SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Grand National Day 2025

Well here we are, the big one, the Grand National, writes SIMON NOTT.

Before I go into full blogging mode, this year’s meeting will be a sad one for my friend and ex-TurfTV colleague Sonya Wakefield and family. Her bookie father Keith would normally have been standing in Tatts today but passed away suddenly on 28th December.

His family are putting his tools up in the garden remembering Keith on the day of a meeting he loved. Here’s to you, Keith.

The team today, working in glorious sunshine but tempered by a cooling wind were the terrific two, Nick and Lofty with the addition of the newly retired ‘Head of on-course’ Steve Brewer with the potential of Ben dropping in at any point.

Betting on the Grand National and the first race was happening simultaneously a good two hours before the first, going up so early paid dividends when a trade bet of £50,000 – £7000 that’s 7/1 with the fractions I Am Maximus hit the bottom of the hod and kicked proceedings off nicely.

There had been a plethora of non-runners reported during the morning, including a certain Ben Keith, on Grand National day, the team were all gutted but Lofty was virtually inconsolable at the news. Steve Brewer saw me typing this and said I’d spelt ecstatic wrong, rotters aren’t they? Well, I missed you Ben!

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1:20 – William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)3m½f (3m149y)

It was lucky that the firm had the excitement of the big Grand National bet because business on the first was quite slow compared to Thursday and Friday. As the field lined up at the start Lofty declared ‘This is poor’ looking into a book that held just over £3000 with Timmy Tuesday the bogie for what they’d taken plus a couple of outsiders also glowing red.

It looked as if Timmy Tuesday was going to win the race jumping the last but was overhauled close home by 28/1 chance Deep Cave which was handy. ‘Skinner in the win book for £2300’ cheered Lofty then simmered down when it transpired most of the money for the bogie had been each-way, the places cost the book a monkey the cop totalled £1800 when those had been taken into consideration.

Still, a winning race to kick the day off is always welcome.

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1:55 – Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) 2m4f

Next up and with likely short priced favourite Lalamba a non runner this heat looked a competitive one where they bet 3/1 the field with Horaces Pearl installed as favourite. It was a similar story to the first race as far as betting went ‘Typical Saturday crowd’ according the Lofty.

The bigger punters who had been lurking around the pitch on Thursday and Friday were conspicuous by their absence. There was a massive move near the off, machine based on Miami Magic, the gelding is owned by one of the shrewdest on course bookmakers in the country Dan Hague, so worth ducking if you could.

At the off the book held just over £4000 so better than the first race with Miami Magic the win book bogie for just over a grand.

I’m after-timing again, but the racing sage that is Alan Potts texted me this morning advising Honesty Policy, I’d have settled for third jumping the last but he did the business winning at 5/1. I’d also told Lofty who was making the book, which copped £1100, more than its whack? You decide. Thanks Alan.

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2:30 – William Hill Handicap Chase (Registered As The Freebooter Handicap Chase) (Premier Handicap) (GBB) (Class 1) (5yo+) 3m1f (3m210y) (Mildmay)

Next up and another competitive heat where they made Imperial Saint the 3/1 favourite. That price attracted a bet of £1500 – £500 as well as a £1500 – £300 Happygolucky. Lofty probably wouldn’t have bothered giving me those bets yesterday but it was a different type of crowd today.

‘Just like Ascot on a Saturday’ was the summing up from the big fella as the field set off with a shade over £4000 in the hod. 10/1 chance Cruz Control won the race but lost £1250 in the book care of £100 and £75 bets and several smaller wagers.

It was a shame to lose on the heat but was made up for by the Lofty lean-up Alan Potts’ tip.

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3:05 – Ivy Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) 3m½f (3m149y)

The next heat was another 3/1 the field job. The team took plenty of bets but not the most money of the day so far, £3667 with no notable bets, Steve, Nick and Lofty were grafting while I was fielding silly comments on X/Twitter trying to debunk the £50,000 – £7000 Grand National bet as a fake and being artistic crafting these words as you have to when not a lot happens.

At the off there were plenty of losers in the book, it was a case of let them run and hope.

Hidden Valley Lake won the race at 12/1, the lads did manage to run into a £75 each-way bet the winner but still copped just over £1100 on the race. Not many to pay was handy because now they had 45 minutes to get stuck into the Grand National, though betting up that £50,000 takeout might be a task too far even for today’s three heroes.

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4:05 – Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (7yo+) 4m2½f (4m2f74y) (Grand National)

They had a crack at though, there were no bets to match or even come close to the bet on I Am Maximus on the Grand National but there was interest in other horses. Bets included £2100 – £300 Iroko, £10,000 – £500 Hyland, £5000 – £500 each-way Stumptown and £7000 – £500 Hewick. As the horses lined up Lofty said that he could ‘green up’ ( if the liquidity was there which today I’m guessing it would be ) for £2500, the bogie I Am Maximus was still a loser for £47,000 and Hewick was also a loser for about a grand.

Jack Lynn used to say that big layers needed ‘rings of steel’, that was certainly the case as I Am Maximus came to the last just in front, at least from where I was watching, the cheers that went up when Nick Rocket got the best of the battle of the Mullins horses to win at 33/1 was mostly from the bookmakers copping £8000 in the book a £55,000 turnaround. Phew.

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5:00 – Rosconn Group Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+)2m (1m7f176y) (Mildmay)

So, two races to go and the penultimate boasted just five runners of which Kalif Du Berlais and L’Eau du Sud were the market leaders at around 2/1 and 5/4 respectively. There was a delay to the race which allowed the punters to get stuck in and get stuck in they did, ten minutes after the advertised off time the book held £5300 with one loser for £380.

Now that’s a good book with not a notable bet in that figure.

The second-in Kalif Du Berlais won the race but it was a losing one for the firm thanks to two correct £50 forecasts which made the winner bad for a monkey.

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5:35 – Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4-6yo) 2m1f (2m209y)

So, after a proper three days of punting and racing action we were at the concluding bumper, in Willie Mullins saddled the opening favourite Green Splendour but it was his market rival Le Labo that attracted the first bet of note, £2000 – £500, that was followed, as they lined up to race £4000 – £500 Mossy Fen Road then £1500 Green Splendour at 7/2 into a book that held just under £5500, the firm were £11,000 up going into the heat with the worst loser Green Splendour so a winning day and meeting was assured whatever happened.

Lofty should have had a lean-up again, we all know it’s Willie’s in the bumper. Green Splendour won the race, the book lost £3000 but the firm still copped on the day and the meeting. Aye Aye, it’s been a memorable three days. Now please excuse me while I point the car to the Shire!

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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