Cheltenham Festival 2012: Thanks a million – Nicky’s mate is pure Theatre
THERE were wild scenes of celebrations at yesterday’s Cheltenham Festival when one of trainer Nicky Henderson’s stable staff became a millionaire after actor Jimmy Nesbitt’s Riverside Theatre won the final leg of a five-horse accumulator.
The member of Nicky Henderson’s Lambourn stable was anxious to remain anonymous but is believed to have placed a £50 bet at antepost odds back in November. After Riverside Theatre flew past the winning post yesterday, Henderson’s stable staff were caught on camera leaping, hugging and embracing one another.
Henderson has enjoyed staggering success at this week’s Festival, where he holds the record for the most number of winners ever trained at the meeting.
Even Henderson, who targets the meeting for his wealthy owners, did not envisage such success. “I will wake up some time and somebody will tell me it has not all been a dream,” remarked Henderson.
The trainer’s winning spree started with Sprinter Sacre (Racing Post Arkle Chase), Simonsig (Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle), Bobs Worth (RSA Chase), Finian’s Rainbow (Queen Mother Champion Chase) and Riverside Theatre (Ryanair Chase). Henderson also added to his remarkable haul of winners when 40-1 chance Une Artiste won Wednesday’s Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle.
I will wake up some time and somebody will tell me it has not all been a dream
Bookmakers trade on publicity when punters have a life-changing win but yesterday, bet365, the bookmaker who is thought to have taken the bet, were reluctant to offer any details of the successful punter.
Spokesman Pat Cooney said: “It was a horrible day for us as bookmakers, we lost on every single race.”‘