Vinny to grab PaddyPower by the balls!

[The Duke]

VINNY TO GRAB POWER FIRMLY BY THE BALLS
Paddy Power is renowned for its special bets, refunds and general sheer-madness and to celebrate this year's Cheltenham Festival, the world’s most generous bookmaker has gone stark raving bonkers and come up with an amazing Money-Back Special on the opening contest, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

If Cousin Vinny wins the two-miler on Tuesday, Paddy Power will refund all losing win and each-way singles on the race.

The six-year-old is currently trading as 5-2 favourite with Power with his nearest rival in the market, Torphichen, at 5-1. Should Cousin Vinny prevail, the bookie has absolutely no idea what the turnover is likely to be on the race this year, especially as with the strength of this offer, punters would be crazy to bet anywhere else on the race which could well lead to a record payout.

Last year's renewal of the Supreme was fifth highest at slightly over 2 million in terms of Power's turnover of all of the races at the Festival behind the Gold Cup in pole position.

Cousin Vinny was a revelation in last year's Weatherbys Champion Bumper at this event, proving three and a quarter lengths too powerful for Corskeagh Royale. He has won two hurdles this season. Last time he was robbed of victory in the Grade 1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, when he was cantering all over the eventual winner but stumbled after the last obstacle giving Patrick Mullins no chance of staying in the saddle.

The son of Bob Back also holds an engagement in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle and if trainer Willie Mullins decides to bypass the Supreme, this one-off super-special bet will revert to whichever horse is sent off favourite in the Supreme.

Paddy Power spokesman Paddy Power said: “With the current state of the financial sector it looks like Vinny will be the only Irish banker to do punters a favour this year!”

But it certainly spices up an already intriguing race and any punters not betting with Paddy Power this Cheltenham want their heads examined.

Power's super-special follows on from the bookie's decision to pay out on Master Minded to win the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival on any ante-post singles placed on Paul Nicholls' brilliant chaser almost two months before he even goes to post in the championship contest.

That pay out came on January 19 and was prompted by the fact that Paddy Power has never had a shorter ante-post Cheltenham favourite than Master Minded and came to the conclusion that morning that 'enough is enough', the horse is unbeatable and it's time to reward punters by paying out early.

Anyone who had backed Master Minded with Power from a high of 6-4 to then current price of 1-3 before 10am that morning were paid out as if Ruby had already crossed the line.

[Thommo]

WTF..... Madness LOL