Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Gold record
Punters to bet £20m on Cheltenham’s showpiece after Rod Stewart joined the St Patrick’s party
RACING fans are set to bet £20million on the Gold Cup today as the Cheltenham Festival comes to a roaring climax.
A 70,000-strong crowd will flood the final day as wagers worth £35,000 per second are placed.
Presenting Percy is Ladbrokes’ 7/2 favourite to win, followed by last year’s winner Native River at 4/1 and King George VI Chase champion Clan Des Obeaux at 9/2.
“Punters have a real task on their hands picking the winner, with the front three in the market all holding solid claims,” said spokeswoman Nicola Mcgeady.
Celebs got in the mood yesterday by rubbing shoulders with racegoers downing pints of Guinness to mark St
Patrick’s Thursday.
Rod Stewart, 74, and wife Penny
Lancaster, royal
Zara Tindall and husband Mike, and hardman actor Ray
Winstone, 61, were among the famous faces at the course.
Corrie actor
Michael Le Vell, 54, flew in by helicopter with co-star Alan
Halsall, 36.
The pals, Kevin Webster and Tyrone
Dobbs in the soap, posed for snaps in front of the chopper.
Meanwhile, Made In Chelsea star
Georgia “Toff ” Toffolo,
24, and former jockey
Tony Mccoy’s wife Chanelle, 42, led in the style stakes.
Former Manchester
United boss Sir Alex
Ferguson is going for glory today as owner of Clan Des Obeaux.
There were emotional scenes as blind owner Andrew Gemmell’s horse
Paisley Park won the
Stayers’ Hurdle.
The former council worker and union rep, 66, has been blind since birth and relies on friends to describe the race to him.
His horse, which is named after the late singer Prince’s home and recording studio, nearly died two years ago following a serious illness. Gemmell erupted with joy after the seven year old came from behind in the final furlongs to win. He said he might just “treat myself to a shandy or two” after the victory.
“I cannot believe this has happened,” he said.
“I still had hopes [during the race] because we know that is the way Paisley Park runs.
“This has been a brilliant journey and I have enjoyed it all the way. I’ve been to Cheltenham for years and years.
“It is just something else to be in the winner’s enclosure.” Rising saddle star Byrony Frost rode Frodon to victory in the Ryanair Chase, making her the first female British jockey to win a Grade 1 race at Cheltenham.
Frost, 23, the daughter of Grand National-winning jockey Jimmy, said: “He’s Pegasus.”
Ladbrokes slashed the odds on Frost being crowned BBC Sports Personality Of The Year 2019 from 100/1 to 50/1.
As she got a rapturous reception in the winner’s enclosure, 10-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls said it was “one of the best days ever”.