SIMON NOTT AT ASCOT

AUTHOR: Star Sports Content

SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Ascot Saturday

I’d go racing almost everyday if I could so the late call up yesterday afternoon to report on Ascot from Star Sports’ newly purchased pitch today was a pleasure to agree to not a chore to agree to writes SIMON NOTT.

The team today was a hardcore nucleus, Ricky with half a century of experience and the unflappable calm of Eddy Dark at the helm. It’s a bit different at Ascot in the winter, that stand that keeps the sun off the top hats at Royal Meeting ensures if it’s cold it’s even colder in Tatts. The people here today were certainly here for the races not the fashions, quilted clobber was the order of the day.

12:20 – Royal Ascot Racing Club Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4YO plus) 3m

The first race only attracted three runners and for much of the race business was very slow, then a punter came in with £3000 which he had on the favourite Chianti Classico at what turned out to be the rock bottom price of 8/13. That was the only bet of any note but what Star Sports come for.

The favourite won, quite cosily in the end, the punter was happy despite betting at 8/13 when the SP was 4/5. Mind you, 8/13 looked a lot better than the £1.50 returned on the ‘Tote’.

Between races I bumped into bookmaking legend Stephen Little. In the past few months he’s been selling copies of his new book ‘From Bicycle To Bentley’ to firms in the ring most recently at Cheltenham last week. He arrived with some today but wasn’t allowed to bring them. In the end they relented and allowed him two which won’t cover his train fare. It seems sometimes it’s easier making a book on-course than selling them!

12:55 – Bet With Ascot Donation Box Scheme Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 2m 5½f

Between races twitter friend Michael Fletcher came up to say hello and it was very nice to see him looking so well.

Betting on the second was steady but small and sadly there weren’t any punters wielding bets to make Ricky jump. Ed wouldn’t jump anyway, he’s too calm. The book only held £1100 and lost £74 when Farnoge won beating Leader In The Park back in second. Star Sports were also betting on the forecast. They took a score on it in total. Yep, you already guessed correctly, the punter did too, they did their money on that market topping up the losing race.

1:30 – Nirvana Spa 1965 Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 2m 5f

There was drama, or rather the lack of it in the third when Shishkin refused to race. It was disappointing for everyone, not least the punters that backed him. Bets with Star Sports included £800 – £1000, £2000 – £3500 and £200 – £300. Nobody really wants to win like that but they are the rules of racing.

Of course it wasn’t all one way, a punter had £1500 – £600 over the winner Pic D’Orhy. To top things off during the betting on the race a punter who recognised Ed from the dogs was betting on away races with the firm. Always ask for a bet on the aways if you fancy one running elsewhere, the guys will always oblige if they can.

📢 The racecourse deserve credit for announcing that Shishkin was deemed a runner very promptly over the public address. Despite the fact that most people here today seemed to be seasoned racegoers there were still some people confused why they’d lost despite the horse not actively taking part in the race.

2:05 – Coral Hurdle (Registered As The Ascot Hurdle) (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 2m 3½f

Next up and before the betting got started in earnest a punter had £1100 on a 9/4 chance at Haydock which was beaten.

Things didn’t go quite so well here at Ascot. Maybe still soothing their smouldering fingers the bigger punters stayed away. Ed and Ricky fielded £1600 in the combined straight betting and forecast book. The bet figures were modest, a bottle the bet with plenty of scores and forty quid wagers. Sadly, for the firm at least, much of that was over the winner Blueking D’oroux which lost the firm a carpet in the book.

2:40 – Restorations Uk Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (4YO plus) 2m 7½f

The race before the penultimate was another race where the bigger punters held off, or maybe they’d just done their money. One that didn’t was the guy that bet £3000 – £1000 with Ed on State Lane at Haydock. That put things pretty much level in the business on the day.

This race wasn’t a great betting heat. The book held just under a grand and had So Said I a loser for £1079 with Miss Milano also bad for a monkey. We were treated to a desperate finish in which 11/2 chance Midnightreflection scrambled home by a nose and won the firm £850 including a small cop on the forecast.

Walking from the Tatts side of the racecourse to the parade ring was like walking back through the wardrobe from Narnia to summertime. It was degrees warmer and brighter out there. Some people weren’t even wearing coats. Amazing.

3:15 – Jim Barry Hurst Park Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 2m 1f

The penultimate race on the card promised to be a betting frenzy with eight runners to each-way betting the first three home, ‘The Ascot Grand National, at least today’ as one wag put it. Ed and Ricky got to work unhindered by many pay outs over the last race.

Well it didn’t really develop into punting paradise but business was steady on the race. Ed laid £800 – £100 each-way Triple Trade (they didn’t ask for fractions, I know I know, there’s still work to do) and £1500 – £500 Boothill. At the off Boothill was unsurprisingly the worst in a book that held about £1500.

I’m not a massive punter but I did have a bet in the race. It was put up by previous #BettingPeople interviewee professional punter and tipster Andrew Lowrie. To my eye Jane Williams’ Saint Segal had come to win the race jumping the last only to crumple on landing. Gutting for the team and his backers, yes of course I was on. It was also a bad beat for the firm as Boothill went on to win the race with Triple Trade back in third. Thankfully the faller and jockey David Noonan appeared to be unscathed but that sort of excitement’s no good for patched up tickers!

3:50 – Nirvana Spa Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4YO to 5YO) 1m 7½f

The concluding bumper was tricky for punters, very tricky, Willie didn’t have a runner. That conundrum didn’t stop the backers steaming in. One punter bet £3200 – £200 The Sainted Canary and another £1500 – £1000 Regent’s Stroll, £800 – £200 Wellington Arch. At the off the absolute bogie was Wellington Arch losing £1100, and The Sainted Canary losing £175.

The lucky last went the way of the 7/4 favourite Regent’s Stroll making it four winners on the card for the Nicholls and Cobden combo and a small cop in the book for Star Sports to conclude the day, a losing one but it augers well for the new purchase.

The firm will be making their debut at Newbury next week, I’ll be there too.

SIMON NOTT

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

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