Energumene, owned by Brighton and Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom, has won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham again today (Wednesday 15 March).
😏 “I had a few quid on”
It’s been a great day for Tony Bloom#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/IQOpg5iXj8
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 15, 2023
Mr Bloom told ITV that he had “a few quid” on the race, with the channel reporting before the race that a punter had placed a £400,000 bet on the horse to win.
According to The Sun, Mr Bloom placed the £400,000 bet and won £980,000, including his stake. In addition, he picked up £225,000 prize money for winning the race, netting a profit of more than £800,000.
The 32-year-old Irish jockey Paul Townend rode Energumene to victory for the second year in a row, with the horse trained by Willie Mullins.
Mr Bloom said that the rain today had worked in his horse’s favour as he won by a clear 10 lengths.
He said: “We were really confident going in. He’s run a tremendous race. He looked the top horse all the way around so we were delighted, absolutely delighted.
“I had a few quid on, so I think we’re quids in. We were confident anyway but obviously the rain helps the horse.
“If it had been good ground, we would have been a lot less confident. The rain in the last couple of hours has been a big boon.”
When presenter Ed Chamberlain asked the Seagulls owner if he was going to the match at the Amex tonight, Mr Bloom said that he was. Last year, he missed the first 20 minutes after dashing back from Cheltenham.
Albion are in good form, he said, and were unlucky not to beat Crystal Palace when the two sides met at Selhurst Park last month.
Mr Bloom said: “I’m going to the game tonight. It’s a huge rivalry. We’re in good form. Hopefully, we don’t get any VAR decisions against us tonight.”
Albion host Crystal Palace in the Premier League at the Amex this evening with the match due to kick off at 7.30pm.
