SIMON NOTT BETTING REPORT: Salisbury Tuesday

My first visit to Salisbury was in 1986 after reading about the joys of the Veuve Clicquot fixture in the ‘Travelling The Turf’ book of the same year. My squaddie mate Steve and I both took leave from our respective camps in Germany to coincide with the meeting.

I had recently purchased a bright red BMW which I drove back to Blighty ready to impress my mates. The downpipe on the right-hand drive vehicle developed a leak then split just as I was proudly driving into my hometown of Tiverton. Instead of purring like a cat on my arrival it sounded more akin to one of the military vehicles I wouldn’t be working on for the next couple of weeks back in barracks.

Luckily, I was able to order a replacement downpipe, sadly it was going to arrive with a couple of days to spare before my return so service. That meant that the car I was so proud of had to be garaged for most of my leave or patched up. Well, I was in the REME – Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, so I was able to temporarily bodge up pretty much anything. A couple of tins of ‘Gun Gum’ later and my prized car was perfectly serviceable and ready to take us to Salisbury Races in style. That it did until we were directed onto the field that serves as a carpark.

I’m guessing the previous meeting had been wet and since been sun baked. We drove over the rutted ground no problem and had a great day at the races. Sadly, the ruts on exit were substantial enough to rattle my repair off and leave us to limp home with windows wide open to ensure we didn’t asphyxiate ourselves on the fumes.

A few years later and I was a regular on the course for the next couple of decades. Bookies Jack Lynn, Dave Phillips and Ivor Perry all worked there and, in their turn, employed me. I do also remember getting a call from Ian Metcalfe asking me to work at Salisbury on the day of the total solar eclipse in 1999.

Wendy Perry, Ivor’s daughter, was a serious punter who enjoyed a purple patch that afternoon, all bets with Ian. She backed each to winner to pay for a different kitchen appliance. By the end of the afternoon, she’d kitted it out at Ian’s expense, each time she drew she told Ian what he’d just paid for, fridge, cooker, dishwasher, etc, each time he congratulated her on her not unsubstantial winnings through increasingly gritted teeth. Happy days.

There was a first in living memory today. The coveted number one pitch in Tattersalls was left empty. Initially in error then because nobody could be bothered to move into it. Sadly, that was the business expectation of the ring. Incidentally both Wendy Perry and Pete Smith who was also working with Ian Metcalfe that day in 1999 were here again today. Pete can be seen pointing to the vacant pitch. The people who slogged for years to bet in that prized spot would be incredulous.

4:30 – Shipseys Marquees Handicap (Female Amateur Jockeys) (Class 6) (3YO plus) 1m

The first race was one that boasted 10 runners and saw the field spread across the track. Only The Brave was sent off the 11/4 favourite but had to settle for fourth behind 8/1 chance Takeonefortheteam which won by a neck under Megan Wingrove for trainer Mark Loughnane despite the pilot dropping her whip. The runner-up from the same yard was Broughton’s Flare which returned 18/1.

I had the pleasure of Lofty giving me the bets from the office. He told me that they had laid bets of £17,500 – £1250 Broughtons Flare plus £18,700 – £2200 each-way and £4000 – £500 the winner Takeonefortheteam. He added that it was lucky there was no £500 reverse forecast. Quite right Lofty, back in the day if you had been repping your boss would already think you’d written those bets in, the forecast would have been a step too far! Not a great start for Star Sports but most of the bookies on course seemed happy enough, none of whom had laid the forecast.

5:05 – Sorvio Insurance Brokers British EBF Novice Stakes (Class 4) (2YO only) 6f

Next up, I was down at the furlong pole watching the horses go down and listening to the observations of professional punter Alan Potts. I was recording for a forthcoming #BettingPeople special. For those that missed his first interview back in 2017, it’s here https://www.starsportsbet.co.uk/meeting-alan-potts/

The one he liked to look of the most, though not for a bet in this race but for future was 8/1 chance Leuven Power. The colt missed the break and ran green but a solid race in fifth behind the eventual winner Hierarchy which obliged for Hugo Palmer under Oisin Murphy at 11/4 from the 15/8 favourite Dark Swansong.

Alan is convinced that his selection will ultimately turn out to be the best horse in the race and is one for your notebooks. News from Lofty in the office was that Newcomer Kataab was well bet early with bets of £750 at 11/2 and £500 at 4/1 before drifting out again. They also saw bets of £600 and £350 Dark Swansong at 7/4 and a £650 – £400.

5:35 – Roger Jowett & Nick Locock Memorial British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 4) (2YO only) 6f

Shrewdies had been tipping up Mick Channon’s Minnamoolka all morning which probably helped her price contract from an early bird 5/1 into 3/1 at the off. Going down Alan Potts wasn’t particularly inspired by any of them so he kept his punting cash in his pocket but those that lumped on the shrewdie’s choice reaped the rewards. She made all under Thore Hammer Hansen and landed the gamble by a length and three quarters. Lofty reported bets of £2000 – £600 each-way and £1500 – £500 the winner in the office and very little for anything else.

6:05 – British Stallion Studs EBF Conditions Stakes (Class 3) (3YO plus) 6f

Only three went to post for the fourth race. You know what the punters say in betting shops about the outsider of three? Lofty in the office told me ‘We’ve laid a bet of £20,000 – £6000 here, Saint Lawrence about the only bet of note and the outsider of three.’ For a three horse race it was a very good finish. 6/4 chance Jumby won the race for Eve Johnson Houghton under Oisin Murphy from the 5/4 favourite Albasheer which without being rude did everything it could not to win, from being slowly into stride to hanging at the business end ultimately beaten a head. The outsider of three finished third, as they often do, at least nobody was knowingly and annoyingly tapping their nose in a betting shop anywhere after that.

6:35 – Peter Symonds Catering Handicap (Class 3) (4YO plus) 1m 6f

Only four took part in the race before the penultimate, the first of three to be run over the 1m 6f distance so a tape rather than stalls start. Ed in the office came on to tell me that Blow Your Horn stood to lose the firm for £104,000 over two rolling up multiples. The on-course books told me that business had been fairly modest so far. Not so bad that they were going to accommodate punters asking for 5/2 Brasca when it was 2/1 on the boards. It wasn’t just popular on course, Lofty reported a bet of £18,000 – £9000 in the office too. The Dick Oliver firm on the rails did fall into it at 9/4 so was their absolute bogie unable to take much else.

Alan Potts told me that the race might be humorous to watch as all participants like to be held up. I don’t know about humorous but there would have been relief in both the Star Sports office and with Dax and Q on the rails when both their bogies were beaten. Hollie Doyle managed to get Simon Hodgson’s 4/1 chance C’Est No Mour settled in last before unleashing a run which saw the gelding bolt up by three and a half lengths.

It was nice to see one of the oldest workmen in the business on-course today, Dave, affectionately known as ‘Mossy’ was working for Andrew Wrench in Tatts. Some of the other firms were teasing him about the bar being closed, Mossy is rumoured to enjoy a pint, but it didn’t appear to be bothering him. After all, he’s far too professional to drink beer in a racecourse bar whilst working.

7:05 – Remembering ‘Harry’ The Racecourse Westie Handicap (Div 1) (Class 6) (3YO plus) 1m 6f

The penultimate, in memory of the recently departed and much missed racecourse dog (pictured below) boasted a well-backed favourite in the shape Hughie Morrison’s Oisin Murphy ridden 2/1 chance Sulochana. Lofty, still cheerful in the office, yes I know, he must like it in there more than he does the racecourse, said that they had seen support for the market leader to the tune of £1850 – £1000 and £10,000 – £5,000.

That money stayed with the office, the jolly only managed third behind the 15/2 winner Suns Up Guns Up trained by Amanda Perrett and ridden by Kieran Shoemark who was picking up a spare ride from unluckily stuck in traffic Georgia Dobie. The winner didn’t appear to have many supporters in the ring or the office which is of course always handy.

7:35 – Remembering ‘Harry’ The Racecourse Westie Handicap (Div 2) (Class 6) (3YO plus) 1m 6f

The bookmakers in Tatts looked very relaxed during betting for the lucky last. That’s not a great thing if you are a racecourse bookmaker, ideally you want to be ‘under the cosh’. As anticipated by leaving the number one pitch free, it wasn’t like that tonight. I was a nice night to be at the races though. The race was an excellent one with which to end the night. There were four virtually in a row with half a furlong to run, the race went to 14/1 chance Embolden for trainer Clare Hobson and ridden by Callum Hutchinson.

It would have been a great result for the racecourse bookmakers had they been under the cosh, sadly they weren’t but hopefully it made the day a winning one. Lofty in the office was on Dog duty but had time to tell me that they laid £2500 each-way and £1500 each-way Derek Le Grand at 10/1 Givepeaceachance £1000 at 2/1 and £10,000 – £5000 and £2250 – £1000 a monkey at 4/1 Eagle One he added ‘We laid £100 at 14/1 the winner, we’ll take that.’

SIMON NOTT

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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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