Bookies fear Approach for Champion Stakes

Racing : Ladbrokes and other leading bookmakers have suspended betting on Saturday's Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes…

Racing: Ladbrokes and other leading bookmakers have suspended betting on Saturday's Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown due to a rush of money for New Approach.

The market was taken down by Ladbrokes as long-time ante-post favourite Duke Of Marmalade was friendless in the betting.

"We've suspended the betting on the Irish Champion, I think pretty much everybody has," said David Williams of Ladbrokes.

"We took a good number of bets on New Approach, more than we would have expected at this stage of the week.

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"That might not necessarily mean anything but we just kept on laying only one horse so we thought 'hang on, let's just take a breather' so we suspended and we will wait for clarification to come from the respective camps. As soon as we do we will be back up and running."

The betting exchange Betfair has also seen significant action in the market with Duke Of Marmalade drifting out to 3-1 before settling back around the 6-4 mark.

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin commented: "It could well be a false move, and we are certainly not talking big sums here, but a drift to 3-1 is obviously worrying for his weekend supporters."