Cheltenham Festival got underway on Tuesday afternoon as horse racing fans and punters alike flooded bookmakers for a flutter, but video shared on social media shows one establishment descending into chaos with fists flying
Video footage of fighting inside a bookmakers has been shared online(Image: X)
Punters descended into chaos at Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday afternoon, as a viral video on social media shows blows being traded inside a bookmaker’s. As the 3.20pm Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase took place, scenes turned particularly fiery inside one betting establishment.
Footage which has been shared almost 300 times on X shows a brawl breaking out between a number of people, as others do their best to break up the skirmish. Mirror Racing has reached out to the Jockey Club for a response on the incident.
(Image: X)
(Image: X)
Johnnywho ultimately ran out victorious in the race taking place at the time, with Richie McLernon riding Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s horse to glory over 3m1f. Jagwar – a 3/1 favourite – was second past the post, while Quebecois finished third.
Speaking after the win, McLernon said: “I travelled nicely through the race, thought the ground was a little quick. Everything just unfolded for me; jumped when I needed him to and he answered every call. So absolutely thrilled.”
AJ O’Neill added: “Absolutely fantastic. Richie gave him a great ride and he was in the right place all the time. Just great to see it all work out.”
Meanwhile, Jonjo O’Neill said: “Richie, he’s done a great job for us since the day he came really. He’s a great rider, he’s a great judge and a lovely fella to be around. What more do you want?
“There’s a few good horses for him to ride and everybody’s happy.”
It comes as William Hill were stung hard during the first race of the Cheltenham Festival, when Nick Henderson’s Old Park Star emerged victorious in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 1.20pm.
Nico de Boinville rode the horse as a 15/8 favourite, in a field jam-packed with highly-touted young jumpers including Talk The Talk, Mighty Park, Sober Glory and Mydaddypaddy. And as a result of a number of punters backing the six-year-old Bay Gelding, William Hill were forced to pay out more than £1million in race winnings.
Spokesperson Lee Phelps said: “Old Park Star was roared home by Cheltenham punters, and we’ve been hit for six by the result. He was a very well-backed favourite, and with our Epic Boost paying EVS for any favourite to win on Day One of the Festival.
“This has been a shocking result. In total, Old Park Star’s win has cost us north of 1 million, and we’re already well on the back foot this week.”
Henderson, who won the race for a sixth time, received an ovation from those gathered around the winner’s enclosure, and said: “We’ve been here a long time, so we’ve got to know each other! This is a race that’s been kind to us over the years.
“It’s always a good race and the best novice hurdlers are all coming out to play. On a day we’ve said goodbye to Constitution Hill (over jumps), it’s nice to come straight in and a bring on a new one we hope could be a star.
“These young horses keep you going and I’m not going anywhere unless they want to pension us off! The first race on the first day is the best one you can get and England are one up (over Ireland)!
“I don’t know if we’ll be saying that on Friday night, but we’ll keep trying.”
