SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Cheltenham Wednesday

I had a lovely drive up this morning, the sun was shining, I’d loaded up the new ‘Do The Strum’ compilation of 1960’s girl singers and groups recorded by Joe Meek to listen to and all was right with the world. Incidentally, Ivor Perry’s son in law’s great uncle was Joe Meek, the late Joe’s brother was a greyhound trainer. It’s a small world isn’t it. Anyway, there was some great racing to look forward to, though it appeared that not many were expected to come and enjoy it, writes SIMON NOTT.

1:30 – Citipost Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) 2m4½f

The Best Mate enclosure was closed but Tatts and Members open and combined so offered lots of comfortable space for punters to roam around in. The Star Sports team were Lofty and Nick, the core of the firm and ready to take on all comers. It didn’t take long for the big punters to find them. The guys went 10/11 about Peaky Boy after very early evens had already been done next door. Punters were in like a flash with £11,000 and £6000 bets at the tips-on. That was that then, the book, every other bet was just damage limitation with no chance of betting up to it. They did manage to take a few quid out of the rest of the field though, the crowd that were here were punters, at post time the jolly lost £13,006 in the book and had bounced to evens in the ring after hitting 8/11 at the point. ‘I can green up for £1’ laughed our neighbour Barry the Tash, and with that they were off.

Between races I got chatting with two betting ring legends. Gary Wiltshire and Mick Fletcher. I also bumped into pro-punter Andrew Lowrie who was having a day at the races, there’s nothing like it, whichever side of the fence you are on. Sadly, I was writing for the losing side after the first, Peaky Boy won, the firm lost, here were go again. There’s one reason punters like Andrew Lowrie are back on course, the winner returned 5/6, it was hawking evens on course.

2:05 – Kingston Stud Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) 2m4½f

The impossible looking handicap that followed featured light betting, which wasn’t totally surprising. Punters rarely get stuck into these types of races and they didn’t here. At the off the book held £1072 including the place money with two losers and a couple of takers against the field. Jumping the last was akin to a hunting Light Brigade, anything could win, but at the post it was the bogie Doyen Quest that had its nose in front. The book blew £800.

2:40 – Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 2) 2m4½f

Next up and I was expecting to be typing the same thing but no! A punter came in with £3000 which he had on In Excelsis Dio at 10/3. Lofty said he was happy to lay the bet as the race looked competitive. The business was pretty good on the race, steady and small, but the team managed to take another grand out of the field. With about five minutes to go Micky Fletcher came over to say he remembered when it was good, he couldn’t bear to see it so quiet and was off. Nice to see you Mick, he’s 80 next birthday and looking good on it.

You really couldn’t make it up, the favourite didn’t look like winning at any point in the race apart from approaching the last. He went on to win going away, Gary Wiltshire called me over and said I was a jinx as everywhere I go the favourites win. Lucky I wasn’t wearing green or I’d have been getting the blame from the rest of the ring too. On a cheerier note, the sun was shining and I got to have a chat with my pal and over 60’s UK distance runner Gary Payne and professional punter Andy Gibson. Both looked more tanned than Micky Fletcher did, maybe we’re in the wrong job slogging it out on racecourses in the winter. Na, we love it don’t we.

3:15 – Gloucester Brewery Holman Handicap Chase (Class 3) 3m4f

The next race was lively. Big bets came clumping in one after another, Midnight Our Fred attracted bets of £3000 – £420, £3000 – £500 and £5000 – £1000, he wasn’t the only one supported though, Lofty and Nick also laid £4000 – £1000 and £3500 – £1000 Haston Clermont so it was up the two against the field.

Jumping the last Midnight Our Fred was going well and looked to be about to eclipse the long time leader Hymac. You’ve have to understand that it gets to the point where you expect them all to win. But what’s this, holy moly this time it didn’t go by, Hymac ran on well to win and the book copped £3000 back. The firm did run into a £1000 – £160 that’s 6/1 with the fractions the winner but would take that.

Micky, ‘The Asparagus Kid’ Fletcher left the building a little soon, it certainly wasn’t over yet he missed some excitement. A punter known to the firm, so no need for wise guy cracks about affordability checks, waltzed up and had £8000 – £10,000 on Dance Sequence over at Newmarket. That one finished second, Aye Aye.

3:50 – Safran Landing Systems Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) 3m

Next up and there was just one bet in the book worth writing about £6000 – £1500 Harbour Lake so Nick and Lofty got to work getting the rest in. Meanwhile Joe Lee and Anthony Kaminskas from AK Bets came to say hello. Poor old Joe newly employed by the firm has been treated terribly, he threw a 180 in their office dartboard but was alone and nobody would believe him. He had to actual swear on his kids lives he did it before the 180 was accepted as bonafide. Terrible, treatment.

Meanwhile, they were off and Harbour Lake was beaten too, only into second, but beaten none the less, things were turning in the firm’s favour. The winner 9/2 under Bryony Frost Zain Nights had been popular with the punters so the firm were lucky to miss the combination enough to win £2000 on the heat.

4:25 – Weatherite Air Conditioning Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) 3m2f

The penultimate saw some decent money too, Nick and Lofty laid £8000 – £240 Stumptown, £7000 – £1000 Manothepeople, £7000 – £2000 Are U Wise To That and £8250 – £3000, then right in the hole a further bet on Some Scope, this time £5000 – £2000. That left the book an old fashioned up the front two with the favourite in its place.

9/1 chance Manothepeople won the race under a celebrating Paddy Brennan from the fast finishing Stumptown. Paddy appeared to be thrilled with his win, maybe overly so, could that have been his swansong. Lofty, not on his swansong was celebrating too. ‘Have a look he chirped, I’ve laid a £7000 – £1000 that winner and still copped a grand in the book’

It transpired that Paddy Brennan had indeed decided to retire after his victory here. It appeared to be a very emotional time for him, best of luck on whatever you do next Paddy.

It was emotional down on the pitch for Lofty too. Despite the worm having turned for the firm, he and Nick were still losing £9000 on the day. The concluding conditional jockeys and amateur riders heat didn’t really appear to be the sort of race where that sort of money could be won back. But you never know in this game.

5:00 – Cheltenham Pony Racing Authority Graduates Handicap Hurdle (Cond’/Amateurs’) (Ridden In PRA Races) (Class 3) 2m1f

And we certainly didn’t, practically the first bet in the book was £9000 – £4000 Our Champ and later as they were lining up £6000 – £1000 In This World. Lofty looked into the book, stroked his chin and declared that the firm couldn’t win on the day, but added there could be a massive dent in it if both of the bogies could do the firm a favour and not win. Lofty had been remarkably cheerful all day, it was very strange given the result. Silly me, he’s a Pompy fan, they won their league last night. Well done Portsmouth FC!

Aye Aye! Tintintin won the race, backed from 20/1 into 11/1 for Fergal O’Brien again under Mr Tom Broughton who rode a tremendous finish. The winner had been well-backed but firm had only laid £30 at 20/1 early and that was about it copping £4221 on the race. The firm had still lost £5000 on the day, but it had been £25,000 at one point. ‘Feels like winning’ declared Lofty, it certainly does Loft, but writing about a winning meeting one day would be lovely, ta. We’re back tomorrow.

Racing Post results ….