SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Exeter Friday

Today was a landmark occasion, Star Sports having bought a pitch at Exeter were betting on the rails for the first time, writes SIMON NOTT.

Even more exciting my old pal and often written about Armaloft Alex was working the pitch, on his tod as not a lot of business was expected but the firm’s presence was important, hence this blog.

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2:14 – Best Odds Guaranteed Overnight At CopyBet Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Qual’) (GBB) (Class 4) (4YO plus) 2m½f

That prediction came to pass in the first, a straight eight runner race where the place book was over broke. Alex only took £150 not really trying too hard given the figures, but excitement was to follow. Firstly, Doctor Blue, the second in and one of only three the market gave a chance to refused to race, then the very large crowd were treated to a thrilling finish where 7/2 chance Kapitein Kool beat 8/11 favourite by a nose in the desperate photo, the winner was the worst in Star’s book blowing a bottle. The fun didn’t stop there, it was then announced there was a stewards’ enquiry into the start, seasoned racegoers all assumed he’d been a runner. They assumed around, contrary to what everyone thought the stewards decided to withdraw the horse after the event which resulted in a 30p rule 4 and place terms reduced to seven. Regulars on the winner were incensed and those on Doctor Blue couldn’t believe their luck, everyone else were just confused, consistency is needed in these events. Hey Armaloft, welcome to Exeter!

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2:44 – Bev, Margaret & Iris Bond Memorial Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5YO plus 0-130) 3m

Armaloft didn’t have too much hassle paying out after the withdrawn announcement given the very few bets taken, the upside of that was he’d been able to crack on doubling his field money in the next. There were two features to the market, the inability to lay Itseemslikeit and the pile on Kalhandrion 11/4 into 9/4. They knew, Kalhandrion won, but they only backed the winner to small money but still enough for the firm to knock out another £600, it was lucky this time the big punters that come racing hadn’t clocked Star Sports bet here and didn’t appear to be in attendance, that’ll change.

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3:14 – Safer Gambling At CopyBet Mares’ Chase (Listed Race) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 3m

Next up, Willie Mullins had sent Fun Fun Fun to Exeter no doubt expecting cantering around to win with only two rivals. The market expected it too though the opening 1/3 eased to 2/5 by the off. Sadly, business totalled only £98, there was a £3 green up figure which will interest all those that think on-course bookies green their way up to riches race after race. While easy pickings looked on the table for the Mullins yard, Blue Las had other ideas beating the jolly a length at the post for the Mulholland yard, returned 10/3 and blew £250. Where were those odds on backers when you needed them, the large half-term crowd didn’t appear to harbour many punters.

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3:45 – Nick Ansell, Devon National Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5YO plus 0-135) 3m6½f

Next up, and the first decent bet of Star Sports’ career at Exeter, £750 at 9/1 Gold Clermont in the Devon National from a punter off the floor. Armaloft toiled away thereafter fielding small public money to the extent he held £1200 by the off with unsurprisingly just the one loser in the book. Star Sport’s had a box on course today which accounted for the steady trickle of the firm’s luminaries visiting the pitch, the latest of which, their political guru Will Kedjanyi who was capturing plenty of social media content, trooper that he is. Meanwhile, we expected an attritional race and got one, the long time leader but big drifter Jubilee Express ran and gallant race only to be outstayed by 11/2 winner Art Decco, only two finished in brutal conditions, the book won £925.

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4:15 – Ludo Sports & Live Lounge Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Mares’ Hurdle Series Final Qualifier) (Class 4) (4YO plus 0-120) 2m½f

Next up, the race before the penultimate, there were two features to the betting in this race. The first feature, Game Colours had been smashed from 5/4 into 8/13, the second feature was nobody smashed into the jolly or much else with Star Sports, Armaloft’s book held £185 at the off. The gamble was landed easily, the booked copped a ‘Nelson’ £111 so despite what should have been a bookie clobbering result the firm hit the front.

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4:45 – Guildhall Shopping, Exeter Handicap Hurdle (Class 5) (4YO plus 0-100) 2m5½f

Sadly, computer failure truncated betting on the penultimate where Noble Blue was a strong 11/8 favourite on the strength of being potentially thrown in at top weight based on his point to point form and Harry Cobden on board. RDT were soon into action fixing the problem but by the time Armaloft got working again much of the business on the race had been done. At the off the book held £200 and Ugo Bingo lost £300 in it. The favourite’s run proved that so called handicap good things aren’t always, went from lobbing to struggling then battling again but ultimately had to give best to 11/2 winner Bredon Hill Dart, the book copped the princely sum of £38.

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5:20 – Greendale Farm Shop Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 2 Elimination) (GBB Race) (Class 5) (4-6YO) 2m½f

‘Back a winner, pay for dinner’ shouted a cheery Armaloft Alex to a depleted crowd prior to to the last, so somebody did, backed it to win a very nice winner too, €2000 – €1000 in €500 notes Loveable Reprobate. There was a tip for the jolly early doors but as the horses went to post he wasn’t even favourite as money came for All About Trev and Moments In Time any of the three heading the market depending where you looked, but there was only one jolly and bogie in the Star Sports book.

It took a while but the firm got the money, All About Trev tipped up by previous #BettingPeople interviewee Roger Bush to his clients did the business for the Jeremy Scott yard returning 15/8 after late money. The book copped £1140 making it a cop of £1230 on the day, a winning start for the firm. Aye Aye Armaloft! I’m back with Star Sports next Friday and Saturday at Newbury, thanks for reading.

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Views of authors do not necessarily represent views of Star Sports Bookmakers.

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