Bookies On Top

Bookmakers were purring following day one of the Cheltenham Festival after several well-backed favourites were turned over.

Three huge-priced winners more than compensated for the victories of popular trio My Way De Solzen, Heads Onthe Ground and Gaspara.

The layers were in heaven after 40-1 shot Ebaziyan obliged in the opening Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle, before Sublimity (16-1) shocked 6-4 favourite Detroit City in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

Joes Edge later popped up at 50-1, beating co-favourites Distant Thunder and Juveigneur by a whisker.

Coral spokesman David Stevens said: 'We are absolutely delighted ? three more days like this will make our year.

'Amaretto Rose losing in the first set a precedent for the whole day and it was beaten favourite after beaten favourite.

'Detroit City winning would have been the worst result possible for us and even favourites Heads On the Ground and Gaspara have not taken the gloss off the day.'

William Hill were also pleased and spokesman Ben Clarke reported: 'The first four races were blinding results for us despite Sublimity being one of the largest ante-post gambles for a long time.

'Punters bounced back with the favourites winning the last two races but you have to say the bookmakers are ahead after the first innings.'

Stan James' Neil Morrice said: 'A number of ante-post liabilities were beaten, principally Detroit City, which served to make it a very good day.

'Turnover was slightly disappointing because of the early shocks but the punters recovered a little when the favourite went in in the last.'

Blue Square's Kate Miller also reported a profitable afternoon, particularly in the Champion Hurdle market, although the firm had laid a decent amount on Irish Independent Arkle winner My Way de Solzen.

Meanwhile, the Tote smashed their previous best placepot pool at the meeting with a massive £879,507 bet into the pool.

The previous best was £664,183 on Gold Cup day in 2006, while the previous best on Champion Hurdle day was last year's figure of £652,064.

Spokesman Damian Walker said: 'These figures are fantastic and it has certainly helped having William Hill's 2,000 plus betting shops betting into the pools at Cheltenham for the first time.

'We're up over 32 per cent and £215,324 on our previous best and these figures can only get better as the week goes on.'

The only bookmaking firm not so happy was Betfred, after on-course man Jamie Watson said they were about even after laying Joes Edge at 50-1 to the tune of £500 each-way at a shop in Cheltenham.

(C) PA Sport