The only time I have been to Cheltenham was on Gold Cup day about 20 years ago. I was my father-in-law, a keen follower of the Sport of Kings and a former tipster for his local paper. Before the first race, he gave me the name of his favoured nag, which was at 25/1. Unbeknownst to him I put down £20 on the nose. It won and turned the rest of the day into a Guy Ritchie film. We left without any of the winnings…and not many memories of later events.
Anyway, if you can believe Ton Hanks he may be about to blow my best day at the races to pieces. Anyone else win anything against the odds?
Brings back memories of unfortunate non-betting which seems to run like a curse through my family, going back to the 1963 Grand National when my mother urged my dad to put a quid on the 66-1 outsider Ayala on the basis it was her maiden name. Being Irish and having grown up with horses, dad knew best, scoffed and had a lot of apologising to do when Ayala won. I inherited this superior “I know horses” gene when I decided not to back a horse called Belmez in the King George stakes on account of him sweating and frothing at the mouth in saddling enclosure. The bugger won. I have since given up betting.