BETTING AT CHELTENHAM

AUTHOR: Star Sports Content

SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Cheltenham Saturday

I haven’t heard anything about the on-course guys’ night out so I’m guessing it was a good one. Mrs Nott has taken the kids away for the weekend so I had an opportunity to wander down to the village pub last night. I met up with previous #BettingPeople interviewee, professional in-running punter, font of racing knowledge and all round good guy Matt Mantle. A top meal and very nice couple or three pints enjoyed in good company down at the Mitre.

The pressure was on today for the on-course team after Friday’s unprecedented clean sweep of seven winning races. Of course, giving Star Sports’ policy of take what comes in and no hedging there’s little Lofty, Tony and Nick can do but hold it and hope if a big bet comes in.

I wrote that paragraph as if I knew it was going to didn’t I. I wish I was as prophetic in my own personal punting. The message came through from Lofty, there was big punter action in the ring. Before I carry on, I must point out that the days of punters pulling £20,000 from a shopping bag and having it on are over, sadly. Cards and on the account is the way these days.

1:15 – Epic Value At William Hill Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 2m

Caveat over, the punter had bets of £30,000 – £10,000 Haddex Des Obeaux and £25,000 – £5000 Before Midnight. The biggest bets by far in a book that only had bottle £200 bets the next biggest. The punter had a good run for his money with the biggest bet which fell at the last when looking beaten, Before Midnight was last. Needless to say Dancing On My Own winning at 14/1 was a great result for the book though they did lay £1400 – £100 each-way the winner. It was lucky the big punter did turn up, Lofty reported business was otherwise poor.

⭐ News from the office was good too, their first message of the day was ‘Lively start to the meeting, plenty of bets and a good winner in the book.’

1:50 – Masterson Holdings Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO only) 2m ½f

Next up and the big punter was back and keen to get stuck in again, no doubt keen to get his money back. He didn’t mess about either, he bet £35,000 – £20.000 Spirit D’Aunou while another punter had £5000 – £2500 Blueking D’Oroux. Just the sort of business Star Sports hopes to attract at Cheltenham. They got the sort of result they like too. OK Lofty and team would have preferred to have got them both beaten were happy that Blueking D’Oroux won the race. ‘I got the winner in cheaply’ Lofty correctly observed when the Nicholls winner returned ‘eyes’ 5/2.

⭐ The office weren’t so chipper and probably wishing they didn’t offer at least one concession telling me ‘This was a lighter betting heat won by a big drifter it was poor result and highlighted the benefit of BOG to our customers’

2:25 – Epic Jumps Season At William Hill Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 3m 1f

It appeared that the big punter had pulled up stumps, or rather he didn’t appear for the next race. The £5000 winner didn’t have a spin-up either. After the excitement of the first two races, business in the third could only described as poor. Lofty told me they had a ‘normal book’ taking about £1300 with Twig a loser for £1300 and Kinondo Kwetu losing £400.

At first glance Whacker Clan winning at 12/1 looked a good result but no. Lofty explained that the winner had been popular with the public each-way. After the places including 4/1 bogie Twig (runner-up) had been taken into account the book lost a tenner on the race and with it the hopes of a meeting ‘clean sweep’ were dashed.

⭐ It was much better news from what sounds like a noisy Hove office, they reported ‘We took loads of bets, Twig was our bogie so it was a noisy finish in the trading room as the brave Whacker Clan held him from the last, which felt like it took a week, it was a good result.’

3:00 – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 3m

Lofty reported that the next heat never really got going. Business was very poor, they only managed to field £900 with 33/1 chance the bogie Bangers And Cash a loser for £1200. 9/1 chance Hyland won the race and the book lost a carpet. That was made all the more galling as the last bet in the book was £900 – £100 the winner.

⭐ The 9/1 chance didn’t elude the office punters either, they said ‘Can’t moan about bet numbers today, or the spread of money, but again our customers find another winner we had a level book’

★ There was an eye-catching tweet from Star Sports at 3.27pm from the shops. Specifically Kirkby Moorside, Liverpool part of the Star Sports betting shop estate – CLICK HERE FOR LOCATOR.

Irrespective of what was happening here on course and at Hove HQ most eyes in the firm would suddenly have an increased interest in the closing bumper after this …..

3:35 – William Hill Epic Weekend Free Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 3m

There were just six runners in the race before penultimate but we were treated to a thrilling finish when 3/1 chance Butch rallied under Sean Bowen to get back up and beat the 9/4 favourite Antrim Coast. The latter looked to have worn down the long-time leader leading close home only to get collared again in the shadow of the post. Whilst the ring got the jolly beaten, what mattered to Star, Lofty, Nick and Tony was that Reverend Hubert was out of the frame. They’d laid an £8000 – £2000 each-way Charles Byrnes’ charge so were understandably expected a good run and relieved to see him weakening back in third. The book copped £4300 on the race, which tells the story of the book.

⭐ It wasn’t just Lofty and co pleased to see the Charles Byrnes runner unplaced, you’ll understand when you read this ‘We got the worse of the photo, but still a small winner thanks to a lively betting heat, including £3000 each-way on the out the frame Reverend Hubert.’

4:10 – William Hill Lengthen Your Odds Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5YO plus) 3m ½f

Both the office and the racecourse experienced a damp squib of a betting race in the penultimate. Lofty said ‘It was a non-event all the ‘judges’ wanted Flooring Porter as a lay so it got a silly price. We won £120 on the heat.

⭐ The office concurred, they reported, ‘That was the quietest betting heat of the day so far, thankfully how it turned out. It was a losing race but could have been worse.’

4:45 – Cheltenham & South West Racing Club Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO to 5YO) 2m ½f

On course business was steady in the last, the firm were £33,000 up and unlikely to be giving it back, the big punters having made themselves scarce. Lofty and co did lay £800 – £400 and £1000 – £500 Catch Yourself On which of course was ‘Willie’s in the bumper’ as Lofty pointed out.

At the off the book held £2500 with the jolly losing a grand. Steve Jones on the TV was saying that although Willie dominates at the Festival, he’s got a poor record at Cheltenham generally. Don’t educate the punters Steve, the firm likes them to leave it behind. Willie’s was nowhere in the bumper, way behind the 18/5 winner, hold on a minute, 18/5, come on guys, leave it out, The Kemble Brewery.

The book copped a grand, which was probably more than they were entitled to given the price. That made £33,000 on the day £34,000 and an excellent start to Star Sports’ season at the home of National Hunt Racing.

⭐ The office’s last message was an upbeat one to end the Showcase. They signed off with ‘It was a nice end to the meeting with a positive result for the office, although to be honest following the retail news all eyes in the Trading room were on Jackson Lamb who led for while.’

We’ll back back for the Mackeson meeting, I’ll be there too, it’s been a weird year. Can’t wait to get back on the turf. Thanks to everyone for reading my remote betting reports throughout the summer and latter part of 2023. They can now be consigned to the same place as behind closed doors Covid reports, banished. I can’t wait to be back in the betting ring.

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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