SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Fakenham Friday

It may be a long way to Tipperary, but it’s a fair old schlep from the Shire to Fakenham too, writes SIMON NOTT.

Mind you, I had a lovely stress-free drive up with 5 1/4 hours of 50’s R&B to keep me company so no complaints from yours truly. Today was my first trip to Fakenham and my first impressions were what a beautiful course, boasting what must be the only gravel betting ring in the country. Emily and Nick were working the Star Sports pitch here, a fairly recent acquisition for the firm.

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2:05 Fakenham Racecourse Supports Autism In Racing Mares Handicap Chase (Queen Boudicca Series Qual)(GBB) (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-110) 2m½f (2m59y)

The first race on today’s card boasted only three runners, Nick and Emily were taking as much if not more money at Haydock than they were the home meeting. That’s not to say business was slow, the duo had a queue at times bets were mostly tenners and scores. Over at Haydock, Nick reported copping £170 for starters. The punters couldn’t make their mind up between the front two here for a while but as the trio lined up, Settle Down Jill had been installed as the clear favourite at 11/10 with most of the ring. At the off the book held £882 with two of the three losing, Nick evidently fancied No No Fitz, which was a winner for £532.

Star had the shrewdest bookmaker on the track betting next to them Dan Hague, he appeared to be ducking Belle Montrose, if he was, but appearances can be deceptive; he got it right, the 11/4 outsider of three won the race. There were plenty that agreed with Dan and the nose tappers around betting shops, the book lost £354.

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2:40 Racing TV Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-110) 2m4f (2m4f1y)

Next up, another three horse race and Dan Hague didn’t appear to be ducking anything. Nick and Emily had a rather large queue of winning punters to pay, all with a smile of course. The punters were being serenaded by an elderly busker with a harmonica and a limited repertoire of tunes blown and sung, all of which added to the happy atmosphere.

Once again, bets were steady, hardly a coin tendered with plenty of decent though not whopping wagers in evidence. The book held £1200 as they lined up, as 13/8 second-in At Mangan Bridge won unchallenged, the book still held £697, Nick played a blinder, with the winner the best in the book.

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3:15 Axe The Racing Tax Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4) (4yo+) 2m (2m3y)

Knowing I was making my debut here and unfamiliar with Fakenham, Dan next door gave me two tips for attending here: always bring a coat, and always bring a dog. Until he’d told me that latter, I’d not noticed the number of hounds of all shapes and sizes in evidence, it was like a story from ‘Hairy Mclary from Donaldson’s Dairy’, they were everywhere. Meanwhile, there were six runners in the third heat, Sixpack the 4/5 jolly early. Meanwhile, Nick was still taking money at the aways, ‘Copped £140 at Uttoxeter there’ he beamed while betting was in full flow for the home meeting, and they say only women can multi-task.

Field money was up again on the him race, over £1300 as the horses lined up and we were treated to a mouth organ rendition of the ‘Irish Rover’, again, the punters loved it. By this time the favourite was an 11/10 chance with £1372 in the odd and just the one loser, Sixpack for £325. Squeezebox won the race returning 3/1, he was winning £376 passing the post but once the accountants’ each-way bets and forecast had been taken into account, the cop was only £250, one saving grace though, the winner wasn’t called Harmonica, imagine the queue.

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3:50 Axe The Racing Tax Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4) (4yo+) 2m4f (2m4f1y)

Next up, the race before the penultimate, where Blue Universe was installed favourite at 6/5. As with the previous races betting was steady. Nick made a married man’s book, fielded £1084 with just the jolly losing £108. ‘That’s all right, better than kick in the goolies’ was Nick’s reaction when Breezethroughlife won the race copping £223. Anyone who has ever had a kick in the goolies will no doubt agree with that sentiment.

Nick dispatched me to get Emily a hot chocolate and whatever I fancied myself between races in way of celebration. It was touch and go if I’d get to see any betting for the fifth, given the length of the queue, it’s not gone that coffee game you know. I had an extra shot in mine, for medicinal purposes, you understand, it’s a long way to Bracknell on a Friday night.

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4:25 Axe The Racing Tax Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-110) 2m5f (2m5f44y)

Meanwhile, business slowed a little and field money was just under a grand as the horses lined up with Police Academy the one loser for over a grand. 15/2 chance Enjoy D’Allen won the race, copping £150, Nick wasn’t happy, he didn’t feel that the firm got their whack and he was probably right. The firm did have their work cut out here today, Dan Hague who has bet here for 30 years on one side and Martyn ‘Money Without Work’ on the other. Still, Nick and Emily worked hard and were getting the punters in. Going into the last of the six races the team were £1140 in front and keen to add to it.

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5:00 National Racehorse Week Handicap (A Jockey Club Middle Distance Series Qualifier) (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-80) 2m4f (2m4f1y)

Carlton was the 5/4 jolly for the lucky last, but not for long; that was soon snapped up by the punters hoping to go home in the money. Nick appeared to be boxing them up nice and tidily, though he was trying to get the jolly in the book, going 5/4 as they lined up. At the off, the book held £942 with the jolly losing just £101, a winning day assured. Dartmouth Rose winning at 3/1 copped £461 for the book, more than their whack this time, swings and roundabouts. The winnings on the day were £1600 from £7000 field money and what an enjoyable day it was too. Fakenham is a lovely track if you haven’t been, do try. I’m off to Ascot tomorrow once again with Star Sports. Thanks for reading.

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

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Simon Nott is author of: Skint Mob! Tales from the Betting Ring
available on Kindle CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

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