Gemma Collins Celebrates Major Betting Victory at Cheltenham Festival
Former The Only Way Is Essex star and television personality Gemma Collins secured a substantial win during a dramatic day at the Cheltenham Festival, before lightheartedly revealing her ambitious plans for the prize money. The 45-year-old entertainment figure triumphed on St Patrick's Thursday at the Gloucestershire event, adding a touch of celebrity glamour to the prestigious horse racing meet.
Collins Backs Intuition for Lucrative Four-Figure Payout
Collins placed a bold £500 bet on the horse Meetmebythesea in the second race of the afternoon, which paid out at odds of 9/1. This resulted in a significant £5,000 win for the reality TV star, as the Ben Jones-ridden horse outpaced competitors Gold Dancer and Regent's Stroll over a distance of two miles and four furlongs, claiming prize money of £64,300.
Speaking to ITV Racing after her victory, Collins expressed uncontrollable excitement, stating that her confidence in betting grows with each annual visit to the festival. "It has just ignited a fire in me. Every year I come to Cheltenham Festival I get more confident with the bets. This is why I'd urge anyone to come! Because last year I didn't win... This year, I've won £5,000!" she exclaimed.
She elaborated on her decision, highlighting a strong personal hunch that defied advice from others. "I just had a hunch, everyone was saying no don't do it, but my intuition's telling me different 'this horse is going to win!'. Next thing you know. £5,000!" Collins added with a laugh, "I am going to buy the track!"—a humorous remark about purchasing Cheltenham Racecourse itself.
Shocks and Surprises Dominate Day Three of the Festival
The 9/1 winner was not the only surprise of the afternoon on day three. Jonbon finished second once again, losing out to the Henry de Bromhead-trained Heart Wood. Additionally, the runaway favourite Fact To File was withdrawn less than an hour before the Ryanair Chase Grade One race was scheduled to start.
Trainer Willie Mullins explained his decision to pull the horse, citing concerns over track conditions. "We walked the track and I thought wow, this ground will be too good for her. Talking to JP [McManus], these horses are too difficult to acquire and get... We waited and waited all day for the rain that was half-promised, it hasn't come so we made the decision not to run," he told Racing TV.
Mullins expressed frustration over watering promises, noting that the firm ground was unsuitable for top-tier National Hunt horses. "We were promised watering and I am not sure the watering we were promised was done, so I'm a little bit annoyed at that... This isn't good for the type of horse we are bringing over here," he stated, emphasising the preference for softer conditions in jump racing.
Collins' Role and Festival Highlights
Beyond her betting success, Collins was present at the festival to present the winner of the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, which was claimed by the 33/1 shot Home By The Lee. Her appearance and win added a vibrant, celebrity dimension to the event, drawing attention from both racing enthusiasts and entertainment followers.
The day's events underscored the unpredictable nature of horse racing, where intuition can lead to major payouts and even favourites can be sidelined by last-minute decisions. Collins' jovial claim about buying the track, while clearly in jest, captured the high spirits and excitement that define the Cheltenham Festival experience.
