PADDY POWER have taken their traditional Cheltenham Festival day one offer even further this year by offering money back on all losing bets if either short-priced favourites Douvan or Un De Sceaux win their respective races. Douvan is currently the firm's 7-4 favourite for the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, while stablemate Un De Sceaux is 4-7 for the Racing Post-sponsored Arkle. The firm are offering money back as a free bet on all bets up to £50/€50 per customer per race. Paddy Power said: "The Tuesday of the festival is already the scariest day for us with Willie-mageddon on the cards and these unbelievable offers just make it a little bit worse." Ruby Walsh, rider of both hotpots said: "They're both rock solid and two of my best for the week, maybe they're trying to put people off backing but I wouldn't put you off, and if I was a bookie there's not a sniff I'd be taking them on like this. Paddy must hate money - I hope he's cleaned out!" Should either or both of the offers come in, it will complete a bookie-bashing four-in-a-row. Last year Paddy Power refunded losing bets on the second, third and fourth placed horses in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, in 2013 they offered money back all losers if Hurricane Fly won the Champion Hurdle and in 2012 offered the same when Sprinter Sacre won the Arkle.
They do this so people have money in there PP accounts at the start of a long week of punting. Money they can't get access to for 3-5 days. So a lot of punters who take advantage of this offer will then use PP for all the Cheltenham business the rest of the week. There will obviously be some shrewd punters that will just take advantage of the offer, but there will be plenty of other mugs who fall into PPs trap. So this offer really doesn't cost them anything in the long run. Unfortunately I am not entitled to any special offers with PP, so I won't be able to take advantage
