WE lost on four of the seven races on Tuesday.

The results speak for themselves. Yes, we got a couple of the shorties beaten but the biggest priced winner all day was 9/1.

We did get off to a winning start by laying Getabird in the Supreme. But we soon gave it all back and more as we stood Footpad for the maximum. At halfway we started to get excited but he ended up winning like a good thing.

The Ultima was a typical Cheltenham handicap chase. It was 5/1 the field and the favorite wins. He was no good to us and neither were the placed horses. It’s not nice when you input the race result into the machine and it says you’ve just done another €4,000.

MASSIVE SWING

If only Melon had got up in the Champion Hurdle. Buveur D’Air only won by a neck and it would have been a massive swing in our favour if it had gone the other way. Melon was heavily backed – it touched 14/1 at one stage and ended up 7/1

Odds-on chances like Footpad and Buveur D’Air bring out the big players who like to lump on these bankers. Before racing we offered a special treble on Getabird, Footpad and Buveur D’Air. We took plenty on that.

I can’t complain about the mares’ race. There was good money for Apple’s Jade – our biggest bet of the day was a £10,000 wager on her – and it was great to get at least one of the odds-on shots beaten. Mind you, there was plenty of each-way support for the winner, Benie Des Dieux.

The four-mile chase was a small winner for us, which was a good result considering it was a Willie Mullins horse, Rathvinden (9/2), which won.

We lost badly on the final race, the novice’ handicap chase. Mister Whitaker (13/2) beat Rather Be (12/1) by a head. Pity for us the second horse didn’t hang on. This was our second worst result of the day, after Footpad.

BETTER OF THINGS

Without doubt, the punters got the better of things on Tuesday. Having said that, turnover was up and ticket numbers were down compared to last year.

We have two pitches – No 3 on the rails and No 22 on the front line.

I’m working just outside the Centaur building and there’s plenty of people coming and going.

We had great racing weather on Tuesday but, as I write this before racing on Wednesday, it’s a lot cooler and a bit blustery. I’d say the ground could dry out a bit today.

Samcro is drifting towards 4/5 on the machine and there is early money for Cause Of Causes in the cross-country and Douvan in the Champion Chase. I have a feeling the bookies will want to lay Altior today.