Star trainer’s festival chances look rosier after successful day at the Irish course.
A trio of winners for Willie Mullins at Gowran Park have triggered a rush on the Cheltenham betting markets.
Invitation Only staked a claim for the Gold Cup with a battling win with Ruby Walsh aboard in the Thyestes Handicap Chase, causing his odds to tumble from 66/1 to 20/1.
In the following race, Cilaos Emery made it a double for Mullins and Walsh. Unraced since December 2017 before making his reappearance at Gowran Park, the seven-year-old streaked clear under Walsh to win on his chasing debut.
That victory caused an outbreak of betting on the Cheltenham Arkle Chase market as bookies slashed odds from 16/1 as far as 7/1. Attracting a massive 94% of bets on that market since the win, punters are heavily backing the chaser for Cheltenham success.
Blue Sari capped off a triumphant treble for the Irish trainer, winning impressively in the final race on the card. He’s priced at 8/1 for the Champion Bumper, accruing a massive 87% of bets on the market since his win.
Earlier in the day Mullins saw two of his runners manage to finish in the places, with Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy holding off the challenge of Bapaume and Killultagh Vic.
Oddschecker spokesperson George Elek: “We’ve had to wait a while for the Mullins-Walsh partnership to come good this season, but today could mark a turning point in the Cheltenham betting markets.
“The results at Gowran Park will go a long way towards silencing suggestions that Willie Mullins’ stable is out of form.”
