‘I’ve gained £450 on Cheltenham ponies to this point – it is going to pay for my Benidorm nonsense’

EXCLUSIVE: Joyous revellers in Benidorm have revealed what they’re spending their winnings on after the Gold Cup despite bad weather, stinking hangovers and Super Mario costumes

There are two types of people in Benidorm today, winners and losers, as the army of Brits and Irish here to watch the Cheltenham Festival finish up the racing – and begin the partying.

In the aftermath of the Gold Cup revellers are either licking their wounds or paying off their holidays with their winnings.

The weather is cold and wet with moments of sun, but no one seems to care. Dressed up as Super Mario alongside three mates – and one more kitted as Princess Peach – Edinburgh man Stewart Runciman told the Daily Star: “I’ve won £450 in the last two days. It’s paid for the nonsense on the holiday,” he said with a smile. “We’re just enjoying it.”

The plumbing company worker added: “You’ve had to go with Galopin Des Champs, it’s a guarantee,” he said. Er, sorry about that one Stewart, Inothewayurthinkin romped home. But he added: “Just trying to double it up with something else with a bit of value and make the money to pay for the rest of the nonsense on the holiday.”

Terry Ellis, a chippy from Lowestoft said he hadn’t won but one of his party, he claimed, had hit a £1,400 winner that had “paid for his whole holiday. He’s already put more bets on.”

Doncaster man Jamie Mullen was riding high in Rocky’s Bar when he spoke to the Star. His horse had come in seconds before and he was in good spirits.

“£250 chubbies, it’ll pay for half the holiday,” he added while dancing and shouting excitedly to his mates, who hadn’t had the same luck.

Across the street, standing outside the Cowboy Palace Saloon, Kerry Corcoran from Manchester proudly showed us her winning slips. She had pocketed herself a handful of smaller wins, tallying together to build her takings to around the £90 mark.

“I’ll flutter it back, we’ll see what the day ends up like,” she said.

Bristol man Steve Borto, 65, hadn’t been having the same joy, although not for the reason you might expect. Standing dressed as a jockey with his mates inside the Saloon said he hadn’t won anything “because I can’t get on the wifi, I’ve got a rubbish old phone.”

His fellow Bristolian and fellow ‘jockey’ Neil Parry had managed to operate the betting sites, but hadn’t managed to find any luck. It wasn’t dampening the mood through, as the group hit the sauce heavily inside the bar.

But perhaps the biggest shock of the day came from Matthew Thomas, from St Helen’s. He was feeling good about things, having netted himself a £27 winner, but the same couldn’t be said for his massive group of mates, which on a rough calculation meant on average they would be lucky to have netted £1 each. Matthew did not reveal whether or not he planned to share his spoils evenly throughout.