SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Ascot Saturday

Archie, the fifth generation of bookmaker betting under the Bevan moniker, established in 1897, turned up at perishing Ascot today with no coat. No coat. I know, come on fourth generation Paul buy the lad a Crombie. As you might gather it was cold, if you didn’t have the right clobber on, writes SIMON NOTT.

The Star Sports team today were as yesterday Kaan and Tony with the addition of Kieran, they had the right clobber on, very snazzy Star Sports branded jackets which are very warm I’m told.

12:30 BetMGM Juvenile Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo) 1m7½f (1m7f152y)

The betting hotted up really early too, the team took a £4000 – £2000 struck early on Mondo Man. Apart from that bet business wasn’t too special. It became interesting when a punter came to the joint with £3000 but wanted it on Lulamba at evens, not the 5/6 on offer. He was declined, and not long after they were off. It transpired he’d settled for 10/11 on the rail. Some decisions go your way, others don’t. The bookmaker that took the three large probably regretted it as the jolly quickened away up the run-in to win nicely. The book copped £853 over the 4/5 shot.

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1:05 BetMGM Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5yo+ 0-140) 3m (2m7f180y)

Between races, a punter had a grand on Kainsbourg at 7/4 over at Navan, that got beaten, then another came in for a £3000 – £2000 Oh My Johnny at Haydock. The betting for the next heat started with a £4500 – £2000 In D’Or which gave the guys a target to aim for. Kaan was quite excited, not because of that bet but because the RDT software now allows multiples, doubles, trebles, etc no Yankees and the like but watch this space. If you want a multi, come racing. Meanwhile, the team took a further £268 on the race meaning the bogie was for £4432 which is what they lost when it sauntered home to win cosily under David Maxwell.

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1:40 BetMGM Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Warfield Mares’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) 1m7½f (1m7f152y)

Anyway, onwards, the first bet in the next race was £400 – £900 Kargese which was dwarfed by £20,000 at 2/5 which was unexpected. With a minute to go the team had taken another £90 including offering ‘without’ betting and the favourite weak, right in the hole the team laid another £1800 at 4/9. The last bet in the book proved very handy, the jolly was no match for Take No Chances which copped £22,875 in the book.

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2:15 bet365 Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) 2m5f (2m5f8y)

Despite the lack of public money, there were still punters who wanted big bets and were happy to venture into the cold to have it on. A backer had £3000 on Scarface while others came in £4000 – £2000 Honey Jack away at Taunton, and £600 on Three Card Brag at 3/1 at Navan. At least they kept everyone’s attention whilst there was a whole lot of nothing going on in front of the joint. Honey Jack was beaten at Taunton. Meanwhile, back at Ascot, the team took £260 out of the rest of the field trying for their lives. Terresita won the race and copped £3125 in the book. The Navan bet was yet to run, but so far the transactions during betting for the home heat had gone the firm’s way.

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2:50 BetMGM Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+) 2m3½f (2m3f58y)

The good run ended with Three Card Brag winning at Navan, though the smallest of recent decent bets winning wasn’t the worst result for the firm. The first decent bet on the 2.50 was £300 on Altobelli at 10/3 which was bet number 73 on the day, mind you the stake average would look quite healthy. Bet number 85 and virtually the last in the book was Bo Zenith £5500 – £2000 which ensured that one would go off the only loser for £5102. Altobelli won the race, a winner thanks to the last bet copping £1160 returning 3/1, as is often the case the on-course punter got the value.

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3:32 BetMGM Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) 2m1f (2m167y)

Next up and the one they’d all been waiting for – Jonbon versus Energumene, but with Edwardstone and Boothill at 12/1 and 16/1 with more than just making up the numbers chances. This was the heat that had already attracted a bet worthy of the anticipated status of the clash. Kaan and co had laid £36,000 at 4/6 Jonbon to a known client on course. The betting opened 8/13 the jolly and immediately attracted a further grand and £1300 at that price. Late on a punter had £1000 at 9/4 Energumene to make things interesting, bet number 102 on the day. If ever there was to be a nose tap inducing outsider of four oblige, this would be the race. It wasn’t to be, Jonbon won as he liked. The firm did their cobblers in freezing cold blood. What a game.

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4:08 BetMGM EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4-7yo) 2m5½f (2m5f141y)

Onwards to the lucky last and by now I think everyone was just looking forward to going home. The away punter had £6000 – £2000 on The Cox Express over at Taunton and left it behind which was handy. As the horses lined up for the last there was just £193 in the hod from bets in the race then there was a last second flurry, £2750 – £1000 U Can’t Be Serious and £300 – £200 Laurens Bay and they were off. There had been 120 bets tendered in total over seven races on a premier Saturday at Ascot, that from pitch one in the second row. No matter how you dress that up regardless of some firm-centric big staking bets that’s useless. Imagine trying to earn a living as a bookie in the pitches further down the pick. Maybe everyone had gone to Lingfield for the 10.30am start.

OK that’s enough negativity, Jax Junior winning the last copped £1200 back, so the firm were on the winning foot with Sunday back at Windsor to go, 7.30 inspection pending. Fingers crossed.

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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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