SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Bath Saturday

Lofty hadn’t been to Bath for what he worked out was about 20 years, but remembered how to get here, writes SIMON NOTT.

Alex has been a more regular visitor, as have I, but we were all chuffed that Star Sports had bought pitch two on the rail in the hope we’d be coming along more often.

What a day to kick things off, a gloriously sunny Saturday, and Ladies Day to boot. People had turned out in force to enjoy the eight race card, and business promised to be lively. Taking that lively business were the dream team of Armaloft and Lofty veterans of the betting ring with a good 60 plus years experience in the betting ring between them. The scene was set for an excellent afternoon’s sport.

As betting got underway, legendary layer Stephen Little came to the joint and offered his service standing on the stool for future meetings, wouldn’t that be something?

1:20 – Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon Apprentice Handicap (Class 6) (4YO plus)

The business was steady and recreational as you’d expect for a day like today, at least it was until the £9000-£4000 Everest was struck with about 10 minutes to go before the off of the opener. Alex was so optimistic he got the ball of elastic bands out in anticipation; if that was an ‘Armaloft’ akin bit of fate tempting remained to be seen.

At the off the pitch held £5322 from 97 bets, obviously very small stakes when you take the lump away. I thought the horses were going to post fast, then realised that they were actually off, the sound system was totally inadequate to the point of being inaudible. I don’t like to complain on my first day writing for Star Sports here, but you couldn’t even hear the result announced.

Lofty and I didn’t notice that the bogie was beaten in the photo, the big screen was working well, the winner 9/2 chance Sapphire Sirocco had been a drifter, hence copped £3700 in the book, the bogie returned 7/4.

1:55 – Designer Outlet Style Fillies’ Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 4) (2YO only)

The next race on the card boasted a short one in Havana Sprite which opened the 4/11 jolly touching 2/5 for a while. There were a couple of £200 bets with Star Sports for the jolly but the only bet of traditional note was £1750 – £500 Naval Cop, that money stayed in the hod when the favourite bolted up. The book held £2077 and copped £900 over the odds-on shot.

The BRM came around after the race, there were moody scores in the ring, starting with BB56, typically targeting the ring on a day when it was heaving, bookmakers the target once again, so far Star Sports has avoided them. Lofty and Armalofty weren’t born yesterday.

2:30 – Pockets Townhouse Bath Handicap (Class 6) (4YO plus)

Next up and a hard looking Class 6 handicap, stakes were once again relatively small but a couple of £200 punters latched on to Legendsoftheland backed from an early 6/1 into 4/1, the other one the public money found was Son Of Astar at around 6/1. The problem the ring were having, apart from spotting moody notes was the lack of change. As far as I could tell most vendors were card only so the small punters were betting in notes which meant the books were shelling their change wholesale, Lofty sent me on mission impossible to get some pound coins, no joy, everyone was in the same boat.

On a more positive note, ‘We’ve put them all in the book’ was Lofty’s observation as the horses went to post, adding ‘That’s something you can’t often do’. They were off in silence again, the book had the two mentioned horses as losers with £2012 in the hod, I swear a lot of the crowd didn’t know race was off let alone finishing, Dark Sun won at 9/1, the biggest bet Star Sports laid the winner was £400-£50 so copped £707 on the race.

3:05 – Marsha Naify British EBF Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 5) (3YO to 5YO)

The pattern of the day was that the punters came down to bet earlier then it thinned out, the other was that the singer on the top terrace of the Tatts stand had a better PA than the racecourse commentator was afforded, apparently today’s was John Hunt. Lofty and Alex were happy enough with the business in the fourth race, they’d seen a monkey for the 13/8 jolly Velvet Goldmine and a wide spread of smaller bets for other horses.

At the silent off the book was a very good one, £2594 in the hod and hardly anything for anything. ‘We could have greened up for £307’ beamed Lofty, they didn’t. During the commentary free race Doodling losing £69 in the win book appeared to have won, but on a course that has put people away in photos in the past, not today though, she had won returning 3/1. After the places were taken into account the book copped £150.

3:50 – Support Ben Saunders Foundation Handicap (Class 6) (4YO plus)

There was a 45-minute gap between the fourth and fifth race. It seemed quite a long one, but at least it gave people the chance to freshen up. It gave people time to punt too, early bets included £1600-£100 and £1400-£100 each-way Onlyriversrunfree and £750-£250 Basilette, but the real action was a couple of crimes to fractions bets, £1250 at 8/1 Virtual Hug and £1500 at 7/1 Endofastorm. Luckily, the latter was win only as Joe Pointing’s mare finished runner up at 11/2 behind the 9/2 winner Belle Amie.

I’m told the winner’s name translates to ‘Beautiful Girl Friend’ which would explain the number of bets there were for the winner, with the assumption plenty of punters were bilingual and that my information was correct. Despite having laid plenty of very small bets on the winner the book copped £2570 in the win book boosted to £2900ish after the places had been taken into account.

4:27 – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Handicap (Class 6) (3YO only)

The next race was a further 37 minutes away, which seemed a long time, but the chap singing his heart out on the roof was good. A lady called Danielle won the best-dressed competition, though I only heard that because I’d nipped into the press room to charge my phone.

Meanwhile, Armalofty and Lofty were tapping away, a credit and asset to the firm that they are fielding nearly £2000 in all small bets just before the singer on the roof with the better PA than the racecourse burst into a rousing rendition of ‘Last Christmas.’ I’m guessing the long gaps between races had started to exhaust his repertoire. The lanky duo were averaging about 150 bets a race which wasn’t bad going with just Alex on the stool, grafter.

At the off, the book held £2025 with just two losers Swiped and Musical Soldier losing £608 and £465 respectively. Swiped won it, the book knocked out £600. ‘We were due a winning favourite’ Lofty’s stoic comment as they passed the post. Going into the penultimate the book was winning £7800, so far the elastic bands hadn’t boded bad luck.

5:02 – Best Football Betting Offers At freebets.com Handicap (Div 1) (Class 6) (4YO plus)

The punters had started to flag a bit by the seventh race though give them their due, they were mostly still punting fair play to them. The singer was still singing, though I think he must have started delving into his favourite B sides, they were mostly new songs to me, but fair play to him too.

By the time the horses were going to post, he was back to the classics ‘Wonderwall’ went down particularly well with Lofty who was singing along, voice of an angel that lad. Ish.

At the off, the book held £1966 and had bust the 1000 ticket barrier on the day, the horses were running serenaded by the rooftop singer who evidently hadn’t heard the news, a bit like the rest of us, who certainly couldn’t hear John Hunt. Dappled Light won the race, returned 5/1 and copped £250 having been a popular choice with the punters. Angels was the next banger, racing, what racing…

5:37 – Best Football Betting Offers At freebets.com Handicap (Div 2) (Class 6) (4YO plus)

The lucky last’s jolly was Revich which opened at 2/1 before hitting 9/4. Despite the amount of alcohol I’m guessing had been consumed, there really was an excellent atmosphere around the course. Equally as importantly, punters were queuing up to bet on the last where Revich was now a 5/2 chance and seriously in danger of flip-flopping in the market for favouritism with Galactic Glow.

The punters finally ran out of stamina betting dwindled to a dribble as the horses went into the stalls, the bag held £1876, even the singer on the roof had called it a day, Galactic Glow was 9/4 favourite at the off but was a winner for a bottle. Nobody could hear John Hunt call the last race but hopefully there’ll be some PA improvements before the next meeting here, it’s the only glitch on an otherwise terrific day.

The worst horses in the win book were Danehill Star losing £824 and Nammos £508, a winning day was assured. ‘One for the good guys’ hollered Lofty as 25/1 chance Freedom Bay won the race copping a further £1409. Aye Aye a nice winning day to go into Royal Ascot with.

I’ll be there from Tuesday. Thanks for reading.

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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