SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Ascot King George Saturday

King George day at Ascot had a lot of competition with other meetings, but hey, it’s King George Day. Lofty and Ed were up at York while Inlike Flynn, Hannah and Chip Shop Steve were betting on the Star Sports pitch here. Number two on the second row. Flynn was pleased with that, and the business on the opener.

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1:50 – Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes (Fillies’ Group 3) (Class 1) (2YO only) 6f

The hod held about £3000, the biggest bet £500 – £400 on the jolly Lezoo. You have to remember this is back to reality Ascot after the eye-watering on-course business at the Royal Meeting.

Flynn managing to scoff a ‘Winning Post’ burger (which was ‘alright’) in the time it took the horses to load. It took less time than that for the 6/5 favourite, available at 5/4 at the off on course, come racing, to hose in under Frankie Dettori and the on-course book to do £2500. Frankie may not be flavour of the month with some trainers but he’s still the darling of the Ascot punters, most of whom were now quids in.

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2:25 – Longines Valiant Stakes (Fillies’ And Mares’ Group 3) (Rnd) (Class 1) (3YO plus) 1m

Next up and it was tougher for the punters, no Frankie! The business was very brisk but mostly very small. There were lots of younger punters, all of whom were ID’d if they looked under 25, betting with the books, which was good to see, many of them young ladies dressed to impress. Plenty of fivers and tenners tendered. At the off the hod held a couple of grand, the biggest single bet in it was a bottle, £200.

The losers were Romantic Rival, the bogie for £1100, the jolly Zanbaq losing nearly £700 and Snooze You Lose for a carpet, Oscula was a taker. Hollie Doyle getting 10/3 second-in Jumbly up on the line to mug the latter a nose was a cracking result that copped nearly a grand in the book. What can I say, the punters gravitating to Inlike and Hannah left them out with the winner.

Flynn had a message from Ben, Hannah was in his bad books for wearing green, yes, even the most successful people have totally irrational superstitions, mind you, if I remember rightly the legend that is Martin Pipe has a similar disliking for green at the races. I expect Flynn would have had another message had I posted a photo of him sans tie. I wouldn’t do that to him of course.

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3:00 – Moet & Chandon International Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3YO plus) 7f

At least by that reasoning the punter in the picture above has done his money too. To be fair, with a 22-runner heritage handicap to contend with, you’d take any help you could get winning which ever side of the fence you’re on, mumbo jumbo or not.

The book held just over £2500 with four losing, none of them had green in their colours. Fresh won the race for James Fanshawe under Daniel Tudhope, that combination were all in grey. The book copped £1200, despite Hannah’s flowing green frock.

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3:35 – King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (3YO plus) 1m 4f

The real test was to come, the feature race. Fittingly, the bigger bets started to roll in. Early on Inlike laid a £9000 – £6000 Westover, bookmaker’s hedging, then a £600 – £400 and £750 – £500 off the floor to punters. Frankie Dettori was on Emily Upjohn which may have or may not have accounted for two bets of £1500 – £500 on her.

Another backer walked up with a grand sealed in a bank bag and had it on Mishriff at 5/2. There weren’t so many fivers and tenners though. At the off, the book held £11,000 the field against the jolly.

Anything but the favourite would have done, the favourite looked beaten a good two furlongs out so it was comfortable viewing from there on. That comfort level was elevated somewhat when Pyledriver the 18/1 outsider of the lot went clear and wasn’t for being reeled in. Pyledriver’s jockey was in green, the only green’s paid out amounted to £87, Aye Aye!

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4:10 – Flexjet Pat Eddery Stakes (Listed) (Class 1) (2YO only) 7f

Next up and the antepenultimate, thanks to Geoff ‘Janthefish’ on the Talking Horses forum, there shall be no more ‘Race before the penultimate’ mentions, at least not today. Naval Power opened 8/11 and attracted bets £8000 – £11,000 and £4000 – £5500. A punter came in for a £5000 – £2000 Finn’s Charm, (green colours). The last bet in the book was a monkey at 10/11 the jolly.

OK, maybe I was a bit early doubting the bad luck of green. Naval Power cannoned home despite the drift, knocking the wind out of this blog’s sails in the process. In doing so the firm lost most of what the book had won in the previous race, hopefully the tide hadn’t totally turned.

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4:45 – Porsche Handicap (Str) (Class 2) (3YO plus) 1m

The biggest bet in the penultimate was £250 each-way on Dubai Mirage at 7/1 but business was still steady.

Tempus had been steadily backed from 11/2 in 4/1, not to any notable money but it all added up. The gelding won under Hollie Doyle who landed her double much to the delight of her backers. At the off the winner was losing a grand despite the places ‘being all right’ with Dubai Mirage out of the frame.

Going into the lucky last the book was losing £1100, and that before exes. A really busy race culminating in a right result was required.

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5:20 – Garrard Handicap (Class 2) (3YO plus) 5f

A punter, not a bookie hedging, but a punter, wading in early with £5000 for Bond Chairman at 7/2 ensured that there was a chance of ‘getting out’ on the day care of the concluding race. Getting that one beaten in what looked a competitive heat was all required should the gambling gods smile on Star and team.

They did! Call Me Ginger winning at 12/1 under Amy Waugh for Jim Goldie was a terrific result. The winner was cheered home by the enthusiastic crowd as if it was the favourite in the Grand National. A winning day for Star Sports at Ascot. Call Me Ginger? Call me anything you like, but green!

We’re at Glorious Goodwood all next week.

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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