SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Ascot Saturday

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t remember racing on the 23rd before…

I’m sure it used to be a day off, but anyway, there were loads of people here and all extra commission most welcomed.

12:40 – Ascot Racecourse Supports Schools Photography Competition Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4) (4YO plus) 2m 7½f

There were queues for Father Christmas, coffees and the Injured Jockeys Fund stall. Not so much the bookies, at least in the first.

The team today were just Lofty and Tony who had bet here yesterday. Peering into the book Lofty noted that including the forecast bets the field money ‘limped over the £1000 mark’, £1009 to be exact. With that total in the hod, minus £6 for two coffees Tony dispatched me to buy, at the off 9/4 favourite Scamallach Liath was losing £640 with the second-in Wrappedupinmay a loser for a round of drinks.

The firm lost yesterday but their luck appeared to have changed after 11/2 chance Top Cloud thwarted the jolly by a head in a battling finish. The cop in the book was £640 which was really more than their whack. That sort of made up for losing £600 over a £30 forecast here in the opener yesterday.

1:15 – Howden Graduation Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 2m 5f

Next up and a three horse race which generated very little interest from the punters on course. It was so quiet that there was very little chance of the field money busting the £1000 barrier as it had only just limped over the monkey mark. Then unexpectedly and right in the hole a punter came in with £2500 for the jolly Solo at 4/5.

The firm did well to lay it, especially as it was 5/6 behind. It must have been Tony’s winning smile that attracted the punter in, let’s face it, it wouldn’t have been Lofty’s.

‘They can’t work out 5/6 when they want £2500 on one’ quipped our still unsmiling hero. I couldn’t say the same thing about the big fella after 11/4 Excello won the race cosily, he was beaming, the book copped £3100 and it was shaping up to be a good day.

1:50 – Howden Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 2m 3f

Dear old Lofty wasn’t beaming for long. I asked if he’d have a quick chat in front of the camera, now bear in mind he was busy with people having modest bets, many using their cards, but I didn’t expect him to reply that he didn’t have an equity card and was here to take bets. Ho Ho Ho, you never know when Lofty is pulling your chain, with that he happily obliged.

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Meanwhile Tony, also without an equity card was taking plenty of small wagers from the punters, he had the patience of a saint too, calmly voiding the two £5 each-way bets he’d just called when handed a tenner. You have to encourage novice punters, not bark at them, he was getting plenty of practice today. The only bets of note in the race were £1100 – £400 and £550 – £200 for Triple Trade the ultimate 9/4 favourite, come racing. At the off the well-supported jolly was losing £1500 with everything else a winner, jumping the last Harpers Brook had run them all ragged, and jumped it well, and clear. I looked into the book, he was copping just over £900, a handy addition to the day’s winnings.

Then commentator Ian Bartlett’s voice raising a few octaves alerted everyone that the one Harpers Brook was stopping and the favourite was beginning to get up, and get up he did. I dread to think how much some people did betting in running. For favourite-backers on course Triple Trade winning was an early Christmas gift from the Gambling Gods. As for the poor bookies, they’d had their cups snatched cruelly from their lips.

2:25 – Howden Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 3m ½f

The two the couple of big punters wanted to be on in the race that Reve de Sivola won three times were Champ, bet early £2000 – £300 ( 13/2 with the fractions) and Crambo £2000 – £500. Champ was backed into 5/1, Crambo drifted to 11/2 and the 3/1 favourite West Balboa couldn’t be given away, even at 7/2 at the off, despite Lofty’s screaming it out.

Everyone loves it when Paisley Park wins, even more so when he’s a good winner battling against one of the bogies.

Sadly, Andrew Gemmell’s gallant colt was beaten a short head by Crambo which got its nostril in front despite the apparently ominous drift in the market. The silver lining, and as I try to point out there always is one if you look hard enough, was that the winner was the best loser of the two, ‘only’ doing £900 in the book.

Going into the penultimate, the winnings were being dwindled back, but there was still time to turn it around before Santa set sail.

3:00 – Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 3m

The punters certainly gave the firm the chance to get it back. Bets included £1800 – £400 Victtorino, £1600 – £400 Blackjack Magic and £4000 – £1000 Git Maker. There was also a score for Yeah Man, it’s not the size of the bet but who had it. Lofty considered that the punter that placed it would have good Irish info so kept the raider onside.

The score bet aside, those chunks mentioned ensured the three horses they supported were losers in the book. One of them, Victtorino jumped the last in front and looked certain to win and cost the firm £1855 then hammering through the gears Yeah Man came swooping down on the leader.

They don’t get up when the luck’s not going your way. The line came in time for Victtorino and the firm lost another chunk. Lofty pointed out that the last three race’s turnarounds from winner to runner-up was about £7500 in favour of the punters.

3:35 – Betfair Exchange Trophy (Premier Handicap Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 1m 7½f

Going into the lucky last, I doubt many were in need of ‘getting out’, after crunching the numbers the firm were losing £100. The concluding heat was going to decide the day’s business. The bag man and sharp punters appeared to have put an elastic band around it and left the building like cash rich Elvis’.

This left just the general public to get stuck in. They did so with gusto, ‘The best betting race of the day’ reported Lofty. Tony was too busy chucking it in the hod to talk.

Field money at the off was just shy of £2000, £1993.70 to be exact. The biggest bet tendered was £800 – £200 Altobelli. For once, the bogies didn’t win, 9/2 chance Luccia did, the book copped £980 odd quid which ensure an expenses covering £762 profit on the day. The Gambling Gods relented!

Thanks to everyone for reading, wishing you all a wonderful Christmas.

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
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