SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Exeter Friday

It was Ladies’ Evening at Exeter’s swansong meeting, the ladies certainly came out in their finery for the occasion, though sadly for their frocks, so did the rain, writes SIMON NOTT.

It was OK, though, the Ladies had plenty of options to shelter, even dance under cover to Devon’s answer to Justin Bieber. Poor old Armaloft Alex betting for Star Sports, he was afforded no such luxury, Brighton & Hove’s premier luxury bookmaker didn’t even provide our hero with a mush, the shame.

---

5:10 – Sandygate Inn, Kingsteignton ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4) (4YO plus)

The first race on the precipitation splattered card boasted five runners and an odds-on favourite in Our Guide which had been well backed all day showing 4/5 on course at the off.

The punters didn’t want to be on the jolly, most of them didn’t even want to come out in the rain but Armaloft did manage to take £345 on the heat, which was a feat, and even bigger one was copping £137 over the winning jolly, which returned 8/11.

---

5:40 – New Inn, Alphington, Exeter Handicap Hurdle (Class 5) (4YO plus)

The rain stopped shortly after the first and the place came alive as people poured out from the bars, deserting Justin Bieber. There was a decent race to bet on too, a ten runner handicap in which Mr Jukebox heading the market at 4/1.

I had a really nice surprise during betting when veteran bookmaker and former #BettingPeople interviewee Joe Oliver came to say hello, he’s not been well but has been given the all clear and appeared in fine fettle.

Another #BettingPeople interviewee Rodi Greene also stopped by. He was in good form, too. The punters weren’t, though, only parting with £282 in total field money, which was quite poor given the crowd. However, Armaloft worked his bookmaking magic, managing to cop £87 despite the 4/1 joint-favourite Mr Jukebox bolting up in a facile manner.

---

6:10 – Half Moon, Clyst St Mary Handicap Hurdle (Class 5) (4YO plus)

Next up and a dead eight race where Square De Roule was heading the market at 9/4. Harvey Instance has a leg in Nigel Hawke’s charge, but we were told he was in Vegas. Would he send his millions over to back it? Seemingly not, but the field money on the race did reach £433. It was great to see the recreational crowd getting animated and enjoying the racing.

I’m hoping they show Racing UK in Caesar’s Palace as Harvey wouldn’t have wanted to miss Square De Roule win under a super cool ride under Bryan Carver returning 5/2 joint favourite, Nigel’s other horse in the race Watchoutitscookie made most and was just run out of second place, owners of both horses were delighted, Alex not so much, the book lost £57.

---

6:40 – Heavitree Brewery PLC Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) (4YO plus)

The race before the penultimate saw the most spirited betting of the evening so far when £677 was staked on the five-runner heat. The most popular horse in the race was Got A Dream, which attracted a bet of £400-£200 which was certainly a wager of note by this evening’s standard and helped make him a loser for £940.

Meanwhile, I discovered that my new raincoat isn’t Haldon Hill drizzle-proof. Got A Dream won, the firm did their dough and Alex really wished he wasn’t getting rained on, but he isn’t one to complain.

---

7:10 – Heart Of Oak, Pinhoe, Exeter Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 5) (4YO plus)

I’m guessing that when the breeders coughed up I’m told £350,000 for Frankel to entertain Poblin they weren’t dreaming of a handicap hurdle at Exeter for the offspring of the tupping shed encounter, that’s where Modern Style found himself today.

The gelding was a 25/1 chance in a field of eight where Regal Cavalier was the punters’ favourite at 11/4 when betting opened. It’s an easy game isn’t it, by Frankel, of course Modern Style won, absolutely bolted up a 25/1 making the £900,000 as yearling price cheap, a double and a third on the card here for Nigel Hawke, great news for Nigel not so good for the book, Armaloft took £444 and lost £673, the winner was a popular choice with the punters, you never know at the time.

---

7:40 – Royal Oak, Ideford, Newton Abbot Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race) (Class 5) (4YO to 6YO)

The lucky last, the five-runner bumper betting wasn’t expected to come alive, though the bonus was the weather had become quite clement and the punters did at least have bets, very small bets but bets none the less, the was £386 in the hod at the off, Alex wanted the jolly Dunstall Star which he was left with and Dunstall Star got up on the line to win £303 on the tips-on jolly reducing the losing day to £697.

So, that’s it for Exeter for the season. Star Sports joined in halfway through, once their reputation builds on the track, business will grow.

Thanks for reading. I’m back with Star Sports for Sandown next Friday and Saturday.

---

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