SIMON NOTT: Royal Ascot Tuesday Trading Report

It’s weird times for those of us used to frequenting the turf, not able to attend. In reality, the majority of people bet from home or in betting shops so would just be delighted that Royal Ascot was taking place regardless. The firm were hopeful that business would if anything be better than in previous years, the absence of racing over the last few months making the heart grow fonder.

A lot of people were cooing about the prospect of an afternoon’s terrestrial coverage of pure unadulterated horse racing with no fashion and royal distraction. No distractions for Star’s owner, Ben either. He was planning on walking around London for the afternoon, nowhere near a TV.

The rest of the firm were primed in front of theirs in various locations, chomping at the bit for the opening race of the meeting.

1:15 – Buckingham Palace Handicap (Class 2) (3YO plus) 7f

The first bet of note really got the ball rolling, with a wager of £33,000 – £1000 Documenting. Except the ball didn’t continue to roll after that. Maybe with bankers to follow punters were keeping their powder dry? This meant that at the off, Documenting went off a loser for £25,000 in a very quiet betting race. The 14/1 winner Motakhayyel was a ‘cop’ in the book so the meeting started off on the right note.

1:50 – Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) (Str) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 1m

Just as Matt Chapman was telling viewers at home that Circus Maximus was weak in the market the phone 08000 521 321 buzzed with a high-rolling punter wanting, and getting, a bet of £400,000 – £100,000 each-way the very same horse. He wasn’t the only one backed, a couple of punters came on for Mutashry, couple of grand bets at 14/1 and another thousand each-way Plumatic at 28/1 but dwarfed in comparison.

For whatever reason, the drift on the morning favourite cost the firm £480,000 with it getting up on the line to win on the nod. Gutting for the firm to be getting on for half a million quid down just two races into the meeting.

2:25 – Ribblesdale Stakes (Fillies’ Group 2) (Class 1) (3YO only) 1m 4f

Next up, well if you are going to get it back when going so far behind so soon then you’ve got to keep laying the thick ones. A punter with £120,000 to risk on Passion called up and had it on each-way at 7/1. Meanwhile, the £5 and £10 punters that the firm loves to accommodate kept the office busy but with the best will in the world they were never going to bet up to the bogie. Hopes were high at Swinley Bottom when Passion was the first to come under the pump but then ran on well without threatening to win to finish third at 13/2. You always have to look on the bright side, it could have been worse, no real lumps for the jolly Frankly Darling that hosed up at 11/8. The winner was the subject of £6000 – £4000, £1250 – £1000, and £1500 – £1250 and Trefoil £4000 – £1000.

3:00 – King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3YO only) 1m 4f

Mogul was the horse many people looked on as the banker on the day with good judges talking about the horse as the Derby winner. Punters piled in accordingly, an even grand four times, and even £1500, an even £2000, an even £5000 all called in swift succession. Then wallop, an even £220,000. Richard Holies gave hope when calling 18/1 chance Pyledriver as going best of all. He’s got a good eye as well as golden tones that Richard, his choice running on well to land the spoils with Mogul out of the frame. That was a needed nice chunk back for the firm.

It wasn’t just about Royal Ascot though, a punter called in as soon as the office opened for a bet at Thirsk. £10,000 – £1000 each-way William Alexander in the 3.15. It was a 15/2 shot when they went off without him after playing up at the start. Maybe one for your notebooks?

3:35 – King’s Stand Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) (3YO plus) 5f

Battaash was steadily backed, the phones, app and website all red hot with punters having it on. The crucial difference was that the really heavy-hitters kept their hands in their pockets. Despite that, there were bets of £8000 at 10/11, a couple of bets of £2000 at the same price and £3000 at 5/6 so even though the monster bet bullet was dodged – the book still took a £12,000 hit on the race.

4:10 – Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Fillies’ Group 2) (Str) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 1m

The one the punters wanted to be on in the penultimate was Jubiloso which attracted bets of £12,000 – £3000, £6000 – £2000 and £3000 – £1000, there was also support for Queen Power including bets of £5000 – £1500 and £4000 – £1000. At the off the book had just the one loser, Jubiloso for £20,000. It looked like the bookmakers were going to get a result in Agincourt but her gallant effort was reeled in close home by 10/3 shot Nazeef. It looked bad on paper but when the dust had settled it became apparent the punters had left us out of the winner which was a very decent result despite being one of the short ones.

4:40 – Ascot Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 2m 4f

The lucky last was steady with plenty of smaller business coming in thick and fast, those fivers and tenners soon add up. There were some lumpier bets too, Verdana Blue attracted a bet of £4500 at 9/2 and another grand at 5/1. There were a couple of outsiders apparently quietly fancied, Quloob was supported to the tune of £600 each-way to take out £20,000 in the win book and Rochester House another £600 each-way at 28/1. Let’s hope Verdana Blue’s supporters didn’t put the old premature arm up because 16/1 chance Coeur De Lion came swooping late to ease the blow on the day for the bookies. Luckily the big-priced each-way shots were out of the frame too, the day ending on a winning note.

Day one to the punters. Those who copped on Circus Maximus in the Queen Anne have Ryan Moore to thank. Would the jolly have won on the nod had he not given the colt a couple of overhead backhanders deemed worthy of a two day ban by the stewards? We’ll never know, you certainly won’t be getting any sour grapes from this direction but that’s the £500,000 turnaround question and a good talking point.

End of day wrap with Flynn Goward from Star Sports

We’re back tomorrow, hoping for some roundabouts after a day of swings.

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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 CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

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