SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Newmarket Tuesday

It may be a long way to Tipperary, it’s a fair jaunt to Newmarket from the Shire too, but I sailed up thanks to clear roads, though was lucky to get on the M25 just prior to a traffic shunt, writes SIMON NOTT.

It was nice to get back up to HQ, and as far as I remember, my first Craven meeting. Star Sports’ team today were Nick and Pam, seasoned veterans of the betting ring ready to take on the punters.

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1:15 – Alex Scott Maiden Stakes (Colts & Geldings) (Class 4) (3YO only)

The first race featured an odds-on hotpot in Cerro Blanco, which had evidently been burning up the gallops. Well, I guessed that, but such was the confidence that at least one punter had confidence to have a monkey at bottle-on to nick £250.

And nick it he did, the jolly did the business fairly easily. The £500 bet was the only one of any note in a book that held a total of £840 and blew £129 as a result of the jolly winning.

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1:50 – Gabriela Rose London British EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 4) (2YO only)

Next up and serious people were on the lookout for tumbleweed. I did manage to lose a score when I saw connections back what turned out to be a massive drifter in the race, rather than follow in a Newmarket man about town Martin Raymond who tipped me the winner 11/8 favourite Adaay Of Scarlett, which bolted up for Hugo Palmer under Oisin Murphy.

Under normal circumstances, Star Sports would have done their cobblers in, but Nick and Pam only managed to extract £137 from the punters copping £124 of it.

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2:25 – Federation Of Bloodstock Agents EBF Conditions Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2) (3YO only)

Next up and Talk Of New York, another touted as a good thing but not backed accordingly with Star Sports. They did bet one, at least one punter did £1500 – £300 on Maximized, which made up most of the £470 in the hod at the off. Sadly, for the bookies, Martin Raymond knew more than the carpet backer, the 8/11 jolly won as expected by the Newmarket shrewdies.

The layers that laid anything did their money, except Nick and Pam, they copped £321 in their book, at least they thought they did until they realised that the runner-up Lost Signal had been popular each-way, whittling that down to £196.

Between races, a very nice chap named Mark came to say hello, he likes the blogs and asked if Alan Potts had put one up today, sadly not, which would have been handy in the next.

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3:00 – AR Legal Collections Handicap (Class 4) (3YO only)

Next up and a handicap which was hoped would tempt the punters in. It didn’t, despite the warm breeze and sunshine.

It attracted a well-respected rails bookmaker, though, who bet a £3000 – £420 that’s 7/1 with the fractions. Startled.

He’d laid £14,000 – £2000 on the rail, so there was money around in the ring, which was encouraging to know. Needless to say, Startled was now the bogie with £581 in the hod. Startled won. Bugger.

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3:35 – Betway 4 To Win Handicap (Class 3) (4YO plus)

Nick did a bit of dodging in the race before the penultimate, not leaning up, you understand, but dodging. There were some bets around for Jakajaro, not big ones, but if a bookmaker put their head above the parapet price-wise it was snapped up, so Nick was general market price at all times, which saved the day.

4/1 favourite Jakajaro made it four jollies and Startled on the day, but prudent Nick’s book copped £338 clawing a little bit back.

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4:10 –  Betway Sportsbook App Handicap (Class 4) (3YO only)

Onto the penultimate and at least the sun was shining on the bookies betting on the 12-runner handicap. There were flurries of business though, a bookmaker hedging £5000 – £2000 We’re Goosers being the highlight, well actual flurry if I’m honest. Pam suggested I go and back it, ensuring it won’t win, the cheek, she thinks I’m a bok!

During a lull, I spotted and had a quick chat with top man ex-jockey Ian Watkinson, who I interviewed for #BettingPeople rider of some very famous horses and a lovely fella, check the interview here.

Back to Pam, she has some punch on her, it looked as if We’re Goosers had bolted up when in fact he’d gone too soon. As the field came to swallow up the floundering once clear leader, her celebratory pat on the shoulder nearly put my back out.

The well-named winner 22/1 chance Darn Hot Gallop was a great result, at last so her whack was worth it, the book copped £2350.75, which meant the firm was £30 back in front. Oh, and no, I didn’t back the bogie.

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4:45 – Betway Bet The Responsible Way Handicap (Class 2) (4YO plus)

The lucky last looked a nice little betting heat, but the punters really didn’t fancy it. To be fair, if it wasn’t for the shrewd bookie’s brace of hedge bets during the day, there really would have been very little of interest to write about, praise be for hedges which are no longer just for gardeners.

At the off, the book held just £346, and this is the Headquarters of UK horseracing, though I’m told it’ll pick up as the week goes on. Mister Winston the 9/4 jolly made it five winning favourites on the day, the layers groaned, the book lost £147, making it £114.59 losing day. Looking at the results, you’d take that.

We’re all back tomorrow, ready for some real turn-ups for the books, hopefully.

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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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