We move into the second half of the 2011 Cheltenham Festival and thousands of punters will descend on Prestbury Park for the best St Patrick’s Day party this side of the Irish Sea.
It felt like Paddy’s day came 24 hours early yesterday as the Irish nailed six of the seven winners on Wednesday’s card and the bookies were left delighted as punters lost heaps of cash on a disastrous day for favourite backers.
A delighted David Williams of
Ladbrokes was on hand to explain to Cheltenhampro: "The rule of thumb used to be that Irish winners tended to spell big trouble for the bookies but that myth has been smashed to bits.
"Chicago Grey in the opener was lousy but after that we had a blinding day. All the hotpots went down and we've reached the half-time whistle on the front foot."
Now punters will be looking to win back their money at the world’s most exhilarating race meeting and the bookies will be braced for a St Patrick’s Day backlash as the Irish look to plough their money into Thursday’s card.
"We've a long way to go before we can declare it a bookie's Festival. We fully expect the fancied Irish horses to be backed off the boards on St Patrick's Day" added Williams.
The feature race on Thursday’s card is the Ladbrokes World Hurdle which sees Big Buck’s go in search of a remarkable third consecutive success in the showpiece.
Paddy Power are celebrating St Patrick’s Day by offering customers their money back if your horse finishes second to one of Ruby Walsh’s horses in the first four races on Thursday.
Thursday’s Cheltenham Festival race card
13:30 Jewson Novices' Chase (Registered As The Golden Miller Novices' Chase) (Grade 2)(5yo+, Class 1, 2m 4f, 11 runners)
14:05 Pertemps Final (Listed Handicap Hurdle) (5yo+, Class 1, 3m, 24 runners)
14:40 Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy Chase) (Grade 1) (5yo+, Class 1, 2m 5f, 14 runners)
15:20 Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+, Class 1, 3m, 14 runners)
16:00 Byrne Group Plate (Grade 3 Handicap Chase) (5yo+, Class 1, 2m 5f, 21 runners)
16:40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Amateur Riders) (5yo+, Class 2, 3m 1f 110y, 24 runners)
17:15 St Patrick's Day Derby (Charity Race) (4yo+, 1m 5f, 12 runners)
