Bookmakers and punters share honours on day one of Cheltenham

PA Sport Reporters
March 10, 2020 6:45 pm

Epatante helped backers in landing Champion Hurdle favouritism.

It was honours even between bookmakers and punters after a pulsating opening afternoon of the Cheltenham Festival.

Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin may have been at the head of ante-post lists for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle for several weeks, but he was relatively friendless on the day itself, drifting out to 6-1 come the off.

However, that did not prevent the strapping gelding from getting the job done, albeit narrowly as he had to fight off the challenge of well supported 11-4 chance Abacadabras by a head.

The 16-1 success of Put The Kettle On in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy was a result to celebrate for the layers, before The Conditional obliged at 15-2 in the Ultima Handicap Chase.

However, Epatante was the toast of punters across the land after being heavily backed and justifying 2-1 favouritism in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

The Willie Mullins-trained Benie Des Dieux was considered by many as one of the bankers of the week in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, but those who contributed to a starting price of 4-6 were left counting their losses as the odds-on shot found 9-4 chance Honeysuckle half a length too strong.

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “We have certainly dodged a bullet this afternoon thanks to Honeysuckle. Everyone wanted to be with Benie Des Dieux and had she won, today’s results would have looked very different.

“However, it wasn’t to be and although we are not getting ahead of ourselves, we head into day two of the Festival in good spirits.”

Imperial Aura and Galvin, the 4-1 joint-favourites, filled the first two places in the Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase.

But favourite-backers had their fingers burnt again in the concluding National Hunt Chase, with 10-11 jolly Carefully Selected unable to land a glove on 12-1 winner Ravenhill.

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “Normally a Jamie Codd-ridden winner of an amateur riders’ race would be desperate, but not today as the last result was crucial – we badly needed Carefully Selected and Lord Du Mesnil getting beat.

“The books are marginally ahead after the opening salvos.”

Betfred’s Matt Hulmes told a different tale – and feels it could yet get worse for the firm on Wednesday.

He said: “The punters are certainly on the front foot after day one, especially after the Champion Hurdle result, and with the likes of Envoi Allen, Tiger Roll and Appreciate It all talked about as banker material on day two, we approach Ladies Day with trepidation.”