Willie Mullins headlines ‘fab four’ day one Cheltenham Festival banker bet which could RUIN bookies
WILLIE MULLINS headlines a ‘fab four’ day one Cheltenham Festival banker bet – which could RUIN bookies.
Punters were in despair on Monday when Nicky Henderson confirmed Sir Gino would miss the Arkle with a season-ending injury.
He was set for a mouthwatering showdown with Mullins’ Majborough in the Arkle Chase.
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But Sir Gino’s absence means punters can get stuck into Majborough instead who’s now as short as 4-7 for the 2m Grade 1 contest.
Majborough and Mullins’ other short-price fav Kopek Des Bordes form one half of the acca everyone will be on.
Kopek Des Bordes, who reduced his owners to floods of tears after his most recent win, is odds-on for the curtain-raising Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Bookies could be on the back foot right away if those two go in in the first two races.
They could have some respite in the Ultima Handicap Chase before Brighterdaysahead is set to spark more punter joy in the Mares’ Hurdle.
She hammered State Man when last seen and has been untouchable this season.
Gordon Elliott’s stable star does not have a definite target yet, with owner Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary eyeing up the Champion Hurdle too.
But, being 1-2 for the Mares, the market suggests that is where she’s heading.
And the roof will come off Prestbury Park if it’s Constitution Hill who lands the four-fold in the Champion Hurdle, the fifth race of seven on the day.
He won’t have it all his own way against likely Mullins pair Lossiemouth and defending champ State Man.
But he has looked almost back to his very best in two wins this season and is a best-price 8-13 fav to land his second Champion Hurdle.
Sam Boswell, spokesperson for BetVictor: “Just as the four-fold for day one of the Festival was gaining momentum, it will face a big change with Sir Gino now ruled out.
“He had been a popular selection in multiples and singles even before his breath-taking win at Kempton over Christmas.
“Fingers crossed we see him back to his best next season and he makes a full recovery.
“From our perspective, we needed a competitive clash between him and Majborough as that would’ve seen at least one of them beaten, but now the Arkle looks even more of a one-horse race!
“As it stands now, the fab four for punters will be Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Majborough in the Arkle Chase – who is now a 4-9 shot having been as big 16-1 at the start of the season – Constitution Hill at 1-2 in the Champion Hurdle, and Brighterdaysahead at 4-5 in the Mares’ Hurdle.
“Mind you, that’s a race which has seen its fair share of drama with Annie Power saving the bookmaking industry from a multi-million pound pay out when she fell at the last a few years ago.
“The acca with us right now pays 6-1 which despite being short is bound to be popular in the lead up to the best week in racing, alongside Constitution Hill who remains our worst individual outright loser a month out from the Festival.”
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