Tuesday

The day started off well, we were happy to get Facile Vega beaten. Marine Nationale went off a 9/2 - 5/1 shot. There was some money for him but we filled our boots on Facile Vega and got off to a winning start. El Fabiolo winning the Arkle was a bad result for us. He was backed into as short as 11/10.

All we could do in the Champion Hurdle was admire the winner. It was a warm moment to see Honeysuckle win the Mares’ Hurdle. I thought Honeysuckle had gone past her best, I was looking to get her beaten.

That was very much a losing race for us. It was a great result for racing and fantastic to witness. No matter what happened in the last two, I was well behind after the mares’ race.

Wednesday

We were down but not out going into the second day. Hermes Allen would have been my worst result in the Ballymore. The money was there for Impaire Et Passe as well though and it was a slightly losing race for us.

The Real Whacker was a decent result for us. Then Langer Dan was a 9/1 winner in a race that went 5/1 the field, not much good to us. In the Champion Chase, it felt like the whole place was on Energumene and he duly obliged at 5/4. Delta Work going in the Cross Country as well as the Gleesons in the bumper capped off a tough opening two days for us.

Thursday

The tide turned on Thursday. Stage Star beating Mighty Potter in the first race was the best result of the week for us. We laid a number of massive bets on him and it kicked off a very profitable day. In the next, I didn’t see an awful lot of money for Good Time Jonny thankfully. Envoi Allen was a good result in the Ryanair as we got Shishkin beaten. There was some money floating for Sire Du Berlais in the Stayers. I think there was ante-post money for him as well. Still, a 33/1 shot winning was a great result for me.

All winning races in the final three contests meant that we were back on top after day three. It was a fantastic day for myself and my fellow bookies.

Friday

Friday get off to a bit of a shaky start, certainly Lossiemouth was well supported. 11/8 from 7/4. But we certainly recuperated in the next with 33/1 shot Favoir winning. Another good result in the Albert Bartlett, 20/1 shot Stay Away Faye winning there. I fancied Galopin Des Champs all year for this, but there wasn’t a lot I could do, had to give him a favourite at 6/4. All the clients and shrewd punters were on him. I didn’t go to war with him, but it still cost me. A couple of more decent results after the Gold Cup though and we were happy with our takings for Friday. Overall, we came out at the end of the week making money thanks to a very profitable Thursday and a solid last day.

Ray Mulvaney on...

The reported drop in attendance levels

It wasn’t really noticeable in the turnover. My turnover held up reasonably well. You could notice it just being in and around the place. It was certainly easier to walk around, particularly on the Wednesday and Thursday than it has been in previous years.

Changing times for Irish bookies going to Cheltenham

There is certainly a lot of red tape for bookies to get in over there as an Irish citizen. That’s probably the case with everything to do with the UK since Brexit. We just have to get over and get on with it. I’m going over now about 27 years or more. You build up your reputation with fellow bookies and punters. It is a great venue, great atmosphere and it’s very enjoyable.