A Shannon punter is over half a million euro richer after Henry de Bromhead’s Gold Cup victory on Friday afternoon.
Having placed a fourfold accumulator at one of Paddy Power’s Shannon branches in December, the Clare punter saw his €20 stake return a sum of €578,340 in what has been hailed as a “life-changing” bet.
He backed Honeysuckle for the Champion Hurdle at 16/1, Bob Olinger in the Ballymore at 20/1, Put The Kettle On in the Champion Chase at 8/1 and Minella Indo in the Cheltenham Gold Cup at 8/1. After victories on each of the opening three days, the punter was celebrating a massive pay day today as Waterford man de Bromhead’s Minella Indo stormed to Gold Cup victory.
“There will be a socially distanced celebration somewhere in Shannon tonight courtesy of an incredible bet placed more than three months ago,” a spokesperson for Paddy Power remarked.
Dingle’s Jack Kennedy said that riding the winner of the Gold Cup of Cheltenham was a dream of his since becoming a child. The success of Minella Indo was the biggest of his career to date and follows major setbacks from injury which included four broken legs and multiple breaks to his collarbones and shoulders.
One Ennis business was among those to play a part in the success. Kennedy recently visited the CryoTherapy Clinic as part of his preparation for the festival. Proprietor Brian Enright labelled the Kerry man as “our Gold Cup champion” and noted that Kennedy does “what’s necessary to win, always”.
Although A Plus Tard was runner-up for jockey Rachael Blackmore, the Killenaule woman became only the second ever jockey to ride six winners at a Cheltenham festival. Her exploits were rewarded as she received the Ruby Walsh Trophy which is awarded to the top jockey at the prestigious festival and became the first woman to accept the accolade.
