SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Aintree Thursday

Beautiful sunny, if windy, weather greeted us on arrival at Aintree for day one of the Grand National meeting.

The team were Lofty, Hannah, Head of on course Steve and head honcho Ben. As always we got a friendly welcome from the local punters. There was a bit of early business too. I also had a nice once-a-year chat with Peter Eastwood betting next door, always a pleasure.

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1:45 – Racehorse Lotto Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 2m 4f

A bag man was going around betting ‘Ten monkeys on’ Constitution Hill, on his card though, bags appear to be things of the past. The Star Sports team on the rail took a bet of £3000 – £1600 Banbridge to a known customer.

Apart from a further £800 – £400 the same horse business was fairly light, Banbridge was losing around £4100 at the off despite Stage Star being the shortener in the race. Banbridge won well, returning 2/1 but the firm did their dough despite getting the jolly beaten.

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2:20 – Jewson Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO only) 2m 1f

Next up and the ring had gotten noticeably busier. Punters were keen to be on, but business was still fairly small, but at least they were betting. The only wagers of note were £2400 and £600, both on Zenta.

The race itself was more thrilling than the market. The racecourse commentator reported that Zenta was cruising only for Bo Zenith to then serve it up to the jolly. It was a magnificent head-bobber all the way up to the line. As they flashed past the post, it looked to me as if Bo Zenith had just got there, the roar from the crowd when the slow motion replay was shown told otherwise. The photo confirmed that Zenta had won by a short-head, the bogie in the book losing another £5000.

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2:55 – Alder Hey Aintree Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 3m 1f

Star Sports are giving professional punter and #BettingPeople interviewee Brett Lloyd a free £50 bet a day at this meeting, any winnings will go to his chosen good cause the Penllergaer PMLD unit for disabled children 5-11. His first bet was on Shishkin here. Nicky Henderson’s gelding was best priced 7/4 when betting opened on course.

At least one on-course punter appeared to agree with Brett having £3000 on at 7/4. Apart from that bet, there was nothing else to test the width of the computer screen’s width. Lofty did say there had been plenty of money for A Plus Tard but it was weight of money rather than weighty money. At the off, Shishkin was losing £5000.

Well, what can you say apart from what a race and what a horse? Shishkin looked to have it all to do two out under pressure with Ahoy Senor going well and apparently going away. The alarm bells for his backers and bookies for whom he was a winning race might have tinkled a bit as the leader made a small rick at the last, they would have jangled when Shishkin started to get a motor on towards the line realisation they’d done their dough when ultimately getting up close home.

That was another £5000 done in cold blood, but on the plus side, Brett started well for his charity, what a race though. The punters were having it spark off but would they pile it all together and buy some more in the next?

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3:30 – William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 2m 4f

The next being Constitution Hill. The on-course pitch had already laid a £500 – £5000 but the office could top that. They laid a bet of £28,000 – £280,000. All of a sudden, a non event betting race had become interesting.

In anticipation that the punters might not be too keen to follow the big punters in Ben priced the distance 10 lengths or under at 4/5 and even money over 10 lengths. Over 10 lengths was very popular. But still, the big punters wanted to buy money. The next bet was £900 – £9000.

At the off, the over 10 lengths market had proven rather lopsided, a total of £4500 bet and all of it for over 10 lengths. I’m sure it Constitution Hill could have won by 20 lengths, but heroics weren’t required. The winning distance of three lengths was handy and stopped the losing race rot.

Surprisingly, the SP of the winner was 2/15 it might have looked a lot different had Star pumped that £280,000 back into the machine. Ben had already legged it before MC Mike Vince started talking in reverential tones usually reserved for the Royal Procession at Ascot about the winner.

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4:05 – Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase (National Course) (Class 2) (6YO plus) 2m 5f

The next is one of the highlights of the Hunter Chase season. All the top riders from the pointing field get a chance over the National fences. Whilst the race is a popular betting heat the sums tendered are generally modest. It was surprising that Lofty managed to get a bet of £1300 in the bag.

It was on the Chris Barber trained Will Biddick ridden Famous Clermont at 11/2. Chris and Will are the dream team of the Westcountry so not totally surprising to see the support. Will Biddick is also a previous #BettingPeople interviewee.

They may be the Westcountry Dream Team but were the on-course team’s nightmare. Famous Clermont won impressively and the firm did a round of drinks over £8000.

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4:40 – Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 2m

The penultimate was a competitive event that saw plenty of horses backed but not to vast amounts. The one bet that Steve, Hannah and Lofty laid was £8000 – £2000 on Douglas Talking. The plucky punter was spinning up his winnings from the previous race.

For much of the race, it looked as if he was going to cop and hammer another losing race into today’s business. Luckily for Star Sports’ on course coffers 15/2 chance Dancing On My Own bopped into the race and got up close home saving the book but no doubt breaking the heart of the punter. Come on everyone, have a heart, Ben Keith needs to eat!

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5:15 – Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO to 6YO) 2m 1f

The firm were £15,000 down going into the last. It was the sort of race where you’d hope for a result. The punter that bet £11,000 – £4000 the jolly Jolie Coeur Allen was evidently of a different opinion.

There was also small money that mounted up on 50/1 chance Rockstown Girl which made that a loser in the book along with the absolute bad one in the book Jolie Coeur Allen.

Well, neither of those won, it wasn’t even really a race, Fergal O’Brien’s Dysart Enos won, and the rest were out with the washing. The winner returned 13/2 and wasn’t a loser. It had turned over the last couple of races, let’s hope that trend continues tomorrow. Anyway, all the moaning aside, we’re at the races aren’t we, what more could you want, OK, winning day aside!

We’re back tomorrow.

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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