GREYHOUND DERBY FINAL

AUTHOR: Star Sports Content

SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Greyhound Derby Final 2024, Towcester Saturday

The atmosphere tonight was tempered by the news that bookmaker Ray Brown had passed away this afternoon, writes SIMON NOTT.

Ray was a familiar figure to many on racecourses and dog tracks, a real character, a lovely chap and well liked by all. He’ll be sadly missed.

It was beautiful summer weather up at Towcester, a bit too warm for the suit I wore but you won’t be hearing me moaning about the sun.

I might have had a little moan up about the decibels being belted out by the very authentic Tom Jones entertaining the crowd before the first.

The speakers were booming into Lofty’s left ear, there was a good chance he’d have not thrown his pants but dummy if the volume hadn’t been turned down in the nick of time!

There was already a huge crowd on course when I arrived at 3.30pm. Pretty soon after, the faces started to arrive, Max the Shoes, Jerry Croxford, Dr Simon, Lester the pro-punter. It was busy and buzzy.

The teams were Nick, Steve and John on the satellite pitch and Ben, Lofty, Flynn and Kaan on the main pitch, the latter duo resplendent in evening dress.

6.01pm Star Sports Maurice Newman Memorial Trophy – Div 1 500m Flat

The first race was off at 6.01, the teams were betting on it before 5.30. Bets early included a couple of £700 – £200’s Trap 1 Bombay The Joker and £2200 – £400 Bocko’s Thunder running from Trap 2.

Trap 4 Droopy’s Clue the 9/4 favourite won the race to a huge roar and the book lost £300.

In the meantime, Ben introduced Lofty to his daughter Danielle, and she seemed suitably impressed. Jim Tate was on hand, he’s been taking pictures since the heats and has done an excellent job.

6.17pm Farewell toGTV Sprint 270m Flat

Next up and Cree Jo Jo also running from Trap 4 opened 5/4 which attracted a few bets, £1000 – £800 and £500- £400 but it was Trap 1 Romeo Crusade that made the team jump, £16,000 – £4000 laid right in the hole.

The aptly named Not So Slow won from Trap 3 and the book copped £9000.

6.35pm StarSports.Bet Trophy 500 Flat

Next up, and a six dog race that looked like a match, Clairekeith Remy from Trap 3 and Cochise from Trap 4 opened 6/4 and 11/10 respectively. A punter came in with £1150 for the favourite, then an even grand bookie’s hedging.

The punters got it wrong, Trap 3 won, the book copped £2000.

Between races, I was doing my best to persuade elusive potential #BettingPeople interviewees to come out of the shadows. I was delighted by one response, watch this space!

6.51pm Steve O’Malley Top Betting Shop Manager Stakes 712m Flat

Next up and there was frenetic betting Trap 1 Barntick Bear was all the rage, £1100 – £800, £1100 – £1000, £330 – £300 and an even £500 were just some of the bets plus plenty of public money though two bets of £5000 – £2000 Ballymac Slick running from Trap 5 ensured those two would go off losers.

The smallest loser was the winner Trap 1 which lost £1800. ‘It’s like winning boomed Lofty!’ It wasn’t a winning race though, but it pays to look on the bright side, well done Lofty.

7.10pm Genco Puppy Invitation Trophy Final 500m Flat

Next up and a hot pot in the shape of ‘wrist on’ 4/5 chance Wicky Ned in Trap 3. It was a popular selection, one punter told me he’d backed it at evens but I didn’t see any, I’m guessing the guy who bet £2000 – £2500 shortly after didn’t either. The 4/5 stayed on the board until Ben took a £400 – £500, 8/11 it was.

It wasn’t just the jolly they wanted to be on, the firm laid £4500 – £1000 Trap 2 Table Toppers late on. That was handy because the favourite won easily and the book was relieved of £6000.

7.29pm Hope Jeal Sprint Trophy Final 270m Flat

Next up and weak favourite, Aero Sacundai opened 10/11 but took a walk to 11/10 in what looked the weakest betting race so far. It was good to see other industry people at Towcester, football expert Alan Alger and Julian Head of Goodwin were both in attendance.

Back to the race, there had been money for other dogs but the market knew nothing, Trap 1 won easily in a new track record (15:35) and the book copped £760.

7.47pm greyhoundtrader.com Stakes Final 500m Flat

Next up and more open betting with Gary The Arb opening 2/1 to win from Trap 1. £3200 – £1600 was promptly laid followed by £700 – £400 followed by plenty of public money. At the off Trap 1 lost £5630, encountered trouble in running, looked beaten then ran on well to win which was a bit of a blow.

As the pitch did their money, Ben asked me to report that the food in the box had been very good. The boss has his priorities right!

8.05pm Bombay Bitches Trophy Final 500m Flat

Next up and Trap 2 Crafty Shivoo opened a red hot 1/3 but Lofty had to go 2/5 to get it in the book, £600 – £1500 laid with a side salad of a couple of £100 bets at the price. The favourite won without too much of a problem but the book only did £43.

Now that was like winning.

8.22pm TownView Kennels Derby Plate Final 500m Flat

Next up and the book laid £4000 – £2000 Trap 1 Faypoint Susie almost immediately but it was Queen Joni running from Trap 4, one of the original ante-post favourites for the Derby that was installed as favourite at 4/5. This race came alive, plenty of bottle and hundred pound bets flying in from the floor.

Meanwhile, the two ladies who won the restaurant competition (pictured below) came down to say thank you to Ben. Lofty went even money to try and level the book and laid an even £1500, 10/11 it was, but still a winner in the book for £275 as they set off. Queen Joni showed why see was so fancied for the Derby by winning impressively. The book did well not to lose on an evening where the results certainly couldn’t be described as bookie friendly.

Ex head of Greyhound racing on SIS Gordon Bissett came to say hello to Ben, who described him as the most knowledgeable man on the sport in the world, adding how tough he was, like all the best counsels.

8.40pm Mark Siddall Prime Beef Challenge Trophy Final 712m Flat

The pace of the races was relentless, next up and another six dog match on paper. Ben was goading the punters shouting he could get both Trap 2 Coonough Crow and Trap 3 Queen Georgia priced at 5/4 and 6/4 respectively beaten.

Lofty had laid Trap 1 £1600 – £100 early, not great business, it opened at 8/1. The money piled in, including a £500 – £400 Trap 2 with plenty of smaller bets keeping the team busy.

Ben called 13/8 Trap 3. Punters were steaming in, forecasts had been popular all evening, £70 and over on that market not uncommon, another monkey on Trap 2 ensured that one hit bogie status quite soon. They laid £6000 – £1000 Trap 1 and £2000 at 11/8 the jolly, a result, or even the second favourite would be handy. At the off, Traps 1 and 2 were for £4500 and £3500.

Trap 1 landed a massive gamble, 20/1 last night, 16/1 early and 11/2 at the off. The book lost on the first result of the night, Ben got the front two beaten by the bogie, that was a bad beat to adopt modern parlay.

8.57pm Molson Coors Derby Final Night Invitation 500m Flat

With one race to go before the big one, the firm were due a change of luck so cracked on with that hope. Max the Shoes came to the joint to try and bring Ben some luck. It was around this time that Lofty admitted backing the last winner at 20/1 last night. ‘Punters and Staff’ was Ben’s stoic response.

There was no time to dwell on the previous race, a punter just waded in with £7000 – £4000 Trap 6 Miracle, it wasn’t quite the miracle Ben and team were looking for just yet but getting this one beaten would be handy.

There was still plenty of money for Trap 6 which as the dogs were going into the traps was losing just shy of £10,000. At last, and perfectly timed, a result. Trap 4 Salacres Tipster won the race and the book copped £8,000. Gary Whitty came up to tell me he’d backed the winner at 8/1, I could safely congratulate him on behalf of the firm.

🏆 9.15pm The Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby Final 500m Flat 🏆

Next up the big one and in came a big one, £5500 – £5000 King Memphis to get the ball rolling, did I say rolling? The joint was rocking, £20,000 – £1000 each-way Whyaye Man, grand and monkey bets flying all over the place, it was a proper Greyhound Derby betting heat, the firm took all that was offered, but would you want to be half in this book.

The Gambling Gods evidently fancied rewarding Ben for his sponsorship, Trap 4 De Lahdedah won the race, one of only two winners in the book and copped £13,000.

Aye Aye the good guys.

 

 

9.39pm BGBF TruFrame Champion Stakes Final 500m Flat

Next up, yes,we’re still going… a bet of £12,000 – £3000 Never Say No was unexpected but of course had the potential to bugger the day. At the off the same dog was losing £10,000. The favourite won, the book copped £2000, topping up the night.

9.55pm Fox Sports Surfacing Dorando Marathon 942m Flat

The lucky last run at 9.55 was a marathon, a bit like tonight, great fun as it was. The crowd were still here and in good spirits keen to catch watch 1990’s pop sensations East 17 performing after racing. There was still punting interest in the race, but not enough to put tonight’s winnings in jeopardy, at least you’d hope not. As betting got underway bookmaker Anthony Kaminskas made a surprise appearance along with his dog man James Pryce.

They’d been up in the box where everyone kept saying the food had been good, just saying. The finale boasted a 1/3 favourite Ballymac Taylor there was no money for it, at the off the bogie was Trap 5 Savana Jackpot for £786. The favourite won and the book copped £267 in the win book and £2600 on the forecast.

Well, that was a pleasing conclusion to a terrific June of greyhound racing.

I’ve enjoyed it all, well done Ben, another excellent Greyhound Derby.

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

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