SIMON NOTT AT ASCOT

AUTHOR: Star Sports Content

SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Ascot Friday

I had a bit of a scare this week, I couldn’t find my straw fedora I bought for Glorious Goodwood last year, writes SIMON NOTT.

I deemed it imperative in this weather, but having moved house since the last time it was planted on my bonce, I was worried it might have come to some sort of harm. I was doubly keen to find it as my fashion faux pas was pointed out by Jayne Leggett, the last time I wore my felt hat of the same style this summer.

Luckily, Mrs Nott located the straw version on top of the closet in her walk-in wardrobe; it was either that or an ensuite, so not as ostentatious as that might sound. I hadn’t spotted it as it was in a position that the height-challenged, that’s me, would struggle to see without clambering on a stool.

Star Sports fielded two teams today, Lofty and Tony on the rail and the two Eds, hitherto known as Cerberus in Tatts. Weatherwise, the stand was doing its job so cooler than it might have been in the full glare of the sun.

Mind you, the majority of bookmakers appeared to have given Ascot the swerve, the ring was full of gaps, though that would hopefully make up for the sparse-looking crowd. For somewhere built to house a Royal Ascot crowd there’s a lot of room to rattle around in on a quieter day.

It was only quiet until a punter requested a price for January in the 3.35 Newmarket, was told 15/8 and had eight grand on. That set the scene, maybe a head to head with one or two big punters for the afternoon.

2.00 – Tide Apprentice Handicap (Class 4) (4YO plus), 1m

The opening race, a 10 runner heat where they bet 6/1 the field was a tough one for the punters to solve. Some tried, but it seemed that most would rather keep their powder dry for potentially easier pickings later in the card.

The biggest bet in the Star Sports rails book at the off was £800 – £100 each way Great Blasket which was a major contributor to the £625 total take on the race.

Over in Tatts, Cerberus the two Eds had managed to extract £378 from the punters. Unassuming won the race at an industry SP of 6/1. Lofty is old school hence he was shouting ‘Pay Pay’ from the rail, a sure sign they’d enjoyed a skinner. The Tatts pitch, despite being double Ed’ed, only kept £117 of their field money but it was a winning start for both pitches. Aye Aye.

On a personal note, it was a relief to see that the Bookmaking Professional Drinking Team were up at Newmarket, it appeared it would be safe to venture to the bar and not be led astray, admittedly, I am easily led.

2.35 – JLL Children’s Charities Nursery (Class 3) (2YO only), 6f

The rails were once again asked for and away lump, £5000 – £10,000 laid Venetian Sun in the opener, she scrambled home in a finish that would have got rings of her backers twitching but she still won and the book still blew £5000.

The second race here boasted just four runners and an even-money favourite in Front Line Fury. There were takers, the Tatts pitch took an even £2500 – £2500 and the rails an even monkey.

Lofty described business as steady and the two Eds agreed also having laid £900 – £200 Sayidah Hard Spun. By the off, the jolly had been backed into 8/11 and looked likely to win a furlong out but was battled out of it close home by Sayidah Hard Spun. Despite having laid the winner, the Eds won £1786 and the rails £802.

3.10 – Newmark Handicap (Rnd) (Class 3) (3YO only), 7f 213y

Next up and a tight six runner heat where several horses were backed Roman Centurion attracted a bet of £1000 – £90, that’s 11/1 with the fractions and £1100 – £100 each-way Knights Gold ( no fractions ) on the rail.

The Eds in Tatts responded with a ‘hold my beer’ £5500 – £2000 over Sea Force. Once again, business was modest and steady with the odd decent wager, though of course, small bets are most welcome and often sweeter.

Racegoers were treated to an excellent finish in which backers of 12/1 winner Knights Gold were rewarded. There weren’t many of them, but the rails book lost £1600 thanks to the £100 each way bet over the winner under the odds. Over in Tatts Cerberus copped £1721, two Eds are better than one.

The away bets were favour of the month between races, the rails laid £5500 – £2000 Cinderella’s Dream in the 3.35 at Newmarket, the same race as the £8000 bet on the jolly earlier, meanwhile the two Eds laid £2250 at 4/5 Aylin beaten a short-head at 8/11 over at York.

At the time Lofty laid Cinderella’s Dream it seemed a good bet to lay, not so much when she won up at HQ, but at least it was still winning race and another punter found out you can be on.

3.45 – Investec Out Of The Ordinary EBF Fillies’ Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 3) (3YO plus), 1m 3f 211y

Meanwhile, the home race was interesting, Lofty laid £2500 – £100 each-way on both Ciara Pearl and Mrs Twig, £2500 – £250 each-way Miss Alpilles and £2100 – £600 Crepe Suzette. Over in Tatts, the Eds took £292 in total.

Once again, it was a good race, the rags Lofty laid were up there for a while but ultimately it was 11/1 chance Chilli Queen that got the money for her connections and Star Sports, the rails copped £1700 while the Eds got £100 otherwise known as the drinks bill, well almost five bottles for £15 wasn’t out of the way for a premier racecourse.

Once again, the bigger punters had their eyes on the racing at Newmarket, or at least one was betting £2000 – £2200 Distant Storm in the 4.10 there. That bet won, by a Rizzla at 5/6, which was a double bugger because there was very little doing in the home race.

4.20 – Knight Frank Residential Investment Handicap (Class 4) (3YO plus), 1m 1f 212y

That is until a bet of an even £3000 Ride The Thunder on the rail. It appeared Lofty had stolen the Tatts lad’s big punter, mind Lofty’s charisma is hard to resist so who can blame him.

Mighty Thunder won the race and returned 8/1, plenty of 9/1 on course, come racing and copped £3300 in the rail which gives you an idea of the rest of the business. The two Eds, won £36, blatant not triers!

There were very few punters to pay, but a bing bong for a stewards’ enquiry held things up for those that did want to draw over the winner.

4.55 – Long Harbour Derek Lucie-Smith Handicap (Class 4) (3YO plus), 6f

OK we were coasting into the lucky last the rails winning £5000 and the Eds in Tatts £6000 when a punter waded into the rails and bet £10,000 – £4000 Fast Track Harry which meant that if it stayed that way it could be shit or bust at the hands of a single punter.

There was hope though, Fast Track Harry was taking a walk in the market apparently friendless so maybe the firm had been lucky to get it in after all. Out in Tatts the two Eds were finding it hard to lay anything, there was less than £400 in the hod as the horses loaded.

You never know what’s going to come in, Josh on the Bob Stock pitch had a sleeper presented to him from this meeting last year, the punter was of course paid but it is quicker to write in to the address in the back of the ticket, as was the advice give to the punter.

The rails had taken another £592 on top of the big bet, and they were off. The market had been ominous for the chances of the jolly and also proved prophetic, he never looked like winner, the race went to 12/1 chance Mum’s tipple which copped £3800 on the rail and lost £76 in Tatts, he concluded a winning Friday where in reality not a lot was expected but of course the bigger punters making an appearance and leaving it behind was hoped for and realised.

A great start to the two days but it will be only considered lent until the end of play tomorrow, when we’ll be back.

Views of authors do not necessarily represent views of Star Sports Bookmakers.

Simon Nott is author of: Skint Mob! Tales from the Betting Ring
available on Kindle CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

STAR PROMOTIONS

 

SS_DTA_Social_Banner
SS_WeBelieveInBookmaking
previous arrow
next arrow
SHARE VIA

    Most Read