullins made it three from three on the day with The Nice Guy, although bookmakers were happy to see the festival's all-time leading trainer win this one, as The Nice Guy defeated his better-fancied stablemate Minella Cocooner.

However, bookmakers suffered a hammer blow in the St James's Place Hunters' Chase when another Mullins hotpot, Billaway, came from the clouds to win as the 13-8 favourite.

The Mullins-trained 2-1 favourite Concertista was beaten in the Mares' Chase but stablemate Elimay was hardly a good result for layers, returning the 9-4 winner.

Banbridge, trained by Joseph O'Brien, made it a clean sweep on the day for Ireland and, although he was not unfancied at 12-1, was a welcome winner on a dismal day for bookmakers.

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