Bookmakers are fearing a mammoth £20million loss on the opening day of Cheltenham.

There are four big favourites due to run on the opening day in the shape of Getabird (Supreme – 6/5), Footpad (Arkle – 11/8), Buveur D’Air i(Champion Hurdle – 1/2) and Apple’s Jade (Mares Hurdle – 8/13).

Punters are lumping in numbers with four-horse accumulators with these four hugely fancied thoroughbreds.

And should the four-timer come in, Ladbrokes predict that the industry as a whole will result in a huge £20million loss.

Supreme favourite, Getabird, is currently Ladbrokes’ biggest liability of the week, while Arkle favourite Footpad is not far off a similar loss, should it win.

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “We’ve had our fair share of disastrous Tuesdays at the festival and this year it could be the biggest one yet with hot favourites Getabird, Footpad, Buveur D’Air, and Apple’s Jade all looking really solid. We will be desperate for one of them to do us a favour.”

Despite the fear, Ladbrokes are also offering an additional two horses – Novice Hurdle favourite Samcro and Champion Chase leading contender Altior – to team up with the opening day foursome to make up a ‘Good things’ team.

They are 28/1 that all six win their respective races, whilst it is 6/1 that one of them let punters down, 2/1 that three of them win, while it’s a 66/1 shot that none of them win. Should all six romp home to victory, Ladbrokes say it will cost the industry £50 million.

“This year’s “good things” look really solid and should they all win, the industry is staring down the barrel at a fifty million pound pay-out,” said McGeady.

“Usually a few come to our rescue and we will be hoping some of these bankers can do us a favour next week.”