Bookmakers prepare for two bumper betting days; CHELTENHAM 2008 Day Three.Byline: By Turia Tellwright BOOKMAKERS are bracing themselves for what they predict will be among two of the biggest days in betting history in the aftermath of the abandonment of Cheltenham yesterday. Betting firms are preparing for a bumper ten-race card today before tomorrow's nine-race extravaganza, culminating in the Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race in the United Kingdom for five-year-old and above horses. It is run over a distance of 3 miles 2½ furlongs (5,331 metres) on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse during the Cheltenham Festival in March. . Any bets placed on yesterday's abandoned card will stand, with William Hill The name William Hill may refer to the following: People
"There is no doubt that compacting the business from Wednesday into these two days will make them among the biggest betting days of all time," said director of racing David Hood David Hood is a world class bassist from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He also plays the trombone and is a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Hood started his career as a back-up musician at FAME Studios, then went on to found Muscle Shoals Sound Studio where he produced . "It's reasonable to think that around pounds 500 million will be wagered and, with the extra races on Friday, the mantle of the Grand National as the world's biggest betting day is under threat. "All ante-post bets stand and we offered to void any bets made after we went non-runner, no bet last Thursday, but there have been no reported acceptances," he added. Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said that the Gold Cup clash between Kauto Star Kauto Star (born 19th March 2000) is a French bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in England. After a successful beginning to his jumping career in France, Kauto Star (pronounced "Kor-toe") has had an extremely successful career in England. and Denman now assumes "epic proportions", before adding: "Wednesday's cancellation has only heightened expectation of the biggest racing head-to-head in years." Coral expressed their full support for Cheltenham's decision to abandon, with yesterday's Coral Cup now due to be run tomorrow. "This is a unique and extraordinary set of circumstances, and while we're bitterly disappointed to have lost today's sponsorship and the associated benefits, including significant corporate hospitality, we are fully behind Cheltenham's decision to run our race as part of a nine-race card on Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup day," said spokesman Simon Clare. "While today's abandonment is in many ways unique, the racing and betting industries have a long history of pulling together in such desperate times." Betfair's ante-post markets on yesterday's scheduled races still stand, although their day-of-race markets have all been cancelled. "Under our rules, which state that the races have to take place on the day, we have voided all day-of-race markets," said spokesman Tony Calvin. "The 48-hour races and ante-post markets are not affected." PADDY POWER are offering all of yesterday's racegoers a free pounds 50 bet. The Irish firm has agreed to give a "nostrings attached" free bet to any unlucky festival ticket-holders. Paddy Power said: "Like my fellow 60,000 festival racegoers today, I am massively disappointed with today's abandonment. We hope this gesture will, in some way, ease that disappointment. On a brighter note, we have two amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. days of racing to look forward to." To claim the free bet, racegoers should post their original ticket from yesterday's abandoned meeting at Cheltenham, along with their names and full postal address to: Paddy's Silver Lining silver lining n. A hopeful or comforting prospect in the midst of difficulty. [From the proverb "Every cloud has a silver lining". Offer, Paddy Power Bookmakers, 5th Floor Crowne House, 56/58 Southwark Street Southwark Street is a street in the London Borough of Southwark, SE1, just south of the River Thames. It runs between Blackfriars Road to the west and Borough High Street to the east. Southwark Bridge Road crosses halfway along. At the eastern end to the north is Borough Market. , London SE1 1UN. Does your bet stand? Bet365 All bets stand and all bets made after the five-day stage can be voided before 12.30 today. Betfred All bets stand Blue Square All ante-post bets stand Boylesports Bets placed after the final declarations will be settled. Customers requesting to void their bets can do so before 12.30pm today. Coral All bets stand Ladbrokes All bets stand Paddy Power All bets stand and bets placed after the final declarations can be cancelled. Skybet All bets stand Stan James All bets stand or can be cancelled prior to the start of the race Tote All bets stand VCbet All bets stand William Hill All bets stand CAPTION(S): Disappointed racegoers queue for refunds at Cheltenham yesterday EDWARD WHITAKER/RACINGPOSTPIX.CO.UK |
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