On a Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tuesday that will be celebrated by bookmakers, one punter pleased with his efforts is Manchester United legend Paul Scholes.
Building up to the Festival's start, an enticing four-fold accumulator became available, made up of Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Majborough in the Arkle Challenges Trophy, Lossiemouth in the Mares' Hurdle and finally Constitution Hill in the top event of the day, the Champion Hurdle.
The possibility of all four favourites winning was so daunting that bookies in Cheltenham's betting enclosure began to dub it 'The Blood Bath'. Kopek Des Bordes upheld his end of the bargain with Paul Townend, taking his ride to victory without any problems. This is where Scholes was best pleased.
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The former Man United and England footballer revealed on Instagram that he had backed the eventual winner at even odds, turning £2,500 into £5,000. Hinting that he would be returning for more potential winners, he included the caption: "Here we go then..."
Paul Scholes shows off his winning betslip for Kopek Des Bordes at Cheltenham on Tuesday
Paul Scholes shows off his winning betslip for Kopek Des Bordes at Cheltenham on Tuesday (Image: Instagram: @paulscholesaaa)
Unlike those such as Scholes who backed Kopek Des Bordes for individual success, anyone who included it as part of the widely backed fourfold would be tripped at the second obstacle - pardon the pun.
In the Arkles, Majborough took a narrow lead over L'Eau du Sud, who is coincidentally owned by Scholes' former manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.
The leader then made a huge error over the second-to-last fence, and while staying on all four legs, could not recover as Jango Baie stormed through towards the finishing line.
The Arkles' favourite had been backed in 45 percent of all accumulators placed so far this week at Cheltenham and will have saved bookies millions with his mistake.