Bookmakers down punters on final day of Cheltenham Festival battle
There was all to play for in the annual punters v bookmakers match going into the fourth quarter of what had been a see-saw battle but the layers finished strongest to claim a narrow win.
Barry Orr of Betfair said: "Getting both Apple's Shakira and Might Bite beat today was a massive bonus and although the Gold Cup was a bad result it’s still a good winning day.
Ladbrokes took a heavier hit with the Gold Cup hero Native River –although a victory for runner-up Might Bite would have been worse.
They were not complaining, though, with big-priced winners punctuating the final afternoon and the bookmakers edged ahead in the end.
Star Sports knocked the big punters for six on the final day with Might Bite's defeat the tastiest result, the Brighton firm having laid £100,000-£25,000 on course and two £40,000-£10,000 in the office.
A £55,000-£10,000 laid on Our Duke put the icing on the cake after the first big wager had been a £24,000-£20,000 struck on Apple's Shakira in the Triumph.
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