Paul Townend on Galopin Des Champs celebrates victory in the Gold Cup last year (Image: Getty Images)
Bookies fear a walloping if Gold Cup red-hot favourite Galopin Des Champs lands 4pm Friday’s big Cheltenham prize at odds of 8/15. The first three days of the Gloucestershire jump-racing meeting saw punters take a pounding as favourite after favourite failed to deliver.
On Tuesday Majborough and Constitution Hill both fell – then on Wednesday Ballyburn and Jonbon tamely waved the white flags in their races – leaving punters crestfallen. But now bookmakers are bracing themselves for a Cheltenham Festival Friday to forget, as punters look to end the week on a high thanks to champion trainer Willie Mullins’s dual Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs – looking to become only the fifth horse to win the race three times.
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Paddy Power’s Paul Binfield said: “Galopin Des Champs could wipe the smile off bookmakers’ faces if the favourite romps home. It will be in most people’s accumulators and is our worst result.”
Coral’s David Stevens said: “It’s fair to say the bookies have had the best of it so far at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, but there’s always plenty to play for as we head into Friday, as betting interest peaks on the final day.
“The Gold Cup is the second biggest betting race of the year, behind only the Grand National, while the other six Friday races all attract high turnover, so we know that a good day for favourites will mean any smiles are well and truly wiped off our faces.
“Punters couldn’t have a better man on their side than Willie Mullins, and not only does the champion trainer send out the red-hot Gold Cup favourite in Galopin Des Champs, he has three other market leaders, and wins for all four will send backers home happy.”
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Galopin Des Champs winning last year (Image: PA)
While William Hill’s Lee Phelps said: “This year all the anticipation has been building to Galopin Des Champs’ attempt to win an historic third renewal.
“As a result, punters have been filling their boots ante-post all season, and should he oblige on Friday, he will be one of the worst ante-post payouts we’ve had in recent Cheltenham history.
“The opposition doesn’t look the strongest either, which further concerns us, but there are some horses who are being backed against him.
“The main pick has been Monty’s Star, who’s 10/1 from 14/1, and maybe that shouldn’t be a surprise considering Rachael Blackmore is booked to ride.
“All of her rides have been incredibly popular with punters at this year’s Festival, and you can see why after victories on Air Of Entitlement and Bob Olinger on Thursday.”