Experienced journalist and editor covering the sports and betting industry. A football, NFL and rugby specialist, he is a FWA member and judge at the Football Content Awards.
We speak to Anthony Kaminskas, Founder of AK BETS, for an on course debrief on the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
Having launched as a rails bookie in 2021, they added an online sportsbook 18 months later. This year they were at the Cheltenham Festival on course for the first time, and we spoke to Anthony about the week, scrambling around for extra money and taking bets of Premier League royalty.
OLBG: How was it being back on course again?
AK: This year was our first year standing in the betting ring in the UK at any meeting. Our licence only came through at 16:50 on Friday afternoon the week before, so it was definitely panic stations before that. And thank God it did come through because we had a cracking time on track over the four days.
OLBG: Pre-festival you mentioned being worried about Kopek Des Bordes in the first race of the week - when he came home did you get a bit edgy?
AK: One of my highlights was laying Paul Scholes £2,500 @ Evens! He's from the same area as me. I went to St Cuthbert's and he went to Cardinal Langley which will mean nothing to your readers but they're rival schools up in North Manchester with decent football teams.
That aside, it doesn't bode well when you're one race in and already texting mates in the crowd contingency planning for the four short ones all winning and running out of cash. Online, as you know, AK BETS had the industry best price throughout the day on Kopek Des Bordes so it was a rough start to a long week.
OLBG: It must have picked up for you with Marjborough and Constitution Hill – at that point was your week always going to be alright given the multiples etc?
It really could have been a long week but Majborough's jumping saved us. I can only imagine our nerves should he have won with punters waiting on Constitution Hill for the four-timer. The thing with these festivals is everyone wants to be on the same horses so my job at AK BETS is offering them the best prices so that they come to us. The swings are monumental. It's an unbelievable day for us but we're always conscious of it not taking much more to lose the absolute lot. Your whole week, month, even quarter can depend on those few races. It's drama of the highest order and why we love the sport.
OLBG: There were so many big favourites that got beat over the week – was it a good festival for you overall?
AK: Online we have won each day which is unusual. The first day was by far the most profitable given Majborough and Constitution Hill were extremely popular both on the day and antepost. On course is a different beast however. We actually lost on three of the four days which is equally crazy.
OLBG: What's your thoughts re The Jockey Club not allowing you to film/feature in interviews there? [For context, Anthony contributed to interview video shorts on Days 1 and 2 for OLBG, but couldn’t for the remainder of the week having been asked to stop].
AK: It beggars belief and is something they're going to have to look at. Interest is slightly waning, crowds are down, and The Jockey Club have content creators willing to publicise the excitement of the sport for free. What's not to love? The sport needs dragging into the 21st Century before it misses the boat completely. I'd imagine they'll look at it because they're not stupid. It's likely a legacy policy but is obviously not fit for purpose in 2025.
OLBG: Any big bets that you took and kept? Or lost?
AK: Good from our perspective was £20k on Jonbon and £15k on Galopin Des Champs. On the flipside Friday overall was a disaster. We lost £35k thanks mainly to bets of £100 EW on Poniros @ 150/1 and £600 EW Wonderwall @ 28/1 to regular clients of ours from Ireland. Galopin was a good winner but equally Kargese and Dinoblue were five-figure losers. Maybe, surprisingly, Fact To File was our biggest loser on track costing us £21,000 all in.
OLBG: How did you find the crowds compared to previous years?
AK: It's our first year standing at the Festival as bookies. I've obviously been a few times myself as a racegoer but it would have been a few years ago now. What I would say is it was enjoyable not queuing for the toilet. One thing the racecourse definitely got right was allowing customers to bring alcohol into the ring again in Tattersalls after a seven-year absence. This stops punters binge drinking inside to get out and watch the race. It's a win-win for everyone.
OLBG: Is it true you were potentially asking other bookies for funds before Galopin got beat?
AK: Yeah, we had to be mindful twice. First time was as soon as Kopek Des Bordes won on Tuesday and then when we lost £41,000 on the first three races on the Friday. We are very security conscious so don't want to be holding fortunes on track in cash but this can see us having to think on our feet when results go against us.
OLBG: What was your highlight of the week?
AK: The fella selling the Greek lamb kebabs near the parade ring is right up there for me. On the track I touched incredibly lucky betting, with Golden Ace Eachway @ 50/1 and 40/1 for myself in the ring in the Champion Hurdle. I still haven't watched it back but that race had it all and I can't think of a race since Kauto Star v Denman first time around that was as good to experience in the flesh.
OLBG: Will we be seeing you guys at more meets over the course of the year?
AK: 100%. It'll likely be a slow burner as we like to buy premium pitches and they're not always available. I'll be trying my best to get a pitch at Aintree before the Grand National meeting and we might rear our heads at Epsom and Royal Ascot too, if the opportunities present themselves.
