A CHELTENHAM Festival punter has put £30,000 on Tony Bloom's horse – as bookies reported a flurry of colossal bets.
The Brighton owner's star chaser Energumene has been backed to defend his Champion Chase crown.
Energumene, who is trained by Willie Mullins, finished third when last seen in the Clarence House Chase last month.
Mullins said his runner's dodgy jumping could have been down to the new white paint put on the trim of the fences.
But the punter is sticking loyal to last year's champ and has put £30,000 on at 13-8.
Should Energumene win the race on Wednesday, March 15, then the punter will scoop £48,750 pure profit.
A warning though, one punter with very deep pockets lost £725,000 backing the same horse in January.
And another bettor, possibly the same person, saw £540,000 winnings go up in smoke when Energumene was collared late on by Shishkin in the 2022 Clarence House.
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Star Sports also reported a £30,000 wager on Mullins' staying sensation Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup.
The seven-year-old famously knuckled on landing in last year's Turners, gifting victory to what looked a well-beaten Bob Olinger.
But he has been untouchable since then with three straight wins and goes into this year's showpiece as strong fav.
The £30,000 on at 6-4 will return £45,000 profit.
Star Sports also reported a £10,000 poke on dual Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle in the Mares' Hurdle.
Connections have opted not to take on Constitution Hill in the big one but have landed themselves in a red-hot renewal.
The £10,000 stake at 9-4 would mean £22,500 profit, but the wondermare faces strong competition from the likes of Brandy Love, Love Envoi, Echoes In Rain and possibly Marie's Rock and Epatante.
Luke Tarr, Head of PR at Star Sports, said: "With less than two weeks to go until the first Cheltenham roar goes up, one punter will certainly be roaring home Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs, as we can report a single bet of £30,000 at 6-4 on Willie's seven-year-old.
"We’ve also laid a £30,000 bet on Energumene at 13-8, as he bids to bounce back from his Clarence House defeat and secure back-to-back Champion Chase wins.
"Honeysuckle is sure to be banker material for many in the Mares’ Hurdle, and we’ve already taken a single bet of £10,000 at 9-4 on Henry de Bromhead’s mare."
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