SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Aintree Friday

I woke up to hear the birds singing and see the sun shining, I grabbed my tweed and pink clobber.

Then, I took a minute to look at the forecast… unflattering but warm and waterproof Jack Murphy coat it was then. Still, I managed a pink tie nod to Ladies’ Day.

Yesterday had been a fun but unprofitable day’s racing for Star Sports but today was of course filled with hopeful anticipation, on both sides of the punting fence.

1:45 – Air Charter Service Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 3m 1f

I had some nice comments on yesterday’s blog before racing. Very kind, especially Calum who made a special wander across a wet betting ring to say so. He walks his dog on the Canal Turn most mornings so he’s a local, and it’s very nice of him and others to take the time.

The weather app was my friend today, the weather gear was justified, it was damp and miserable as betting got underway on the opener. One punter livened it up by having £2400 – £3900 Gerri Colombe. Had he not had that bet, Lofty told me that the rest of the field money amounted to £600. That tells you, it wasn’t the ideal first race but the weather certainly affected business. In hindsight, as the jolly bolted up, it probably saved the firm more than the £2000 it lost on the race.

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2:20 – William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 2m 4f

Standing under a bagman’s umbrella we were chuntering to each other about the cold and wet and then instantly put to shame as a young lady teetered past us in her stilettos wearing a tiny cocktail dress to have her bet. She was more worried about keeping her cigarette dry under her phone than the elements, they make ‘em tough up North.

The money in the race, at least with Star Sports, was for the two JP McManus horses, a £1300 bet on No Ordinary Joe at 7/1 and just steady money for Camprond. Lofty was getting dripped on but was still happy enough, as were Steve and Hannah.

What about Ben I hear you all cry. Yes, very good question, where was our cheery leader? Your guess is as good as mine, but thus far was a non-runner. By the time they set off, it had gone from damp to bloody wet. It was just as well that there was a trio of big screens in front of the stands or we wouldn’t have seen much, even Alan The Beard’s still missing submariner glasses would have had a job to cope.

Luckily, we could see that neither of the bogies had won but 9/1 chance Fennor Cross had. The firm could have easily laid what would have been one of the ‘short ones’ in this race, but had hardly seen a dollar for it, the book copped £2700 and were back in the game with very few to pay.

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2:55 – Poundland Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 2m ½f

There was talk yesterday about the wisdom of backing 1-10 shots. Well, a 1.01 chance was gubbed in the next, despite the rain, Ben turned up.

He chose well when to turn up, the next heat was a good betting race. Bets laid included £1750 – £500 Found A Fifty, £4000 – £500 Hullnback, £4800 – £300 Strong Leader ( would have been £5000 – £300 if he’d just asked for fractions – always ask for fractions! ) and £8000 – £2000 Luccia. The eagled eye amongst you will notice there’s no mention of the winner 3/1 favourite Inthepocket there. That’s because the punters inexplicably left Star Sports out. The cop in the book over the jolly was £3000.

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3:30 – Marsh Chase (Registered As The Melling Chase) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 2m 4f

Here’s the disclaimer, Ben and Lofty love each other but they bicker like an old married couple at times. Keen to make up for his absence early doors, the boss was keeping Lofty on his toes with price changes. Lofty kept his frustration in until Ben started calling ‘Tootie Fruitie’ the 2/1 favourite, Fakir D’Oudaires.

Having had enough, Lofty informed Ben he’d put the tracker on. Ben wasn’t happy that the staff had made the boss redundant and told me so. We aren’t allowed to film on course but this series of photos will give you an idea of a Ben v Lofty squabble!

Despite the rucking, there were still plenty of bets taken, including £6000 – £3000 and £2000 – £1000 the jolly and £5667 – £1700 Pic D’Orhy – the latter beat the former which was the best result of the two. The book won £170 but at least the rain had stopped a bit.

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4:05 – Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (National Course) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 2m 5f

Like Willow The Wisp, Ben was gone again before the betting got underway for the Topham. In his absence, but of course not because of, Steve, Hannah and Lofty got to work in harmony filling the hod the best they could. One bet that helped in that quest was £11,000 – £1000 Equus Dancer.

That was the only bet like it tendered in the race so no surprise that Peter Bowen’s charge was the absolute bogie at the off for almost £9000. The other losers in the book were Ashtown Lad losing £2500 and Haut En Couleurs a monkey. 20/1 chance Bill Baxter was a fair result and a good cop on the race.

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4:40 – Winners Wear Cavani Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 3m ½f

The penultimate was a fairly steady betting race, buts were relatively modest except for £9000 – £2000 laid Stay Away Fay and a bet of £150 each-way Apple Away laid early which stood out but at the off there was just Stay Away Fay losing, but a big loser for £7000. Out on the turf it was a competitive heat with the bogie still in with a chance jumping the last.

The race was won by 16/1 chance Apple Away, yes the one the firm laid early. Still, that’s the price she returned so they did little wrong and the book still copped a couple of grand despite that bet.

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5:15 – Abersoch Land And Sea Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys And Amateur Riders) (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 2m ½f

Going into the lucky last, the book was winning about £8000 which was about level on the two days, just behind if we want to be pessimistic. Business had picked up since the rain had stopped, a good result in the last required to kick into Saturday in front.

They bet 5/1 the field in the final race with apparently plenty of people hoping to get out on the getting out stakes should they not be winning and if they could get out responsibly or of course play up any winnings in the right and proper manner.

The punters were keen to get on, for whatever reason, just to enjoy a bet most of them I’d imagine. Bets included £6500 – £1000 Go Dante, and £6000 – £500 each-way Gaoth Chuil with plenty of others in the race backed to more modest amounts. There wasn’t even a modest amount on the winner, Fergal O’Brien’s 40/1 winner Punctuation.

Not a dinar, a shilling or a shekel, in other words a skinner the winner and if it hadn’t been for an each-way bet the runner-up they’d have skinned the lot. The cop of £5500 was the best of the day and put the firm on the front foot for the big one where we’re excepting sunshine.

Bring it on.

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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