Imperial Commander's Cheltenham Gold Cup win helped seal a superb Cheltenham Festival for the bookies, according to Ladbrokes.

The clash between Kauto Star and Denman had been billed as a £40 million betting bonanza but with Kauto Star a big race faller and Denman beaten into second place, the bookies escaped with the cash.

Imperial Commander was a 7/1 winner and is already the 4/1 favourite to defend his Gold Cup crown next year.

David Williams of Ladbrokes said: "It was a result beyond our wildest dreams. The cheers for Imperial Commander came from the bookies and we roared him up the Cheltenham hill.

"The gamble on Kauto Star was colossal. Had he won we'd have handed back all the cash we made earlier in the week. Getting the big two beaten was nothing short of superb.

"God was smiling on the bookies in the Cotswolds this week. It was the best Festival we've had in a generation and we didn't want to go home."

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