SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Sandown Friday

Grand Military Gold Cup day was always one of my favourites when I worked for TurfTV and going back further when I was a young squaddie I sometimes fantasised that I would be eligible to ride in the race, writes SIMON NOTT.

There was one small problem, not being able to ride a horse probably negated any chance I had of taking part so that ship has sailed. On arrival at the racecourse, the car park was virtually full which augured well for a big crowd today. Entering Sandown Park serenaded by military bands there was certainly creating an excellent atmosphere with pomp in the air. On the betting ring side of course things were certainly as military with a display of khaki hardware where tea stands would be on a Saturday. Sadly, it was more like no man’s land by the bookies.

1:15 Anne Boleyn “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+) 2m (1m7f216y)

The opening heat featured a short one, Diva Luna which opened 1/3 or ‘carpet on’ for people that like a bit of old bookie slang mixed in with their ample ladling of whoppers. It looked as if business was going to be slight, there was hardly a soul in the ring, then as the horses went down to the start, the crowd appeared from whence they had been sheltering. They didn’t pile into to Star Sports though so business was slight, hardly a denar was forthcoming for the jolly or anything else for that matter. When you haven’t taken much, and by God the Star Sports team Eddie and Tony did their best to get the jolly in the book, you sort of want the jolly to win. The guys just couldn’t lay the odds-on and Sod’s Law dictates Diva Luna was beaten. 9/2 chance Castle Carrock was the one too good for the hotpot but only copped a tenner in the win book, that £10 was reduced to doing a fiver once the places had been taken into account. The favourite returned 2/9, if you were on course you could have had 1/3 early and as much 3/10 as you wanted at the off, but are probably glad you weren’t here and didn’t.

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1:50 Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Military Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-115) 2m

Between races, I was talking to a bookmaker’s clerk who wished not to be named. He was telling us that he struggles to sleep but has found a cure. He calls it ‘The Finisher’, now before I go on, this story is for entertainment purposes only and not an endorsement. He said that if counting sheep doesn’t work he treats himself with, or rather to the aforementioned ‘The Finisher’ which comprises two cubes of ice, four shots of Grey Goose and two shots of Night Nurse. Works a treat apparently, other vodkas and medication are available.

Anyway, back to the racing, Don’t Wind Me up opened at 10/11 but drifted to 5/4 in the face of punter apathy. Things hotted up a bit as the field went to post, there was market-wide stick-on Hidor De Bersy which was 6/1 in early skirmishes but not much cash really seen on course. This race was for amateur military riders which might have put the more serious punters off, wisely as it turned out, no offence to amateur military riders. The race went to Casa Loupi which returned 9/1 and copped £207 in the book. Kentford Mallard was runner-up at 22/1, a result which no doubt pleased the bookmakers and anyone still left in the placepot.

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2:25 Arthur Gregory Centenary Celebration Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5yo+ 0-135) 1m7½f (1m7f99y)

Next up and another horse that opened a shade of odds-on, that was Helnwein tips-on 10/11 with Eddie and Tony. A punter liked the look of those odds and snapped up £1000 – £1100, shortly afterwards another backer topped that up with a carpet £300 at wrist-on 4/5 and appeared happy with that, though he might not have been had he seen the last bet in the book struck was £100-£120. There was very little of interest for anything else. At the off, the jolly lost £1353 in the win book. It looked very tough going out there, the favourite was never going to win from a long way out, the race went to Vincenzo the 7/2 second-in which copped £1527 with 10/1 Doyen Du Bar in runner-up spot, another for placepotters.

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3:00 Grand Military Gold Cup (A Chase For Military Amateur Jockeys) (Sponsored By Army Sport) (Class 3) (6yo+ 0-130) 3m (3m37y)

Farceur Du Large opened 4/5 for the feature race of the day, sadly the race didn’t come to life in the ring. The book held just £580 at the off, despite the crowd in Tatts by now looking very respectable in size they just weren’t betting. ‘Dream results, we just can’t take any bets’ bemoaned exasperated Eddie after 11/1 Fil D’Ariane trounced a not overly eager odds-on jolly Farceur Du Large. I’m not sure if she’d had it on but if she did it was in the wrong one, a lady Chelsea Pensioner was heard to say ‘It’s a mug’s game’ as she strode out of the betting ring looking a tad grumpy. I beg your pardon madam, it’s the sport of kings! On a positive note, Star Sports kept every penny of the £580 they took, but give him due, Eddie refrained from the traditional skinner walk.

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3:35 Walking With The Wounded Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-130) 2m4f (2m3f173y)

The penultimate didn’t boast an odds-on shot, only seven went to post and you couldn’t put a confident line through any of them. Dominic’s Fault and Loverdose were scrapping it for favouritism at 11/4 each of two, theoretically at least, you need money to make a market but there was precious little of that. With that in mind, the move for Pearly Island 14/1 into 8/1 must have been in Internet land, the Star Sports hod only held £310 including the place money. After getting all the short ones beaten, I suppose it was inevitable that a jolly would win sooner or later. Loverdose was sent off at 2/1 favourite so had evidently won that battle, somewhere, then also did it out on the course quite emphatically, the book lost £302. Going into the last the first were still winning just over £2000 with the most competitive heat to go.

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4:10 Paul Sadgrove Dads ‘N’ Lads Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-115) 2m4f (2m3f173y)

Waiting to write down prices for the lucky last, the team had a surprise when Star’s head of content Dave Stewart turned up to say hello. He lives locally, so decided to come in and say hi to the team, maybe they needed a gee up to try and take a few quid. Dave’s presence must have worked, a bit at least, Eddie and Tony laid £2000 – £400 Marlacoo and bits and bobs including £450 – £100 and £900 – £200 Typhoon Flyer plus £2000 – £100 Sandscape. Those bets aside, there were still plenty of people in the stands but they weren’t a betting crowd. At the off, the book held £1358 with the three horses mentioned losers and a taker. Lord Of All Saints winning was one that came up for the firm, the gelding was only 10/3 but copped just under a grand in the book ensuring a decent winning day for the good guys, despite business being tepid at best. It promises to be a lot livelier at Cheltenham tomorrow, catch us there.

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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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