Bookies Left Injured After Nurse Atkinson Wins Inaugural Award

Heather Atkinson, a 14-1 outsider with bookmakers William Hill when they originally priced up the event, has been announced as the inaugural winner of the Award for 'The Outstanding Contribution Made By A Lady To Jump Racing' by Cheltenham Racecourse.

Heather, who for over 30 years has been the Senior Nurse in the Jockeys’ Hospital at Cheltenham Racecourse, was the clear choice of the judging panel but the result has left the bookmakers licking their wounds following a gamble that saw her odds plummet to 2-1 from the original 14-1.

Henrietta Knight, who trained Best Mate to win three Gold Cups, had originally been installed as William Hill 11-10 favourite for the award, when they priced it up on Tuesday, with Venetia Williams their 3-1 second favourite but relentless support for Heather Atkinson forced her into 2-1 favourite before the Leeds firm suspended betting on Friday.

Spokesman for the Leeds firm Ben Clarke added: "Although Heather was shocked to be nominated and on the shortlist for the award it seems that those that have worked alongside and been treated by her during the past 30 years certainly knew that she was no outsider. She hasn't missed a Cheltenham festival for over 25 years, during which time she would have attended to some of the greatest jump jockeys, so is fully deserving of the award even though we now require some treatment ourselves."