Brighton owner and punter Tony Bloom was celebrating early ahead of his team’s M23 derby match against Crystal Palace on Wednesday when his horse Energumene captured the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase for the second time.
Bloom admitted to having “a few quid” on the 6-5 favourite who was backed in one £400,000 bet to win £580,000 with the Brighton-based bookmaker firm Star Sports.
Energumene had flopped in his warm-up when finishing third in the Clarence House Chase at the track in January, a defeat trainer Willie Mullins blamed on the new white coloured fence boards.
