Manchester United legend Paul Scholes hit the jackpot after he backed the winner in the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival on day one of the prestigious meeting
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Paul Scholes runs his hands together
Paul Scholes won a hefty sum at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday
(Image: The Overlap/YouTube)
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has emerged victorious at the Cheltenham Festival having backed the winner in the meeting's opening race.
The ex-Red Devils midfielder shared a snapshot of his betting slip on Instagram. His post came prior to the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle, where he revealed his choice to back Willie Mullins' top contender, Kopek Des Bordes, with a hefty £2,500 wager.
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The former United man's faith was not misplaced as the French-bred entrant, guided by jockey Paul Townend, staved off a strong challenge from William Munny to clinch the Festival's first race and net Scholes a tidy £5,000. Kopek Des Bordes, the 4-6 favourite, maintained an impressive performance throughout, providing both the formidable Mullins stable and Scholes with an ideal start to the Festival.
Despite a near mishap at the final hurdle, Townend had sufficient reserves to ward off the competition and secure the prize, potentially setting the stage for a disastrous day for the bookies. However, the defeat of stablemate Majborough in the Arkle spared them from a potential multi-million-pound payout, particularly after Lossiemouth triumphed in the Mares' Hurdle.
Apart from the final hurdle hiccup, there was never a moment of uncertainty for those who had chosen to back Kopek Des Bordes. He effortlessly overtook Romeo Coolio between the penultimate and final hurdles, setting himself up for a clear sprint to the finish line.
Paul Scholes screenshots his winning betting slip on Instagram
Paul Scholes screenshots his winning betting slip on Instagram
Scholes' passion for horse racing is no secret. The 50-year-old co-owned a horse named Box to Box alongside fellow ex-England stars Michael Owen, Steve McManaman, and Owen Hargreaves, reports the Mirror.
In 2020, he was seen enjoying the company of former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and old team-mate Nicky Butt during the last day of Chester's May Festival. Expanding on his affection for the races after a trip to Newmarket to see his horse compete in the July Course Race in 2022, Scholes said: "It is great being back involved with the sport as it gives you a real thrill when they run obviously."
Paul Townend salutes Kopek Des Bordes' victory
Paul Townend salutes Kopek Des Bordes' victory
Tuesday afternoon surely provided Scholes with an adrenaline rush as he watched his horse claim victory. As the horse crossed the finish line, jockey Townend gestured towards the armband that the riders adorned in homage to O'Sullivan, a previous winner of the race in 2023, who tragically died last month at the age of just 24 due to a fall.
Post-race, Townend said: "It's the perfect start. We got into a lovely position, I was in front sooner than I wanted to be with a good jump at the second last. I thought Jack [Kennedy on Romeo Coolio] would bring me a little further because he's relatively inexperienced and had a look at the stands."
Kopek Des Bordes, owned by Charlie McCarthy and his four sons through Monabeg Investments Ltd, saw a heartfelt dedication from McCarthy after clinching victory. He said: "It's unreal. It's a wonderful day for me because the race is named after Michael O'Sullivan, he lived about 20 kilometres from me and I'll donate this to the O'Sullivan family, because he was a wonderful jockey."