Cheltenham Festival gambler loses £500,000 on Douvan as favourite flops in the Champion Chase
After winning £400,000 from Altior's win on Tuesday, the un-named punter lost all of his winnings the following day
DOUVAN was an overwhelming backed to win the Champion Chase at Cheltenham but the 2-9 favourite surprisingly let down punters.
But one gambler in particular was let down by the horse trained by Willie Mullins after losing a staggering £500,000 on the seven-year-old.
Ruby Walsh managed a seventh-placed finish with Douvan, as Special Tiara (11-1) stormed to victory in the fourth race on Ladies Day.
What made Douvan such a strong favourite was the fact he had won 14 races on the spin before the Champion Chase in Gloucesteshire.
And one punter was clearly confident the horse would make it 15 successive wins after reportedly placing a £500,000 bet.
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It is believed the losing punter used their £400,000 worth of winnings from Altior's victory on the Arkle Chase on Douvan.
When the un-named person placed a bet on Douvan, the odds were just 1-5 - meaning he would have won just £100,000.
Douvan, who is French bred, but Irish trained, struggled as Noel Fehily rode Special Tiara to victory and the winning rider could not believe their shock victory.
Fehily said: “Unbelievable. He’s such a great ride, he’s everything a two-mile chaser should be. He’s a very good horse.
“I didn’t I could (beat Douvan), but I thought I had a great chance of being second. I got over the last and was surprised something hadn’t come to me, but I knew he wasn’t stopping.
“He has one way of running and that’s flat to the mat and jump – I just let him get on with it.
“I’ve always loved two-mile chasers, the Champion Chase is the one you want to win. To win it is fantastic.”