Brave Inca\’s victory in the Champion Hurdle during the first day of the Cheltenham Festival has cost £5 million to the rails bookies and up to £50 million to the betting industry as a whole.
Only a victory by 40-1 outsider Shamayoun saved them the bookmakers from a total bloodbath.
“It was a bad day but it could have been a disaster,” said Totesport spokesman Damian Walker.
“Brave Inca was a bad result but Shamayoun got us out of trouble,” commented William Hill spokesman Ben Clarke.
“We desperately wanted Brave Inca to be beaten but he stormed through and has cost us a fortune,” said Ladbrookes spokesman David Williams.
“We were at war with the punters today and we lost. It was a disastrous first day for the bookies. But it was a great day for the punter and I suppose that is what Cheltenham is all about.”
Calculators
