Sham Shocker Saves Bookies

Bookmakers were saved by the bell when 40-1 outsider Shamayoun prevented a first-day betting bloodbath at the Cheltenham Festival.

'It was a bad day but it could have been a disaster,' said Totesport spokesman Damian Walker. 'We have lost almost £100,000 but it would have been much, much more if either Bayard or Rosecliff had won the last.

'Brave Inca was a substantial ante-post winner for us and we ducked it in the morning too, otherwise it would have been a walloping.'

The other big firms were in agreement.

William Hill spokesman Ben Clarke said: 'It was honours even after day one at William Hill. Brave Inca was a bad result but Shamayoun got us out of trouble.'

Ladbrokes' representative David Williams added: 'Native Jack was a shocker, especially as it came hot on the heels of Brave Inca and Dun Doire, both of which we had laid.

'But we were pleased to get the Irish hotpots beaten in the first two races and it finished a score-draw.'

Much of the betting-ring gossip surrounded a rumoured £1million bet that was being lined up for Brave Inca in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

But the biggest that surfaced in the ring were two £100,000 wagers on Hardy Eustace and one on the winner in the big race, along with £100,000 on the unplaced Good Step in the cross-country race.

On the Totepool front, there was a record first-day pool for the placepot of over £652,021 ? the second-highest total ever. The placepot produced a dividend of £1,564.

Total turnover on the day was slightly up at £2,376,114, compared to last year's £2,370,279.

? PA Sport