SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Cheltenham Wednesday

It’s fair to say that it’s not quite as hectic at this meeting as the previous one here.

It’s an excellent one to come to if you want to enjoy the facilities in comfort. The card today was deserving of a bigger crowd, really decent fields. The bookmakers weren’t as prolific as they are at the Festival but there’s still plenty there that will take a decent bet.

Before we begin with the frivolous talk of betting and horses, the betting ring in a sombre mood before racing began. News made its way around the racecourse that Richard Tovey, who bet under the name of his late father John, had passed away on Monday. Richard was a lovely chap, as was his father before him and will be sadly missed.

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1:30 – Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 2 Limited Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 2m 4½f

Betting on the first race was very slow to begin with, but picked up as the off time drew near. The people here today were racing fans who made up for their relative lack in number with the size of their bets. Saying that, the biggest bet tendered on the heat was £1100 – £400 Heltenham which fell out in the country.

The race was wide open as they approached the last with four in with a chance, but the one that found the best turn of foot was the least expected. Nicky Henderson’s Caribean Boy swept passed his rivals up the hill to score a 28/1 success. The last bet in the Star Sports’ book was a tenner each-way at 33/1 but it still copped £800 on the race.

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2:05 – Kingston Stud Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 2m 4½f

I’d like to say that the next heat was a colossal one, but this blog is a truthful report, so let’s just say it was poor. To be fair it was quite a hard race to solve on paper, they bet 9/2 the field. Still, the idea is to take money and keep it, but to field just over a monkey on the rail isn’t great by anyone’s standards.

The lack of betting activity also meant that the prevailing cold temperature wasn’t alleviated by graft. Poor old Lofty was frozen, I asked him for a photo, then another but with the request to smile, ‘That is a smile’ he grimaced, you decide.

He was talking about going to his car for more clobber as they set off. He was still procrastinating as they were jumping the last. You could see why the punters were reticent to bet like heroes, there were a line of horses in with a chance, ultimately it was 33/1 Willaston that won the race. A skinner for the Star Sports team. Spare a thought for poor old Pinno next door, he ran into a £1000 – £30 each-way. It’s the luck of the draw sometimes.

‘Oh for these results at the Festival’ I heard one impoverished bookmaker bemoan. They like a good old bemoan do some bookmakers!

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2:40 – Gloucester Brewery Holman Handicap Chase (Class 3) (5YO plus) 3m 4f

It was that slow for the next I was sent on a coffee run. Mind you they bet 10/1 the field, that’s like the Grand National without the protestors. Field money was pathetic, a mere rouf, £100 of which stayed in the bag after 14/1 chance Madera Mist won the race. Still, it was another cop in the book.

Lofty still hadn’t got his coat by the way. Nails.

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3:15 – Citipost Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 2m 4½f

Between races things looked up, a ‘Bag Man’ appeared. He was being courted by name, there were bookies keen to attract the only money in the village despite generally finishing runner-up in their transactions over time. One other thing of note, Martyn of Leicester’s calls, ‘Money without work’ and ‘The prices can’t get any bigger, the board will bust’ really travel in a relatively empty racecourse. It appears ‘The blue light safety system’ has been retired!

The next race was a better one. Steve and Lofty managed to lay £1500 – £500 the jolly Rock My Way which made up a good chunk that held £1051. Everything was a winner. I could hear in my mind’s ear, my old boss Jack Lynn saying ‘They’ve got one for twice what they took Simon boy – they’ll go skint’ Jack liked to bet overs and made a nice few quid doing so.

Luckily, they didn’t go skint because The Friday Man won at 9/2 copping £850. Spare a thought for poor old Barry, again. He did his money over the winner. Being the country’s most famous bookie has a cost, he hardly misses a winner.

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3:50 – Weatherite Air Conditioning Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5YO plus) 3m 2f

The book fielded just £700 in the race before the penultimate. There were two losers, Anightinlambourn and Captain Cattistock, both for what they took, not double, rest easy Jack. I was chatting to Gary Wiltshire during the betting, he was telling me about Johnny Lights’ funeral which I was sadly unable to attend.

He also told me that Captain Cattistock missed being in the Grand National field by one so would be wound up for this today. Gary was right, Fergal O’Brien’s charge won under Liam Harrison. Star did their money.

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4:25 – Safran Landing Systems Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 3m

The penultimate didn’t really take off either. While Steve and Lofty were doing their best to take a few quid off the floor I had a chat with Armaloft Alex, yes I do appreciate that I spent a fair bit of today chatting to people. It was that sort of day. Alex has a runner tomorrow but not much info was forthcoming, probably a good sign.

Gary Wiltshire and team had already taken an early bath, I’m guessing they went for the O’Brien winner, got there and decided to leg it. The guys worked heroics taking £850 in the race, then Broadway Boys ran like a hero and lost them a grand. And it had been going so well.

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5:00 – Cheltenham Pony Racing Authority Graduates Handicap Hurdle (Conditionals & Amateurs) (Class 3) (4YO plus) 2m 1f

Betting on the lucky last was punctuated by paying out bets for a bookmaker that decided to up sticks. Apparently, one firm left after the second having got their wages on the day. That is of course good for all those that remain. Lofty and Steve tried their best to get some in the hod but it was like pulling teeth.

On the plus side, I saw Stephen Little, Stephen is writing his autobiography in collaboration with Rupert Mackeson aka The Bad Baronet or as he also likes to be called ‘Uncle Nasty’. I’ll have to rephrase that into ‘has written’ as he told me today that he’s finished it and all that remains is sourcing some photos.

The book is hopefully going to be launched at his old stamping ground of Bath Racecourse in August, watch this space. Space is what Steve and Lofty were watching, nothing much but space in front of them and after fielding a monkey and losing a oner over Black Poppy in the last, nothing much in the hod either. ‘We copped £250 on the day’ was Lofty’s parting shot with a cheery ‘See you tomorrow’.

‘You won’t see us’ was one bookmaker’s retort, it’s been useless. I told you they generally like a ‘bemoan’ didn’t I? We’re back tomorrow.

SIMON NOTT

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Views of authors do not necessarily represent views of Star Sports Bookmakers.

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Simon Nott is author of: Skint Mob! Tales from the Betting Ring
available on Kindle CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

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