Annie Power fall saves bookmakers from huge Cheltenham payout

Bookmakers were saved from an extraordinary payout by Annie Power's dramatic fall in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

County Carlow handler Willie Mullins was responsible for four of the first five favourites on Champions Day and the quartet were the mainstay of numerous accumulators.

The four-fold punt was still on when Mullins trio Douvan, Un De Sceaux and Faugheen held up their end of the bargain by winning the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy and Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy respectively.

And punters looked certain to cash-in when Annie Power led the OLBG Mares' Hurdle heading into the last fence, but she dramatically fell at the final flight to spare the bookies.

Sky Bet estimate that the fall served as a swing worth over £25m to bookmakers.

Annie Power, who immediately rose to her feet after the fall, was the shortest-priced ride of the day at 4/7 and the mishap left bookmakers relieved if not rejoicing.

Sky Bet’s Horse Racing PR Manager Michael Shinners said: "Annie Power was the single biggest swing in Sky Bet's horse racing history. If she had jumped the last she would surely have won and in turn cost us a small fortune. 

“Despite the loss of Annie Power results were very much in the punters' favour and they go into day two very much on the front foot."

By the end of the day, Sky Bet had Faugheen at 5/4 for a repeat Champion Hurdle win in 2016 and Douvan at 8s in the same race.

And Un De Sceaux was handed a quote of 2/1 for next year's Champion Chase.

The Champion Chase is the highlight of Wednesday's action at Cheltenham, while Sky Bet's headline offer see them offering money back (as a free bet) if your horse finishes second or third in the opening race, the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.