Weekend Review: Chelsea progress to FA Cup final as bookies triumph in Premier League punting
Manchester City’s quadruple dreams fall flat as Arsenal and West Ham stutter to destroy accumulators
A set of shocks across the Premier League and FA Cup this weekend boosted bookie coffers as punters rued their luck.
Manchester City’s quest for an unprecedented quadruple was ended thanks to a 1-0 defeat in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea courtesy of a Hakim Ziyech finish.
Elsewhere, Champions League-chasing West Ham showed their soft centre after falling to a 3-2 defeat to Newcastle United, while Arsenal could only muster a 1-1 draw against relegation-threatened Fulham.
#FACup finalists for the fourth time in five seasons! ? pic.twitter.com/nm0AzAfMGV
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 18, 2021
Betfred’s Alan Firkins said: “Manchester City’s FA Cup exit also signalled the end of their quadruple dreams, saving bookmakers a good few quid – and Newcastle’s thriller against West Ham, plus Fulham’s spirited show against Arsenal, all contributed to a very decent weekend.”
Expected wins for Manchester United and Wolves in the Premier League did provide some solace for the bettors.
Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “Fairly even weekend in the Premier League this week as two games went to the punters and two went to us.
“Wolves and Manchester United’s wins over Sheffield United and Burnley respectively went the way of the punters, but Arsenal snatching a 97th minute equaliser vs Fulham and Newcastle’s win over West Ham left us in the black, taking a fair number of accas out with them,” he added.
YOU MAGS! ? pic.twitter.com/HCeXqhTesj
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 17, 2021
In horseracing, punters walked away happier from the Scottish Grand National on Sunday after well-backed favourites duly obliged at Ayr.
With the meeting being pushed back out of respect to Prince Philip, punters were pleased to see Might Thunder and Milkwood secure victories in the National and Champion Hurdle, respectively.
Gill said: “In the National, the well supported Mighty Thunder came out ahead at 8/1, beating 7/1 favourite Dingo Dollar into second and another well-fancied horse in Mister Fogpatches took a slice of the places in third at 8/1 as well, in a great result for backers.
“3/1 favourite Milkwood ran out the comfortable winner in the Scottish Champion Hurdle as backers cleaned up there too,” he added.
A Scottish Winner in the Scottish Grand National ???????
Mighty Thunder wins Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase ?
Watch live:
?@ITV
?https://t.co/9ymTnfUqGn#ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/0AeSbJcOxZ— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 18, 2021
Elsewhere, a UK-based 32Red customer managed to secure a historic jackpot on the online casino operator’s Book of Atem: WowPot title.
After placing an 80p bet, the unnamed player won an astonishing £15,183,086, marking the biggest win ever across the entirety of the Kindred Group brand portfolio.
Neil Banbury, Kindred Group UK general manager, said: “We are proud to offer safe and fun experiences for all our customers and put safer gambling at the heart of everything we do to make sure gambling always remains fun for players.
“Our jackpots can be won by anyone as Mr M found out with his life-changing win from a single 80p spin.”