IMPERIAL SEALS THE DEAL FOR BOOKIES GOLDEN CHELTENHAM

In what can only be described as the most dire four days of betting that Cheltenham punters have ever known, the win of Imperial Commander was another nail in the coffin.

Previously billed as the ‘War of the Worlds’ by bookies, the titanic clash between Kauto Star and Denman became a damp squib in the Cotswold drizzle as the locally trained Imperial Commander at 7/1 upset the odds, but provided the locals with a lot to cheer about.

Punters across the land wagered a record £40million on the clash today, David Hood, spokesman for William Hill, said: ‘’Bookies couldn’t make it up this week, they have enjoyed some stellar results (only three winning favourites up to the Gold Cup), and it will take punters until the World Cup to get over the shocks this week.”

The Gold Cup wasn’t a complete ‘skinner’ for bookies, as both the winner and the third Mon Mome were exceptionally well backed each-way horses. “Mon Mome was the surprise gamble from 150-1 into 50-1, but I have no doubt that many remembered his Grand National win and kept the faith again. That said, he has saved William Hill £550,000!“

A punter with a series of 10p accumulators confidently predicted that Imperial Commander and Denman would be placed winning £450,000, but Mon Mome’s last gasp effort to snatch third from Carruthers saved William Hill from that becoming a £1million pound win.

Cheltenham Gold Cup 2011: 4-1 Imperial Commander, Kauto Star, 8-1 Denman, Weapon’s Amnesty, 12-1 Big Buck’s, 16-1 Diamond Harry, Long Run, Punchestowns, Somersby, 20-1 bar (Each Way 1/4 1,2,3)