SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Windsor Friday

It was the first day of the inaugural Berkshire Millions weekend and expectations were high for a cracking three days of jumping action, writes SIMON NOTT.

The Star Sports team today were Kaan and Tony with the surprise appearance of Ben Keith to keep everyone on their toes. Things looked a bit thin early on but with tickets at just £40 for the whole three days, here, Ascot on Saturday and back here again it was no surprise to see the crowd swell like a beer drinker’s belly as the off time for the first drew closer.

On a personal note, it was lovely to see Mr and Mrs Dave O’Reilly at the course, the O’Reilly’s are famous back home in Ireland, appearing in people’s homes on their version of Gogglebox. Dave is also a familiar face on Irish racecourses and a former #BettingPeople interviewee. Another fave to make an appearance was Andy ‘The Lodge’ Henderson who pops everywhere and always a pleasure to see.

12:40 Fitzdares Berkshire Winter Million Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) 3m

Sadly, not making appearances in their droves were punters. Betting on the opening race was very light. The biggest bet taken was £550 – £200 Excello in a book that held just £950. The race was far more exciting than the betting, 2/1 favourite Derryhassen Paddy and 5/1 Honky Tonk Highway were locked in battle all up the run-in with the former getting the nod having been called the nose winner after the judge had deliberated. The winner copped £50 in the book, £810 worse than the mare a pixel behind would have won.

1:15 Fitzdares Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5yo+) 3m (3m53y)

There was betting action early in the second too, though not quite as lumpy, £700 – £400 laid twice on Herakles Westwood, one from the floor, the other trade, both welcome. While things had augured well for the betting that’s not how it panned out, business was still tepid, at the off the hod held £1300, an improvement on the first but still pretty rubbish. The favourite won, and the book blew £1600. Ben wandered off, looking bored.

1:50 Fitzdares Lightning Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) 2m (2m33y)

Next up and it did liven up. Wallop, £8000, £2400, £600 and £300 on Caldwell Potter all at 5/6. That was about it, apart from a racecourse regular well-known bookmaker’s daughter who asked for a score on another one, ‘cash after’ – the apple rarely falls far from the tree, but the team hoped she was right!

She wasn’t, the horse the young lady backed was tailed off. However, the story isn’t a sad one. The favourite backers left it behind, the jolly 4/6 at the off proved no match for 15/2 chance Gidleigh Park which out battled the market leader after the last to win decisively. Peering into the book, Kaan commented that there was the sum total of £15 bet on the winner. The book copped £11,945. Aye Aye.

2:25 Lets Bet Personal With Fitzdares Mares’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+ 0-145) 2m4f (2m4f42y)

Meanwhile, a bagman had already bet a £4000 – £2000 Panic Attack in the next so, so it was no surprise that it opened 7/4. Another punter came in with £600 at that price followed by another punter with a bottle. Well, what can you say, Panic Attack’s jockey Harry Skelton gave the bookmakers a right royal rubbing down, he rode halfway up the run-in with his head between his legs looking for non-existent danglers, sorry dangers, such was the ease of the mare’s victory. The bagman sauntered over to draw, grinning from ear to ear, not too smug though 2/1 is still better than the SP of 15/8. The book lost £5095 back to the punters.

3:00 Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) 2m4f

There was a reprieve between races when a punter had £1400 over two horses on the aways, both were beaten. The next race was a poor betting heat. The biggest bet taken on the race was £200 in a book that held £852. At the off Imberico Lord was the bogie losing £974, Nemean Lion was the one for public money but a winner in the book, the public knew, Nemean Lion landed the gamble returning 85/40 jolly copping £238. Going into the penultimate the firm were £6890 up so optimistic about leaving the course in front after day one.

3:35 Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+) 2m

The punters hadn’t finished, betting on the penultimate kicked off with a bet of £2500 – £250 each-way Wreckless Eric. Things then went quiet until a punter came in with a monkey the same horse at 17/2. It was only when the horses were lining up that any more meaningful money came into the firm, £350 at 3/1 Secret Squirrel and £400 at 10/3 Kabral Du Mathan. Funnily enough, well not that funny for the poor punter, the guy that had the rouf on called it on Secret Squirrel first then realising his mistake came back and asked to change it to Kabral Du Mathan. You know the rest don’t you, the book copped £700 over the 11/4 favourite Secret Squirrel with Wreckless Eric just out of the frame making the places good too. Just after the race Dave and Jackie O’Reilly came over to say hello again, Dave had got a Lucky 15 up Aye Aye Dave. Then meanwhile Armaloft Alext texted to say welcome to Windsor, no doubt expecting the firm to be losing, but no dear readers, going into the last the book was winning £7800.

4:08 Berkshire Winter Million Supports Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5yo+ 0-130) 2m6f (2m6f41y)

Despite being well in front, Kaan and Tony have long since learned not to count it too soon. You never know when a bet is going to come in that might knock it all out. Nobody was expecting £8000 £500 Jamaico in the lucky last for example, but there it was loitering in the book waiting to bite the firm’s arse. Apart from that bet, business was very slow, it had got really cold out in the ring. I nipped into the ablutions partly just to get out of the cold. On the way in I met a very nice group of gents that said that they liked reading the blogs and watching #BettingPeople which is always fantastic to hear. I struggled to get through the crowd under the stands, it was warm in there, not daft these racegoers. When I got back Kaan had laid £150 each-way Red Rookie at 22/1 and £200 the jolly Hasthing at 7/4 and not much more. At the off Jamaico was losing £7918 and Red Rookie £2445, with everything else winning. Jumping the last of what had sadly been an eventful race, the firm were looking at a skinner, at the post the favourite Hasthing had quickened away to win nicely, the book won £361, the lads would take that. A winning first day of a three-day festival is always welcome. Ascot tomorrow, bring it on.