Punters were left frozen, soaked and broke as favourite after favourite was beaten at a wet and cold Cheltenham Festival yesterday.
It was a day for the bookies as fancied horses such as Mighty Potter, Shishkin, Teahupoo and Luccia were all beaten in their respective races at Prestbury Park.
Sire Du Berlais became one of JP McManus' biggest-priced winners in the history of the Festival as the owner recorded his 71st success at the meeting with the 33/1 outsider in the Stayers' Hurdle, the feature race yesterday.
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But the businessman, who has landed numerous Cheltenham gambles over the years, didn't get involved this time.
He said: “I’ve not had too many 33-1 winners old but old Creon (2004 Pertemps Final 50-1) won at a big price and Kadoun (2006 Pertemps Final 50-1) but this one I’m afraid went unbacked but still we will just enjoy it just the same. You better ask somebody else why he is so good around Cheltenham. Gordon (Elliott, trainer) has done some job on him."
Sire Du Berlais' victory came some 40 minutes after Rachael Blackmore won the Ryanair Chase on Envoi Allen (13/2) to give Henry de Bromhead another Grade 1 win at Cheltenham.
But the Jack de Bromhead Mares' Novices' Hurdle, a race named in memory of the trainer's son by sponsors Ryanair, was the contest the Waterford handler would have loved to have won.
And he very nearly did as his one of his five runners, Magical Zoe, finished second behind You Wear It Well.
But Jack's mother Heather said Jack never did cliches and that's why the horse didn't win. The couple were joined at the races yesterday by Jack's friends, who regularly come and stay with the de Bromhead family.
She stated: "It was a wonderful result for Jamie [Snowden, trainer]. What else can I say, an emotional day, all his beautiful friends came to support him and the girls. It’s huge.
"I was just laughing saying Jack gave us the Grade One today, but I think it would have been a terrible cliché if we won this race, he doesn’t do clichés. It was an epic day and wonderful for them to experience Cheltenham and this amazing amphitheatre. Just a big thank you to Michael and Anita.
"Tuesday was really beautiful. We got a beautiful rainbow and we got a rainbow at home. That always gives me great comfort that he’s really with us, a parallel universe, but he is with us.
"They’ve [family] had a blast today, as you can see. They’re having a great time, all Jack’s friends have come. They come stay with us every two or three weeks, they loved him much the bond is still there. We live vicariously through them."
Blackmore posed alongside de Bromhead's daughters Mia, Jack's twin, and Georgia after her win on Envoi Allen and praised Michael O'Leary for naming it in memory of Jack. The Ryanair boss sponsored both the race Blackmore won and the one run in Jack's name.
She said: “Ryanair are so kind to name their mares’ novices hurdle after Jack [de Bromhead], such a kind gesture by them, so it is great to be able to win their race today.
The jockey added: "It’s a great team effort down there in Knockeen and it’s been a tough year for everyone, but everyone in the yard is a properly good grafter and it’s great to be associated with them."
There were more joyous scenes earlier in the afternoon after Good Time Jonny landed the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle for Meath trainer Tony Martin and 27-year-old Tyrone jockey Liam McKenna.
Good Time Jonny is owned by Meath locals Donal Gavigan, Niall Reilly and Westmeath man Aidan Shiels, who are all based in New York, and they all flew over from the States to watch their horse win - just as they did when Benefficient carried their colours to victory at the 2013 Festival.
Reilly from Julianstown said: "We’re living in America long time we're all good friends – I went over in the late 80s Charlie went over in 2000.
"To be honest, we come from nothing. I remember when Cheltenham used to be on when I was in school back in Julianstown I’d write a line of bets for me mother, 10p each way and here we are living the dream with a winner in Cheltenham – forget about it.
"This is where you want to do it.
The victory for Tyrone jockey McKenna, 27, was all the sweeter given the injuries he has overcome in the past year.
He broke his collarbone in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse last Easter Monday before winning the Galway Hurdle in what his first ride since the injury, but then broke his cheekbone in Listowel last September.
McKenna admitted it was much tougher mentally than physically to get through the injuries, saying: "Physically it's fine. There's not much physical pain to it. It's the mental pain of watching horses run that you could be riding and winning on obviously.
"You're focussing on getting back and you're not thinking too much of anything else. I'm used to coming back from injuries. When you're not on the horses is the only hard thing."
Later in the day, Seddon (20/1) won the Magners Plate Handicap Chase for Meath trainer John McConnell and Naul jockey Ben Harvey, giving both of them their first Festival success.
The results swung the week in the bookies favour, with Nicola McGeady from Ladbrokes saying: “We just about got our nose in front today thanks to bankers Mighty Potter and Shishkin getting turned over.
"Today sees the biggest betting race of the year bar the Grand National take centre stage and we will be praying for a shock result to save our skin."
Meanwhile, Paddy Power make it 5/2 that Irish trainers will win every race at the Festival today.
But the betting firm rubbed salt into the English wounds when they revealed that the odds of Ireland winning every single race on St Patrick’s Day and the rugby team clinching the Grand Slam on Saturday are just 11/4.
Rachael Kane, a spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: "Nobody likes a bad winner but when it's over the auld enemy I'm sure our fellow countrymen and women will make an exception.
"It's certainly gone the way of the Irish to date at the festival and the odds would suggest that the Grand Finalé of an incredible week for Irish sport will see us clinch the slam in the Aviva."
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