RYANAIR BOSS’S FLIGHT OF FANCY

O’Leary lands a winner...in his own race Katie’s day at faces!

MILLIONAIRE Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary faced a backlash from punters after scooping £152,530 – on his own event.

The Irishman won the Ryanair Chase for the first time in 15 attempts after entering two runners in the six-horse race.

Customers of the budget airline couldn’t believe the cheek of the 56-year-old megabucks businessman after he scooped more than a quarter-of-a-million quid in just two hours with three winners.

Outraged travellers raged at the £261,480 windfall just months after the troubled airline cancelled thousands of flights destroying travel plans.

One angry flyer fumed on Twitter: “Congratulations to Michael O’Leary for winning £200k with Balco Des Flos at #CheltenhamFestival. But where’s my f***ing compensation money for my cancelled flight from September @Ryanair.”

Another stormed: “Michael O’Leary probably charges his jockeys to ride – and an extra pound every time they go over a f***ing fence!”

“Given Michael O’Leary is cleaning up at Cheltenham, hopefully he’ll invest in a solution for the odd plane to leave on time,” said a third.

His 8-1 outsider Balko Des Flos shocked hot favourite Un De Sceaux to romp to victory on the day the festival celebrates St Patrick’s Day.

The victory gave him a hat-trick for the day following wins for Delta Work and Shattered Love.

The plane mogul said excitedly: “It’s taken me 15 years to win the Ryanair, so I’m going to enjoy it.

“I’m going to get seriously drunk upstairs in the next couple of hours.”

O’Leary joked that he would pay the excess baggage charge when he flies the trophy home.

Thousands of race-goers including celebs Charlotte Hawkins, Katie Price and Rod Stewart and his wife Penny enjoyed the racing atmosphere.

Spending on the annual event is expected to peak tomorrow with £20million being gambled on the Gold Cup.