ASCOT BETTING RING

AUTHOR: Star Sports Content

SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Ascot Saturday

We all arrived at Ascot today braced for whatever storm Bert could throw at us, but as the horses were going down to the start for the first he still hadn’t arrived, writes SIMON NOTT.

The team today, Lofty, Kieran and Tony were betting on the same pitch as yesterday – number one in the second row. Lofty had a nice surprise when gentleman of the turf Michael Fletcher came to the pitch and handed him a tasty burger. Posting that less than top quality chicken item from a rival racecourse a year or so ago was one of the best bits of work Lofty has done on course, Michael has ensured the big man never goes hungry when he’s ever at the races.

12:25 – Restorations UK Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 2m 5½f

Betting on the opener would have been thin were it not for a bet of £5000 – £5500 over Kloth Of Utopia and £700 – £200 twice over Excello making up the bulk of a £6535 book. As with yesterday, the punters appeared happy to be anywhere but the betting ring, despite wet and windy ole Bert nowhere to be seen. The day had already started well with the non-arrival of said Bert but was about to get a whole lot better, for Star Sports at least. Western Knight won the race at 6/1 and the firm pretty much copped what they took. It doesn’t get much better than that, in the old days that would have prompted ‘the skinner walk’ where the bookie would walk around the ring asking how his neighbours had got on, knowing probably not as well as him. Of course, Lofty wouldn’t do that.

12:55 – CopyBet Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (4YO plus) 2m 7½f

Next up and the field money dropped to less than a grand, bets of £700 – £200 Royal Margaux and £550 – £200 each-way Scarlet O’Tara made up the bulk of the take, oh and the rain had started by the time the field set off, with just those two were losers in the book. Between races, Michael came back with coffees, one for me and one for Lofty to wash his burger down with. Michael asked how Lofty enjoyed his snack, to which he replied that it wasn’t as good as the one he got him at Kempton. I know, unreal isn’t he? To make things worse, Scarlet O’ Tara won and the book blew a monkey.

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

Next up, Lofty went a best in the village 4/9 Pic D’Orhy because one of the bag men told him that his men were backing the second in. Sadly though, there were no takers in the very sparse betting ring. The book held less than £300 and that included a bet of £1600 – £100 Flegmatik. That’s pretty desperate stuff for a Showcase Saturday in a prime pitch. Maybe weather warnings put people off coming racing today. It was OK though, the favourite bolted in and the book won £130. Luckily Lofty’s lean didn’t attract money enough to topple the firm, if you are born lucky you can still get it right when you were wrong.

2:05 – 1st Class Logistics Berkshire National Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5YO plus) 3m 5½f

Next up and the take on the previous race was eclipsed in one hit after Lofty laid a shrewdie £2000 – £280 Duke Of Deception, how do I know it was to a shrewdie? They asked for fractions. The other bet of note was to an accountant, £250 each-way Inis Oirr at 7/2. How do I know he was an accountant? I don’t but that’s what we call an accountant’s bet, they’ve done the maths. Another impressive punter was a gentleman in a tweed suit with a splash of pink in the check, very smart, yes the suit, but he had two bets and asked for fractions on both of them, it gave me a glow warmer than his suit. At the off the book held £1700 with three losers for around £800 and a taker. There was still no real sign of Bert, it was damp yes, stormy, no. Once again the race went to the good guys, 13/2 chance Beauport won by what used to be called a distance and copped a grand in the win book, which was reduced to £850 thanks to a bet of £2000 – £100 each-way the third home What A Path. The weather celebrated by raining on us a little harder.

2:45 – Howden Ascot Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Ascot Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 2m 3½f

Next up, a lump, £6000 – £3000 Golden Ace to an Internet TikTok tipster struck witnessed by his film crew. Just when the team, Lofty, Kieran and Tony were coasting to the second winning day in a row, things just got serious. They got quiet too though. You could have fired shots down between the two lines of bookmakers and not hit a soul for much of the race. The odd punter did nip out for a bet but at the off the bogie was still a loser for £5349.

Lucky Place winning at 4/1 for Lofty and the Star Sports posse was aptly named, the book copped £2500 which was very handy especially after the bogie traded bottle on as far out as Swinley Bottom. Going into the penultimate the book was winning £9500.

3:20 – Lay & Wheeler Hurst Park Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 2m 1f

While the weather had been kinder to us than most for much of the race it was closing in during the sixth. I didn’t put the punters off too much, the TikTok tipster bet another £6000 – £3000 this time on Martator while a bagman bet £3250 – £500 Marvel De Cerisy. The rest of the field money totalled around £800 until the last bet in the book, £1250 – £250 Sans Bruit gave me something else to write about. At the off the book held around £4700 and had the by now 6/4 chance Martator losing £5108. Well, the firm rode their luck but the support for Martator proved inspired, the £3000 punter must have been confident from some way out, his selection went on to win unchallenged. A hefty £4800 after the places dent was knocked into the days winnings, but going into the last the team were still £4700 in front.

3:50 – CopyBet Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4) (4YO plus) 3m ½f

It was getting proper dark during betting for the lucky last. The bookmakers boards looked quite festive glowing with prices, I’d like to say the punters were attracted to them like moths, but I like to be honest. As the horses went to post the hod held £600, as the field set off into the gloom that figure had risen to £695 with Copshill Lad and Best Life losing £482 and £205 in the win book respectively. While th e business had been poor, one thing that was assured was Star Sports were going to trouser over £4500 on the day whatever happened. What did happen was that 33/1 outsider of the entire race won the race and the book copped a monkey, one punter found the winner to the tune of a fiver.

Two winning Ascot’s in a row, aye aye, I’m back on course at with Star Sports at Newbury next Friday and Saturday where we hope the run will continue. It’s a wrap, thanks for reading, and to you too Bert for not turning up.

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_NewCustomer_Jan25_800x418
SS_BestOddsGuranteed_800x418_500Enhancement
SS_DTA_Social_Banner
SS_NBAAccaRebound_800x418_Social
SS_AddedBack_PL_Social
SS_AccaFumble_800x418_Social
SS_TouchdownFrenzy_800x418_Social
SS_DBNO_BoxingOffer_800x418
SS_WeBelieveInBookmaking
previous arrow
next arrow
SHARE VIA

    Most Read