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Ladbrokes has laid Fairyhouse winner Fiveforthree to lose a quarter of million pounds at the Cheltenham Festival - in just over an hour.
The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old was backed off the boards for the Supreme Novices Hurdle next month within minutes of his win in the maiden race. And the bookies have been rocked by the size of the gamble.
David Williams of Ladbrokes said: "We didn't see it coming but punters have gone berserk for Fiveforthree. We went 25/1 straight away, then had to go 20/1. The money kept coming and we've gone 16/1 but that price is now under pressure too.
"All of a sudden we've laid it to lose a quarter of a million quid and we're still catching our breath. If he takes the opening race of the Festival, we might as well pack up and go home.
"This looks to be the first of the Festival mega-gambles and we feel a bit dazed!"