SIMON NOTT: The Betting Ring Survival Guide

Further to last week’s blog, the future of betting for serious backers does appear to be heading back to where it belongs, on-course. There may be some punters out who deserted the ring with the advent of the betting exchanges, where winners were of course welcome… well for a bit anyway.

The author forgets his age sometimes, but maybe some punters were not even old enough to bet when Betfair was born. With that in mind, if you are anticipating putting some miles on your car and getting back into the thick of racecourse betting, here’s a little guide on what’s what.

⭕ Staking

If you’ve not bet on the racecourse before and you are back because you find yourself restricted, you’re in for a treat. Not one bookmaker on course is going to cut your requested £10 bet to pennies, even the most modest of the modest layer won’t knock back your score. In fact, they’re desperate for bigger bets than that and are willing to take them, as the old saying went, ‘You’re all on’.

If you are a lumpier backer, you may want to do some homework before you march up to the one-man band on the back row and ask for a £6000 – £2000. Don’t judge a book by its cover though, there are several bookies that match that description who’ll take those types of bets as long as the price is on the board. Talking of which, it won’t take you long to learn who to ask for a lump. The bookies will not have a set figure they want to lay but a safe rule of thumb is, the bigger the meeting you’re likely to get a bigger bet with each firm.

⭕ Prices

Back in the good old days, described as such by bookies, not punters, who have never had it so good, the market used to form 10 minutes before the off. There’d be a maelstrom of betting and they were off. These days, bookmakers price up almost as soon as they pass the post for the previous race. This was a tradition imported to Tattersalls when bookies used to working in the Silver Ring started to bet in the main enclosure and show the old incumbents how to do it. In the old days, those guys had done their homework, these days, there’s no point denying most will take their market from what’s happening on the exchanges even when there’s very little liquidity. The prices that they display on their boards, on the basis of these, will be actual prices available to you.

⭕ Begging Prices

Generally, the bookmakers don’t want people coming up begging a bigger price. Even though in his recent #BettingPeople interview, Lofty recalled that a certain Ben Keith used to do so quite successfully, times have changed. Such is the competitive nature of the on-course market most bookmakers will have priced the race very near the knuckle. There are times when maybe it’s worth you chancing your arm asking for a bigger price than displayed. That’s certainly not when punters are scrambling to get on or after you have stood there looking at the 6/4 hoping for 13/8 and still stood there with your mouth open as all the 6/4 was slashed into 11/8. Nobody is going to take any notice of you in either situation if you stand there holding up proceedings asking for prices that are gone, the only exception being if you were in the queue when the price changed.

You might also get accommodated if you have been betting with the same bookie all afternoon and it’s a bigger price with his neighbour. Don’t get to like a bookie and happily take under the odds, make them pay for your custom. The one and only time it might be a good idea to beg a price is if it’s desperately quiet, the bookies are doing no business, it’s almost post time and you want to try and nick a bit of value on the jolly, no harm in asking, most of them want to get the short one in the book. Similarly, if you see a price in the back row, don’t ask a bookie in a better spot to match it. As dear old Harry Metcalfe used to say to punters who tried that, ‘You go and get what you can on with them, then come and have the rest with me.’

⭕ Fractions

I’ve mentioned fractions many a time in the past, I have written a blog on them which can be read here. Always ask, most of the time you’ll get. https://www.starsportsbet.co.uk/simon-nott-when-on-course-always-ask-for-the-fractions/

⭕ Take What You’re Offered

When I was a floorman, the seasoned sage Jack Lynn would often send me off to have a hedge bet with the words ‘Don’t come back with nothing’ ringing in my ears. That was good advice for a floorman because if you were asked to bet a £200 – £28 back and you only got a £100 – £14 it proved to the boss that it was there, but you got cut. The same should apply when having a personal bet. If you see a standout price, ask for a bet and if you get cut, take it and say thank you. You will have still backed it to win a decent amount, why have it all on at 12/1 and not some of it at 14/1, ego would be the only reason not to and that’s a bit daft.

⭕ Cash Is Still King

It’s true, more and more bookmakers will take a debit card bet. Ideally if you are going to get into the thick of on-course betting, get your racecourse readies ready, nothing catches a layer’s eye more than a first full of cash. If you are going to use a card, it’s best to do so when the firm is quiet, trying to get on using one with a minute to go while he’s under the cosh isn’t going to make you popular – though of course they will still take your bet.

⭕ Pulling A Stroke

Contrary to popular belief, the bookmakers are probably the most honest group of people you’ll encounter on a racecourse, the nature of their business demands it. They won’t knowingly underpay you, give you the wrong change or most importantly lay you a bet on the wrong horse. Mistakes the fault of bookmakers do happen from time to time and are happily rectified. The last thing a bookmaker wants is a dispute, sadly he’s not able to guess what you meant to say, the horse you intended to back, or know that when you called number 4 you really wanted number 11 but were looking at the 4/1 price.

Those mistakes are a lot more common, if you made one, please suck it up and put it down to experience, always check your tickets, it’s no point trying to rectify a mistake after the race, but you can before. Likewise, if you asked for a tenner and your ticket says you had a grand on, you’ll get paid for a tenner you won’t get paid on the grand, it’s much more sporting to point out the error than try and draw. Please don’t try it on, the bookmakers will see through it, the Betting Ring manager will see through it, you’ll look a bellend and basically it’s just not playing the game.

⭕ The Pros of Betting On Course

The value is there, prices are real not theoretical, you’ll get on even if you’re a winner and what better than betting in person, seeing the whites of your bookies eyes and smelling the fear. There’s loads of value early in the betting and whatever price you take near the off, the biggest price in the ring is almost certain to beat SP on the market leaders. About that mystery formula on which all bets in the UK are settled, anyone that has a clue how the industry SP is formulated, can you please let me know ……

Star Sports bet at:

⭕ Cheltenham all meetings
⭕ Kempton National Hunt
⭕ Aintree Grand National
⭕ Epsom Oaks and Derby
⭕ Royal Ascot
⭕ Ascot Flat
⭕ Glorious Goodwood
⭕ The Curragh
⭕ Towcester Greyhounds

SIMON

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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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