Bookmakers were saved from their worst day ever when Annie Power tumbled at the last fence during the OLBG Mares' Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.
After Ruby Walsh had ridden Willie Mullens-trained favourites to victory in three of the first four races, a win for Annie Power would have seen many accumulators come through and put a big dent in the bookies' pockets.
However, she jumped too early when way clear at the final hurdle to dash many punters' hopes and allow the bookies to breath a small sigh of relief.
Had she won, it would have seen the bookies reportedly pay out more than £50m.
"We've never known a day like it," PA quotes David Williams of Ladbrokes as saying. "If Annie Power had cleared the last our fate would have been sealed.
"Somehow we've dodged the most expensive bullet in betting history and rather than being the worst day we've known, it's just been a pretty bad day at the office. Nothing more and nothing less."
The bookies didn't escape completely unscathed from the Mares' Hurdle as second-favourite Glens Melody, another Mullins-trained horse, came through in a photo finish at 6/1.
Pascal Lemesre
