SIMON NOTT: CHELTENHAM Wednesday Report

The members of the firm that could actually eat after the sums were done and a ball park figure of £300k in red was digested dined on a fish supper last night. By Wednesday morning the pain had eased and it was time to get to work.

BEN BEFORE RACING

BEN AND MAC BEFORE RACING (part 1)

BEN AND MAC BEFORE RACING (part 2)

1:30 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

The punters didn’t waste any time with Samcro, one waded in to the office with £30k at 8/11 in the morning. That price was still widely available with 10 minutes to go.

Then with seconds to go, a punter called the office and had a £40,000 – £55,000 and they were off. Any thoughts of a quick bounce back after yesterday dissipated with the roar that went up when Samcro cruised to the front and ultimately victory. Before racing they were saying Samcro was the second coming, it appeared the Gambling Gods were looking after their own and hadn’t yet finished tormenting the bookies.

2:10 RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

Presenting Percy was jolly for the next in a (hopefully) much more competitive heat. There were no lumpy bets on course but at the off we had the jolly losing just shy of £10,000. The office laid a £33,000 – £10,000 Monalee right in the hole.

Screams of ‘Go on Davy’ shrilling in your ears as yet another bogie hoses in are bad enough, but when that Davy is your brand ambassador Davy Russell it’s the real rubdown. Jolly Presenting Percy won with some ease, much to the joy of of the punters. Yes well done Davy but things were now getting character building.

2:50 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

The office had already laid Topofthegame and Voix De Reve to the tune of £48,000 – £4,000 and £50,000 – £3,500 both each way respectively in the morning so their book was already rolling. As usual in big handicaps, we were just letting the punters fill us in with whatever they wanted, after all the 8/1 the field the winner would be hard to find.

And it was, Bleu Berry winning at 20/1 was a good result and a very welcome change of fortunes ahead of the Queen Mother and Altior, had the worm started to turn?

3:30 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

It didn’t take long for the office attract money, an even £40k Altior, Ben was screaming to lay him on course, the feeling was he could get this one beaten.

The money came in steadily but still not lumps let alone monster bets.

In they came, even £2,000, £1,000, even monkeys even £3,000 until the jolly took out £20k, then £25k. The office called, they’d laid £125,000 – £25,000 Douvan, it was a proper betting heat.

He looked in trouble, we hoped for the best then the stands erupted as Altior powered up the hill to a famous victory and a colossal loss for us. A weird hush followed the elation all around, if you listened carefully you could hear the rustle of readies as the bookies delved deep into the deep tanks. Those rustles were eroded as the cheers rang out again as the winner triumphantly passed the stands.

4:10 Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country Chase)

The Cross Country race isn’t usually a race the punters get stuck into but today was slightly different, though stakes were relatively modest we still took enough to have favourite Cause Of Causes losing almost £20,000 on course.

With a book like that you’d expect we only had one loser and you’d be right. 7/1 winner Tiger Roll got a nice chunk back, but think drop and ocean. Still, for a race very few people appear to be interested in it was a welcome bonus.

ANDREW’S UPDATE

4:50 Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

It was just a case of head down and get stuck in with the Fred Winter and Champion Bumper to conclude. The last race proved you can get more than your whack when you least expect it. When I say Head Down, it was head up as far as Ben was concerned, to the nice warm box so Marcella McCoy took the helm on the pitch.

At the off Act Of Valour was a very bad loser in relation to what we’d taken, mostly down to shrewd cash money, each way too. We had several other smaller losers too, it was a case of just hoping.

There’s only one way to describe Veneer Of Charm’s 33/1 win with all the each way bogies out of the frame…….

Aye Aye!

5:30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Ben hopped back on the pitch for betting on the lucky last. And in they came, straight away £50,000 – £1,500 each way Seddon.

As it turned out that bet wasn’t a precursor to a tirade of lumpy bets but another wager of £30,000 – £3,600 Felix Desjy ensured our book was extremely lopsided. Other business was brisk so had the chance to get another chunk back if we could duck the winner.

25/1 winner Relegate was an absolutely blinding result, and who’d have thought it, Mullins did the ring a favour. We got a nice chunk back and it’s not a huge price that Ben and co will do better than fish and chips tonight. Another bad day but it at least finished on a high note.

Back for more tomorrow.