Torrid time for punters continues as Jonbon becomes fourth odds-on favourite to lose at Cheltenham Festival

Just two out of six odds-on favourites have won across the first two days of the Cheltenham Festival following the defeats of Ballyburn in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase and Jonbon in the Champion Chase on Wednesday.

There was talk of a potential 'bloodbath' on day one with liabilities mounting on Kopek Des Bordes, Majborough, Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill all popular in multiples. 

While Kopek Des Bordes and Lossiemouth prevailed, Majborough and Constitution Hill were both beaten at odds of 1-2, saving bookmakers a smacking to the tune of an estimated £50 million.

The upsets continued on day two as the Brown Advisory's 4-7 favourite Ballyburn made a catastrophic error at the seventh fence before finishing fifth behind 20-1 stablemate Lecky Watson. 

That was a sign of things to come as the fences saw Jonbon come to grief in the Champion Chase won by Marine Nationale. The 5-6 favourite made a shuddering error at the ninth and, although he rallied up the home straight, he could only finish second.

It was the seventh odds-on favourite beaten in the Champion Chase in the past decade, with Jonbon joining Un De Sceaux (4-6), Douvan (2-9), Defi Du Seuil (2-5), Chacun Pour Soi (8-13), Shishkin (5-6) and El Fabiolo (2-9).

Ballyburn: another beaten favouriteCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"Any punters who have been playing the shorties this week have endured a rather torrid time," Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said.

"Constitution Hill getting beaten yesterday for Nicky Henderson was a nightmare for Seven Barrows and backers, but Jonbon running like that as well will mean many a punter walking back to town rather than hailing a cab."

There are no odds-on favourites on Thursday but two on Friday as Dinoblue is worse than evens with some firms and Galopin Des Champs a best-priced 8-15 favourite to win a third Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Ladbrokes's Alex Apati said: "It's usually the bookies who are playing catch-up at this stage of the festival, but things couldn't have gone much better for us on the favourites front over the first two days. 

"We've seen time and time again that the week is a marathon, though, not a sprint, so we're not counting our chickens just yet, especially with Galopin Des Champs hunting history." 

Bambino Fever's win in the concluding Champion Bumper made it 9-5 to Ireland in the Prestbury Cup.

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Lecky Watson claims shock Grade 1 victory after stablemate and hot favourite Ballyburn disappoints 

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