SIMON NOTT AT FONTWELL

AUTHOR: Star Sports Content

SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Fontwell Sunday

It’s been a while since I’ve been to Fontwell. I used to be a regular visitor back in the day, working with Dave Phillips and Ivor Perry. It’s a lovely course to bet at and today was no exception; it was a family fun day complete with a fairground, including a Ferris wheel in the middle of the course, writes SIMON NOTT.

Star Sports manned two pitches with Kaan, Keiran and Callum on one and Tony and Dan on the other. I’m told by a number of sources that Fontwell has been ‘lively’ of late, it remained to be seen if the lumpy punters would turn up on a Sunday.

14:20 – Mercedes-Benz Of Chichester Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 5) (4YO plus 0-100)

There were a lot of people on the racecourse, many as you’d expect with children, so the atmosphere was excellent and the money wasn’t bad either. The public were mostly betting in small amounts, but it was adding up then late on a regular big punter bet £6000 – £2000 Royal Rhythm, which ensured which horse of the six was going to be the loser in the race. At the off there was £3556 in the hod, with the bogie losing £7150. Royal Rhythm led for two circuits, cheered heartily both times he passed the stands, a unique feature of family and bank holiday crowds, then looked beaten as they turned for home for the third time, floundering in the wake of County Champ who quickened away looking all over the winner, only to fall but still leaving Atreides in front going well. The £2000 still looked safe, but none of the firm expected the tenacity of Benjamin Macy claiming 3lb on Royal Rhythm, getting him back up on the run-in. The cup was snatched from the firm’s lips, and to make things worse, the punter wanted to draw not leave it in. I couldn’t have made up a worse start. £7063 knocked out.

14:55 – KSR Lighting Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4) (4YO plus)

Bets were mostly small and steady in the next, the public were happy to bet in shrapnel and the firm more than willing to accommodate their modest stakes. There were a couple of decent bets in amongst the small stuff though, £2500 – £500 Downtown Nashville and £1750 – £500 Novelista both laid off the floor. At the off, the firm were holding £2477 with the two losers, the couple they laid to monkeys. This time Kaan and his team enjoyed a bit of luck, Novelista looked likely to outbattle the even-money fav and winner in the book, Moab then made a rick at the last where James Bowen did well to stay on but lost his whip and momentum, allowing the jolly the upper hand and to go on and win the race, bagging £694 back.

15:30 – KEP Communications Handicap Chase (Arc Summer Chase Series Qualifier) (Class 5) (4YO plus 0-100)

Next up and with the horses down at the post, the book held £1700 across the two pitches. A punter asked for £5000 – £1000 Frankie Faulkner but was politely declined as the horse was a painted 9/2 chance. A couple of minutes later he was back when his fancy hit the 5/1 mark on the Star Sports’ board, just the one to beat then. And beat it was, only just though, second behind 3/1 chance Of Course I Can. I had a job seeing the big screen, a couple of man-mountain security guards loomed large in front of us, I can’t imagine that sort of bulk would be needed with today’s crowd, but better safe than sorry. The book that held £4026 kept £3607 of it.

16:05 – David And Carol Pugh Memorial Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) (4YO plus 0-110)

Next up, the race before the penultimate was similar business to the earlier heats, small, so I was dispatched to get coffees and cokes of various varieties, the beverage stalls had been so busy I had to visit three outlets to complete the order for the thirsty staff. On my return, wallop a punter waded in with a bet of £17,500 – £5000 Ask A Sainte which totally dwarfed the £1230 already in the hod. It was Star against the big punter again. Motazzen winning at 15/2 was a great result for the book which copped £5488, the firm was now £2127 in front with two heats to go, but in the knowledge that at least one big player was still out there.

16:40 – Bison Events Ltd Handicap Chase (Arc Summer Chase Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Class 4) (4YO plus 0-110)

The penultimate was a three horse heat where Midnight Jewel opened 5/6 to lead the trio home. That didn’t last long, a punter wearing very expensive looking designer go faster trainers (always look at the shoes to get the strength of the wealth) ran around the ring snapping up all rates down to but not including 8/13. Kaan didn’t fancy it and chased the price down anyway having not laid it. The hope was the late staking big punter might be in and take the short odds-on. He didn’t, but the guy with go faster daps bet £8000 – £13,000 with six minutes to go while the horses were still being paraded, still time for the other backers to get involved. They did, and how a minute before the offer a punter bet £42,000 – £6000 Imperial Bede and they were off. Martin’s Jewel running for the book ran a blinder but couldn’t foil the gamble on the jolly, the book lost £1810.

17:15 – KSR Lighting, The Ultimate Lighting Solutions Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race (Cat 1 Elim) (GBB) (Class 5) (4-5YO)

Going into the lucky last, after all the action Star Sports found themselves just £327 up. That of course wouldn’t cover the expenses, especially as the five strong team had tucked into deluxe hot dogs prior to racing and premium drinks during so it was all to play for in the finale. Posh dap lad came to draw his winnings and appeared the type who’d only come for one bet though it was hoped the other big backer might still be about. As it was only a staggered six race card the usual exodus to beat the traffic didn’t appear to be on so a lively race could await. Uptoyourselves opened 11/10 and attracted a bit of public money which nudged over the £1000 mark over both pitches. The other big punter left it late, but sidled up to Kaan and bet £5000 at 10/3 then £2500 at 7/2 Silver Whisper shortly afterwards. This was it, shit or bust on both sides of the punting fence. Silver Whisper was a loser for just shy of £20,000 at the off, everything else a handsome winner. Millidram winning the race at 8/1 was a cracking result the book got £6400 and all was well in the world.

I’m back with Star Sports at Newbury on Saturday week. Thanks for reading.

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

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

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