SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Glorious Goodwood Friday

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, on the approach to Goodwood racecourse, Kennel Hill, you won’t see a bird in the sky, writes SIMON NOTT.

I’ve never ever seen one, it’s a weird but true phenomenon, have a look tomorrow or the next time you are coming racing, you will not see a bird, in the bush or the sky.

I also had to make a big choice today, my bald patch was feeling radioactive, now I’m not about to complain about the glorious sunshine, but there’s no way the bald part of my head was going to stick another day of it.

There was nothing for it but to bolster the coffers of Goodwood Racecourse and purchase a genuine Goodwood Panama, woven in Ecuador and made in England, it’s fedora wide in the brim too so a nod to my hero Barney.

Sadly, that quality comes at a price, but one I was willing to pay though am hoping that a hat for medicinal purposes working outdoors at the races is a bona fide business expense so an invoice was requested.

1:50 – Coral Goodwood Handicap (Class 2) (3YO plus) 2m 4½f

On the pitches, I’m very pleased to say that Nick was back and over his sunstroke, Steve was back from his couple of days off replacing his very capable stand in Kaan, while Amberley, trouper that she is, was still with them in Tatts and the only constant on that pitch this week.

The rails remained the same, Emily, Lofty and Tony at the very sharp end waiting for the deluge of money that Friday was sure to bring.

They didn’t have to wait long, the rails team laid £6000 – £1000 and £1000 – £180 each-way, that’s 11/2 with the fractions Super Superjack and £5000 – £750 Temporize, 13/2 with the fractions.

Meanwhile, over on the Tatts pitch Steve, Nick and Amberley laid £10,000 – £2000 Kyle Of Lochalsh. That was good business on a hard opening race, it was noticeably busier today which was good, it would hopefully alleviate some of the gloom in the ring prevailing on the previous days of this year’s Glorious meeting.

This race has a spectacular start, no stalls, the field set off from directly in front of the stands. It also had a spectacular finish, at least for the bookmakers, 25/1 chance Master Milliner was an excellent result for the ring.

The Tattersalls pitch copped £4500 with the added bonus of not have a huge number of people to pay so could crack on with the next. Over on the rail Lofty’s crew copped £2800, the big fella saying that people had backed the winner having taken about £150 out of it, but was still a very good start to the day.

2:25 – Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3YO only) 1m

Dananananana Bag Man was in for a couple of bets in the next, he collared Steve with modest for him bets of £5600 – £200 Atlantic Coast and £8000 – £400 Boiling Point. Over on the rail Lofty’s team got an early £2700-£600 Lead Artist in the hod. Over on the Tatts pitch Amberley and Nick were fielding plenty of bets including a £3000 – £1000 Al Musmak and £3500 – £500 Socialite. Back on the rail Lofty said they were enjoying a good little betting heat, nothing massive, just steady bets and laying lots of horses.

Meanwhile over on the Tatts pitch, yes I’m getting my steps in today, I mentioned that Amberley should get a sponsorship deal with whatever company her suncream was made by, it certainly passed muster this week, she mentioned the name but I’m pretty sure I can’t spell it! Out on the turf Lead Artist did the business for his backers returning 9/2 and was also a good result for the Tattersalls copping £3000 off over 400 bets over two races.

The rails copped £400, they’d done 305 tickets. It was much busier, stories of the death of the betting have been a little premature and most people would have been too busy to complain.

3:00 – Coral Golden Mile (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3YO plus) 1m

Next up, the very tricky handicap, as expected business was still steady but relatively small, the punters made the book, they could have what they wanted on what they wanted at the price on the board and at times queued up to do so, on both pitches but bet denominations were small.

The 12/1 winner Toimy Son won £1200 on the Tatts pitch but the rails lost £50 largely down to a bet of £2400 – £200.

3:35 – King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3YO plus) 5f

Next up and Big Evs opened at 15/8 and promised to be popular with the punters being a rare sort of horse that’s captured the public imagination. Just when it looked to be a day coasting along betting the general public a punter waded in with £7000 which he had on Oolong Poobong in the 3.20 at Newcastle at even money.

Star Sports are keen to take away bets, so he was of course laid, which was a shame because it won despite drifting to 6/4. The firm had the value, it’s just a shame you can’t eat it. Both teams were just heads down tapping away again on the feature race here when a punter had £16,000 – £8000 Big Evs on the Tatts pitch which was totally at odds with the majority of the bets being fielded on the heat.

Just as an aside, despite the fact I write about all the big bets Star Sports take, they are more than happy to take small bets both on-course and on-line so don’t be shy if you want a bet on course or are thinking about opening an account. At the off, Big Evs had been backed into 7/4 and was losing £16,000 in the Tatts book and £2000 on the rails thanks to a grand at 15/8 in the hole.

One more stride and Asfoora would have got up and beaten Big Evs but the line came just too soon and was denied by a short-head, bugger. Sorry for the swearing but that was an £18,000 reversal.

It was nice to see Ed Chamberlin and his cameraman Clive filming down in the ring for ITV racing, it’s good for the on-course bookies to get support on terrestrial TV, it was buzzing down here today and worthy of attention.

4:10 – Regent Seven Seas Cruises Bentinck Conditions Stakes (Class 2) (4YO plus) 1m 1f

Next up, it was the race before the penultimate already, a seven runner affair where they bet 2/1 the field in what looked a tight heat. Business was generally a bit quieter but Lofty, Emily and Tony laid £875 and £575 Cicero’s Gift at 3/1, both due to punters having a spin up on top of steady business. Things got lively up in Tatts very near the off when a punter had £20,000 – £10,000 My Prospero which assured that one would go off the absolute and only bogie on the pitch.

Haunted Dream winning at a made up price of 18/5 was a nightmare for favourite-backers but just what the now beleaguered Star Sports teams needed, the Tatts pitch won £11,000 and the rail £3000. Meanwhile, a punter had some Olympics bets £20,000 at 1/8 and £15,000 at 2/15 not cash if anyone is wondering, no Sir, bets like that are ‘on the account’.

4:45 – Hawes & Curtis Nursery (Class 2) (2YO only) 6f

It had started to turn further, a punter had £8800 – £8000 Sanat at Southwell which was beaten into second. He was in again betting £11,000 – £10,000 Top Flight Century over at Newcastle which was a bet to keep the team on their toes. Back in the real world on the rails Lofty’s team laid £5000 – £1000 Rare Change and were asked for the same bet again when it was a 9/2 chance, which was politely declined.

Meanwhile, Top Flight Century was turned over at Newcastle. Meanwhile, Rare Change had hardened into 4/1, but that didn’t deter a punter betting an £8000 – £2000. At the off both books had the jolly an absolute bogie. 16/1 winner Artagnan was another cracking result for the ring in general, winning £4000 in the Tatts book but only a grand on the rails thanks to bets of £50 and a score at 20/1 the winner.

5:20 – Coral Play Racing-Super-Series For Free Handicap (Class 3) (3YO only) 1m 3f

There were several non runners in the last race reducing it to seven runners in which Wafei opened 6/4 favourite. Before concentrating on the lucky last here Steve was intently watching the Betfair in-running market on the 4.55 at Southwell, a punter had bet £4000 on Magic Gem at 5/2. He probably wished he hadn’t as it was beaten adding to the revival.

There was money in the last though, there was a bet of £6000 at 6/4 Wafei, £3600 – £800 Assailant and £4000 – £200 each-way Give It To Me OJ which was handy to lay given the place terms.

The favourite was proving popular, the Tatts pitch laid a couple of £600 – £400 bets from the floor as the horse were going down to post. It was as if the punters had suddenly realised that this was their last race to bet on, stakes increased as the number of bets picked up again. Over on the rail Lofty said he had a horrible book in which he couldn’t lay the favourite plus had laid a £130 reverse forecast the first and second in, but he did admit that whatever happened they’d end the day winning.

Thanks to the away bets Steve’s team were in a similar position though would knock £6776 sized chunk out if the jolly won.

Assailant winning at another daft price 16/5 was a decent result copping £4000 in the Tatts book, the cherry on the top of a good day at the races winning £30,000 on the day. Lofty’s team won a couple of quid shy of £1300 on the race getting over £5000 on the rails. With one day to go it looked like Goodwood really was turning out to be good.

We’re back tomorrow for the finale.