Weekend Review: Punters pleased as punch as fans flock to stadia for first time since March

Punters rejoiced this weekend as Premier League and horseracing favourites sealed success against the bookies as fans returned to stadia in Tiers 1 and 2.

Wins for Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool secured a weekend of freedom from accumulator anxiety for bettors as layers lamented their luck.

Now THAT's how you turn a game around 🔥#MUFC @MasonGreenwood pic.twitter.com/5w8HS4XHip

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 6, 2020

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill told EGR: “All in all a week for the punters in the Premier League. The big games on Saturday went their way, as Chelsea’s well backed BTTS win over Leeds and Manchester United’s win over West Ham went against us.

“Sunday was much of the same as a very well-backed Tottenham beat Arsenal and Liverpool put four past Wolves in punters’ favour,” he added.

William Hill’s Rupert Adams also painted a desperate picture of the bookmaker’s coffers.

Adams said: “On Saturday, eight out of the top 10 sports landed for customers. Only Cadiz helped us out by beating Barcelona at home. Manchester United’s second-half comeback was unsurprisingly a heavy loss.

“Juventus and Chelsea both winning after going a goal behind also provided sizeable losses,” he added.

Adams went on to detail how a Hills special offer on Sunday left punters giddy with excitement.

In Tottenham’s 2-0 victory over North London rivals Arsenal, the bookmaker unveiled the 60/1 ‘Kane To Assist A Son Goal, Son To Assist A Kane Goal’ special, which duly came to fruition in N17.

The Son and Kane show 😍pic.twitter.com/6ENMk9QgOU

— GOAL (@goal) December 7, 2020

The telepathic connection between the pair resulted in a six-figure payout for one customer.

Elsewhere, in horseracing, Politologue led from the front and galloped to victory the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park as spectators returned following the easing of coronavirus restrictions.

Ridden by Harry Skelton, the nine-year-old 11/8 favourite finished seven lengths ahead of stablemate Greaneteen after the well-fancied Altior was withdrawn by trainer Nicky Henderson due to the soft conditions.

A perfect afternoon for Harry Skelton

Politologue wins the Grade 1 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase 🏆 pic.twitter.com/gzDISPGM35

— Racing Post (@RacingPost) December 5, 2020

Betfred’s Alan Firkins said: “Politologue secured another Tingle Creek – and will attempt to retain his two-mile crown in March at Prestbury Park. There was certainly more than a whiff of the Cheltenham Festival in the air at the Esher track.”

Gill added: “At Sandown, in the absence of Altior, Politologue went off a well supported 11/8 favourite in the Tingle Creek and duly did the business, with punters again benefiting there.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s highly competitive Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in Ireland was won for the third consecutive year by Min, winner of the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last March.

However, armchair fans who backed the 13/8 favourite were left to sweat as thick fog and a break-up in ITV Racing pictures made it practically impossible to watch the action unfold, hence why in-play liquidity on the Betfair Exchange almost dried up entirely.

Willie Mullins-trained Min eventually emerged from the pea souper to cross the line ahead of Tornado Flyer, although the meeting was then abandoned due to poor visibility.