SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Sandown Friday

I can’t keep going on about the first time I came to Sandown, back in 1985 but it did make an big impression on me, it’s still a pleasure to visit, where has that time gone, writes SIMON NOTT.

I’ve had a couple of reunions with old pals recently, needless to say, a fair number of them have done very well, you wonder when you should have turned right when they turned left. Then I got thinking about it though, back in 1985 I used to devour Dick Francis books and dream about the life and characters they included. That was a world I wanted to be in, and subconsciously achieved my goal, I’ll never be rich, but I have and still have a rewarding working life in racing never really feeling like I’ve worked a day. OK I’d have only been someone Sid Halley brushed past in ‘Odds Against’ but I’ve been part of that world Dick and latterly Felix wrote about and feel extremely lucky to be still in it. Aye Aye.

OK, misty-eyed self-gratifying trumpet blowing premise over, here’s today. Star Sports’ team on the rail were Kaan at the helm, Kieran and Sophie betting number five. This was the first flat meeting of the season I’d attended, so was looking forward to it, though didn’t know what to expect as far as decent punting business went, there was a buzz about the place so hopes were high.

1:15 bet365 Handicap (Class 2) (3yo 0-100) 5f (5f10y)

There was no sign of any bag men or big punters for the opening 5f of the Sandown flat season. However, there was decent business from off the floor. Bets totalled £1400 with £2000 – £100 each-way on Ardennes the biggest. Kaan had a bet with the Wharton Slaney firm, he took 9/1 each-way the runner-up Brosay which finished runner-up behind the 4/1 winner Queen All Star. The book copped £288 and Kaan an extra tenner thanks to BOG added by Gary Brown and Gerry Chesneaux’s generosity. Come racing!

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1:50 bet365 Esher Cup Handicap (Class 2) (3yo 0-105) 1m

Next up and the money was mostly for Thunder Wonder with notable bets of £2000 – £500 each-way and £1200 – £300 stuck with Star into a book that ultimately held £2166, no prizes for guessing the bogie. ‘It’s got away’ said Kaan just strides before the long time leader and big loser Thunder Wonder fell into a metaphorical hole. Of course, the race looks different when you have one for a lump. The cavalry, led by the 5/2 favourite where it mattered at the post, did sweep past the bogie though he did hang on for fourth, not much consolation for the £500 each-way punter but worth £2286 to connections. The book copped £1901 over a jolly, it’s just the way the cards fell but very handy none the less.

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2:25 bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (4yo+) 1m2f (1m1f209y)

Next up and blow me down, Star’s head of political betting William Kedjanyi turned up. He just loves being on course, and why not it’s surely better than Parliament or a polling station. Meanwhile, the plunge horse this time was initially See The Fire with a rapid rat-tat-tat of bets totally £600 at 11/4, then bets of £150 at 9/1 on Al Aasy and £200 at 9/1 Ancient Wisdom, it seemed there were a few fancied, a hot race, time to get stuck in. The team did their best, right in the hole they laid £2000 – £600 Arabian Crown, which made that a late loser for £460 behind bogie for £1814 See The Fire and they were off. Kaan’s getting them in pluck paid off when 15/2 chance Al Aasy laid early at 9/1 come racing, won the race. Despite the £150 bet copping the book still held on to £692 of the £2502 the hod held.

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3:00 bet365 Mile (Group 2) (Class 1) (4yo+) 1m

Next up, and it transpired that WK had blagged his way in, that is a disgrace but fair play to the Head of Political betting but as we know these politics types do love a freebie. Interesting fact about young William. When he joined the firm five years ago, he was firmly in the Corbyn camp, he’s now a self-confessed Lib-Dem. Amazing what time surrounded by capitalists will do to a man. Anyway, back to the turf. The betting on the next was steady but without anything of note. At the off off there was £1660 in the hod apart from £900 – £300 Dancing Gemini. The buzz around the rails, but not with Star had been Haatem with reportedly some decent bets laid, he was beaten with a furlong to go, which would have pleased those that laid the lumps. However, the winner and 5/2 favourite Dancing Gemini wouldn’t have had many in the ring cheering. Star lost £190 largely due to the aforementioned carpet bet, but unlike most, I’d imagine we were still well in front.

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3:35 bet365 Classic Trial (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo 1m2f (1m1f209y)

The next saw two horses backed with Star though there appeared to be lively business all along the rail. Notable bets included £3333 – £1000 and £1000 – £300 I Am I Said and £1800 and £400 Windlord at 11/8. At the off the book held £5569 with the two losers for over £2000. Well, it went the way of the firm, Ryan Moore, riding for Aidan O’Brien on Swagman didn’t capture the betting public’s imagination but did win the race, it took the combination a while to get past the jolly Windlord but won decisively in the end, returned 9/2 and copped £4498 in the book. Aye Aye!

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4:10 bet365 ‘Wild Card’ Fillies’ Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2) (3yo) 1m2f (1m1f209y)

Next up, and I got a message from professional punter Alan Potts, he’s kind enough to mark my card occasionally when he fancies one. He fancied one here, Tattycoram which he said should have beaten Winter’s Song last time, but got trapped on the rail until too late, 6lbs better this time. Winter’s Song opened 10/11 but was virtually unlayable, drifting to 13/8 at the off. Tattycoram was backed from 9/2 into 11/4, it seemed others agreed with Alan. They did well to, Alan was right, Tattycoram made all, quickening when challenged to win going away. Aye Aye thanks Alan, oh hang on, cheering home a loser in the book used to be a sacking offence on some firms, the book held £1700 and Star lost £390. Don’t tell them I roared home the winner…

Incidentally, the winner was owned and bred by Betfair founder and previous #BettingPeople interviewee Andrew Black and now has a wildcard entry into The Oaks.

#BettingPeople: ANDREW BLACK

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4:45 Nordoff & Robbins Jeff Beck Memorial Handicap (Class 4) (3yo 0-85) 1m2f (1m1f209y)

Going into the lucky last, the firm were in the enviable position of being £6834 in front on the day. The punters weren’t about to let Kaan, Sophie and Kieran rest on their laurels though, bets were flying in, £340, then another score because the punter forgot on Sing Us A Song at 9/2, then £400, £200, £200 and £90 in rapid succession Gunship at 10/3 among an unusually large number of £50 bets. ‘Lots of ‘bullseyes’ remarked Kaan before quipping ‘Let’s hope they aren’t on target’. Late on there was another £300 Gunship at 10/3 adding to his liability, the only loser in the race nudging over the £3600 in a book that held £2798. It looked from a long way out as if Gunship was being set a hard task from the position it was in and so it proved. 22/1 chance Urban Glimpse, which was copping over £2000 in the book went odds-on in running but was overhauled close home by Sing Us A Song which had been backed into 4/1 but still won £329 in the book, Gunship came from way back to finish third. That concluded the day’s betting, that is until a punter had an even £2000 on the favourite in the last as Perth…..

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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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