Ruby Tuesday bashes the bookies

Ruby Walsh was the star of the show on day one of Cheltenham 2011. Here's a rundown on how it helped the punters to win the opening round.

All times GMT:

1815: Ladbrokes claim Ruby Walsh's treble helped punters land the spoils on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival - although William Hill and Sky Bet suggest it was honours even.

David Williams of Ladbrokes said: "Ruby looked bruised when he arrived but he's left the bookies battered. Ruby Tuesday was a nightmare for us. We'll be happy to leave day one behind us.

"We're battening down the hatches with Walsh. When punters wake up and make their selections he's going to be on every shortlist in the Cotswolds."

But William Hill spokeswoman Kate Miller said: "It was an epic start, but the dream was short lived! Captain Chris and Al Ferof fought the Bookies' corner, but Hurricane Fly, Bensalem and Quevega landed a couple stinging blows to the chin.

"We were saved in the last round with Definity's defeat as a Ruby four-timer would have landed a killer blow."

Sky Bet's Andy Twitchen said: "A Ruby Walsh treble made it very tough for the layers, overall it was fairly level but the spoils just went to the punters after day one.

"The bookies can thank the Cross Country race for saving what otherwise may have been a small disaster especially with Maljimar trading 1.53 in running.

"The jockey's title race looks all over and we will be hoping for better luck tomorrow with the Champion Chase taking centre stage."

1730: Ruby Walsh failed to get his fourth winner on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival as he finished fifth on board Definity, the pre-race favourite, in the Centenary Novices Handicap Chase.

Divers (10/1) claimed victory ahead of Quantitativeeasing (7/1) while Tullamore Dew (13/2) was third and Vino Griego (20/1) fourth.

Divers was backed at a high of 21 in-running on Betfair while Quantitativeeasing traded at a low of 1.67.

1710: The Centenary Novices Handicap Chase is the final race at Cheltenham today and the popular Definity will go off favourite at a best of 3/1 under Ruby Walsh.

Tullamore Dew (7/1) could be the only horse capable of stopping Walsh claiming his fourth winner today while Quantitativeeasing and Drivers are both 12/1.

1655: Ruby Walsh has bagged a third winner of the day with victory on board 5/6 favourite Quevega in the David Nicholson Mares' Race.

Quevega traded at a high of 2.26 in Betfair's in-running but the lowest price matched on any other horse was 3.25 on Sparky May (4/1), who finished second. Ocean Transit (50/1) was third.

1625: Quevega is regarded a pretty safe bet at a general price of 10/11 to win the David Nicholson Mares' Race.

Sparky May could be a threat at a best of 4/1 while Laccordioniste (10/1) and Banjaxed Girl (12/1) are next in the running.

1620: Sizing Australia took the honours in the Cross Country Chase having been sent off at a starting price of 13/2 while Garde Champetre (5/1) finished second with A New Story (12/1) in third.

Whereas Sizing Australia was backed at 18 in-running with Betfair, the pre-race favourite Maljimar traded at 1.54 and Garde Champetre touched 2.36.

1600: Stan James were left cursing the result of the Champion Hurdle as Hurricane Fly and Peddlers Cross were by far and away the two worst results in their book.

The firm's spokesman Garry McGibbon said: "To make matters worse we've had to give away a shed load of free bets as a consequence of Hurricane Fly winning.

"We ran a Free Bet Giveaway last autumn saying we'd giveaway free bets if Binocular won the Champion Hurdle, but because Binocular never ran we replaced him - as a goodwill gesture to all customers who took part in the offer - with Hurricane Fly.

"Add that to the fact we refunded all ante-post stakes on Binocular, it's turned out to be a very costly way to mark our first sponsorship of the Stan James Champion Hurdle!"

1545: As the celebrations continue for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh following Hurricane Fly's victory moments ago, our attention must now turn to the Cross Country Chase.

Maljimar has been subject of support today and has been backed into 9/2 with a number of firms although Sky Bet, Coral and Paddy Power are among those who offer 5/1.

Garde Champetre is out to 6/1 with VC Bet, Coral and bet365 while other contenders include Sizing Australia (8/1 bet365, Hills) and Lami (10/1 VC Bet).

1535: Hurricane Fly justified the hype - and gave the punters something to cheer - with a thrilling victory under Ruby Walsh in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Willie Mullins' seven-year-old went off at 11/4 favourite and had to survive a strong challenge from Peddlers Cross (9/2) to come out on top while Oscar Whisky (7/1) finished third.

Hurricane Fly had been backed at an ante-post high of 17 on Betfair, who report that Peddlers Cross traded in running at 2.04.

1505: Next up it's the Champion Hurdle, for which Hurricane Fly looks set to go off clear favourite.

Willie Mullins' seven-year-old is a widely available at 3/1 while Menorah has drifted out slightly to a best of 4/1.

Peddlers Cross was vying for favouritism with a selection of firms earlier in the day but is now as big as 5/1 with Coral.

Oscar Whiskey (8/1 general) and Dunguib (10/1 Coral) are other serious contenders to keep an eye on.

1450: Although pre-race favourite Sunnyhillboy fell early on, Bensalem ran out a popular winner in a thrilling Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase at starting odds of 5/1.

Carole's Legacy (9/1) was a close second while Reve De Sivola (9/1) came third with Fair Along (25/1) back in fourth.

Carole's Legacy and Great Endeavour were trading in-running at 1.5 and 2.04 on Betfair while some lucky punters had previously backed Bensalem at an ante-post high of 18.

1430: Now let's look ahead to the next race - the Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase.

Sunnyhillboy is favourite across the board with a number of firms offering a best of 5/1 while Bensalem and Great Endeavour are next in the running at 13/2 (general) and 7/1 (Blue Square) respectively.

1420: Captain Chris was backed at an ante-post high of 40 on Betfair and went off at 7.27 before trading in-running at a best of 12.

Also during the race, Finians Rainbow was backed at 1.5 before being eclipsed by Captain Chris on the final stretch.

1415: The bookies are probably punching the air as we speak after another pre-race favourite fails to shine on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

Medermit went off at 11/4 for the Arkle but could only finish fourth while Captain Chris took the honours at 6/1 ahead of Finian's Rainbow (7/2) and Realt Dubh (17/2).

1350: Looking ahead to the Arkle Chase, Medermit is favourite at a best of 3/1 with a number of bookies.

Ghizao is next in the running at a general price of 4/1 while Finians Rainbow (5/1), Captain Chris (8/1) and Realt Dubh (9/1) other notable contenders.

1345: Cue Card traded at evens on Betfair during the race while Spirit Son and Sprinter Sacre were matched in-running at 1.23 and 1.3 respectively.

Al Ferof, who went off at 11.15, had previously been backed at a high of 220 in Betfair's ante-post markets.

1335: Pre-race favourite Cue Card can only finish fourth in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle as Al Ferof claims a shock victory at 10/1.

The bookies will no doubt be pleased with that result and we'll bring you their reaction/gloating shortly.

1255: We have an opening show on the first race - the Supreme Novices' Hurdle - and Cue Card is the 9/4 favourite.

Spirit Son is 11/2 and then it is 10/1 bar.

1245: Looking ahead to the Champion Hurdle, Sky Bet have taken some big bets on Peddlers Cross, who is 4/1 for victory.Hurricane Fly and Menorah are the firm's joint favourites at 7/2 in what promises to be a thrilling race. Sky Bet spokesman Andrew Twitchen said: "We didn't expect Peddlers Cross to be our biggest loser but that is the case at the moment with the 4/1 being taken to some hefty sums."

1230: Sky Bet have reported money for Spirit Son (5/1) and Marsh Warbler (22/1) for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle although Zaidpour has drifted out to 12/1 from 10s.

The firm's spokesman Andrew Twitchen says: "The two for money with us are Spirit Son at 5/1 who does look a very exciting prospect but our biggest loser at the moment is surprisingly Marsh Warbler after a couple of very lumpy bets - he is a horse we are happy to lay however with the ground looking plenty fast enough.

"Zaidpour is very weak and is out to 12/1 from 10/1, again possibly down to the prevailing underfoot conditions and the fact Ruby Walsh has deserted the Willie Mullins star."

1210: Stan James reported hefty support for Cue Card during their Happy Hour when they offered best industry price on the horse in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

"We've taken a £20k win bet on Cue Card at odds of 3/1, but we still maintain the horse won't win," said Stan James spokesman Garry McGibbon.

Magen's Star has been slashed to 14/1 from 20/1 in the Supreme while La Vecchia Scuola has also been backed heavily each-way in the David Nicholson Mares' Race against the red-hot favourite Quevega. She's now 16/1 from 22/1.

1200: Another rapid change in the Champion Hurdle with Hurricane Fly now into 7/2 clear favourite with Paddy Power, Stan James and totesport.

1150: Peddlers Cross has joined Hurricane Fly and Menorah at the head of Stan James' betting for today's Champion Hurdle and the trio can all be backed at 4/1.

The best price about Peddlers Cross is now 9/2 with Paddy Power, bet365 and Ladbrokes but Stan James were forced to trim their odds following a £10k each-way bet.

Khyber Kim has also proved popular and is now 11/1 from 14/1, although Hills and bet365 dangle 12/1.

"We've taken a £10k each-way bet at 9/2 on Peddlers Cross this morning, so we don't want that horse to win as we've already laid it for bundles ante-post," said Stan James spokesman Garry McGibbon.

"However we've also seen plenty of shrewd money for the forgotten horse in the Champion Hurdle, Khyber Kim, so we've had to cut his price to 11/1 from 14/1."

1115: Stan James promised to go best-industry price on Cue Card for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle during their Happy Hour until 1200 GMT - and they've stayed true to their word by going 3/1 about Colin Tizzard's favourite.

They also go 11/2 for Spirit Son and 10/1 about both Al Ferof and Recession Proof.

1100: We haven't yet mentioned today's Arkle Chase - but we will now because Medermit has been trimmed to 3/1 from 7/2 with William Hill following early support.

Alan King's grey has run well twice over hurdles at The Festival in previous years and is regarded favourite ahead of Ghizao, who can be widely backed at 4/1.

Finian's Rainbow is best of 5/1 with bookies including Coral, Hills, Ladbrokes and VC Bet while Captain Chris is generally available at 8/1.

Elswhere Maljimar has been cut to 5/1 from 6/1 in the Cross Country Chase with Hills but Quevega - anticipated to be one of the meeting's bankers in the David Nicholson Mares' Race is attracting only tepid support with the same firm at 6/5.

1045: We mentioned earlier that a small selection of bookies had offered Cue Card at 3/1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle before being forced to cut the price after a barrage of punter support.

William Hill, also paying out on four places in the opening race, was one such firm having made the 3/1 available from 0800GMT this morning but they quickly racked-up a £1million liability on the Tizzard favourite.

Hills spokeswoman Kate Miller said: "Our heads are on the block very early doors as it seems Cue Card could be our biggest single liability of the Festival. It has been a bun fight of people trying to get on, and it'll be off to the gallows after the first if he obliges for backers."

1030: The opening race today is of course the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and any firm that had been generous enough to offer 3/1 on favourite Cue Card have now been forced to back down.

The best price now available on Colin Tizzard's highly-fancied five-year-old is 5/2 with a number of firms including William Hill, Sky Bet, bet365, Stan James and VC Bet while second favourite Spirit Son is a general place of 11/2 although Coral had previously offered 6/1.

Al Ferof is a best of 10/1 with Stan James while Sprinter Sacre (10/1 general) Recession Proof (11/1 Coral) and Zaidour (11/1 bodog) are next in the running.

Stan James are guaranteeing to go best-industry price on Cue Card during their Happy Hour between 1100 and 1200 so look out for that.

The firm's spokesman Garry McGibbon said: "Our Happy Hour is always very popular, maybe because it's a straightforward case of punter vs bookie.

"Today we're taking a strong view on Cue Card because we don't think he'll win. Anybody who disagrees with us will get best industry price on Cue Card between 11-12."

Meanwhile Sky Bet and William Hill are among those paying four places instead of three on this race.

1000: The first thing to report in terms of market moves on day one of the Cheltenham Festival is that Hurricane Fly has attracted a £75,000 bet with Victor Chandler at 4-1 for the Champion Hurdle at 1520GMT.

He has now been trimmed to 7/2.

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