SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Sandown Park Saturday

After a very civilised night in Esher I had a very civilised morning spending an hour at Gail’s coffee place with Star’s head of content David Stewart who has been battling cancer and is now about to embark on a 50k sponsored walk over the month of September writes SIMON NOTT.

It’s to raise money for the Royal Marsden Hospital where he has been receiving his treatment. If anyone can afford to drop a quid or two in both Dave and the Royal Marsden would appreciate it.

Dave added: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness and support from family, friends and colleagues so far and wanted this to be my way of giving something back to the Royal Marsden after the excellent care I am getting at their Sutton, Kingston and Chelsea Hospitals. It’s very much ‘the journey’ that everyone talks of but hoping the September walking challenge will help my recovery.”

This is the link to donate:
https://fundraise.royalmarsden.org/fundraisers/davidstewart

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Before racing started I bumped into my old army mate Ian and partner Mandy, Ian resplendent in his Cornish tartan kilt, not bothered at all by over curious sniffer dogs on entry, which always is a worry in that garb….. I’d imagine so his first winner of the day!

After yesterday’s very quiet betting, things looked a lot livelier with racecourse regulars Stephen Darbyshire and Michael Fletcher in attendance as well as a bagman who shall remain nameless.

I was surprised to see Armaloft Alex grafting in Tatts when Newton Abbot is on. Aussie Andrew was here too, he actually got a few quid yesterday, the results smiled on him despite the turgid business.

As betting got underway I was asked to be interviewed by a German TV channel interested in UK horseracing and proposed tax increases on horseracing, I’m not sure if it’ll ever be used but I did my best to describe racing’s plight.

The Star team today were Tony, Keiran and Lofty up at them betting from pitch five on the rail ….

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1:50 – Download The BetMGM App Handicap (Class 3) (3YO plus) 7f

Business certainly was much better than yesterday, which is what you’d expect on a Saturday, Friday was quickly forgotten as the bets, though very small, were tapped in and most welcome. A bet of £3000 – £1000 each-way Headmaster was the most interesting in early transactions and stayed the most interesting as nothing of a similar size or anywhere near it was forthcoming. Had it not been for that bet field money would have been just £688 but was bolstered to £2688 because of it.

Lofty called the bogie beaten a long way out having pulled hard, he was spot on, the team had the luxury of sitting back and seeing how much they were going to cop. 11/1 winner God Of War copped £2170 which was a very acceptable start to the day, regular readers will know that the first heat of the day is often quietest.

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2:25 – BetMGM Atalanta Stakes (Fillies’ & Mares’ Group 3) (Class 1) (3YO plus) 1m

Next up and they bet 3/1 the field under sporadic splashes of rain. It appeared that the punters didn’t fancy the race, stakes were very small, the biggest bet struck so far as the horses were going down was £700-£200 the jolly Blue Bolt in a book that had just struggled past the £1000 field money mark.

There were a few horses backed including Lady Of Spain the 14/1 from 18/1 winner, there were also plenty of horses that never really got into it, ‘They are finishing like chasers’ was Stephen Darbyshire’s (pictured below) observation, and so some of them were, but not the winner.

The cop of £174 was disappointing given the price but a few bets at the price in a book of £1300 knocks it about a bit.

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3:00 – Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap (Class 2) (3YO plus) 1m 2f

Next up and a comment of ‘Boring’ didn’t augur well for a spritely paragraph on the third heat. Still, Newton Abbot was on the big screen so watching that alleviated the home sickness.

Back to the home meeting, the jolly just scrambled home at Newton, the book held just over £1000 as the horses loaded in what Lofty described as ‘An absolute nothing book’. Sometimes too good a book is a blessing, sometimes being this time, firm copped £135 including the places which were favourable when 3/1 favourite Saddadd won the race 10/3 on course at the off.

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3:35 – BetMGM Solario Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (2YO only) 7f

Next up and Lofty didn’t fancy Pacific Avenue and wanted to get it in the book. However, he wasn’t anticipating the £9000 – £4000 hedge bet the team laid on it, evidently someone had a different opinion on the horse. Having laid that they went 10/3 Humidity and promptly laid £200, £300 and £300 at the price. Of the three short ones the big fella favoured A Bit Of Spirit, a shrewdie having £100 at 3/1 amplified that confidence.

There’s often a race on a card that gets a racecourse buzzing, and this was that race and what a race. I was stood next to Lofty as Pacific Avenue was digging deep inside the final furlong appearing to be destined to hold off the trio of challengers. ‘Something go past him’ muttered almost despairingly, then Lofty boomed, ‘They’ve all gone past him’ and so they had, in a Procush flaying desperate head bobbing finish.

Our initial thought was that 25/1 chance Oceans Four (near side on photo above) had got there, but a cursory glance at the machine showed people were betting 1/33 A Bit Of Spirit, the machine knew, the winner by a nose from 25/1 chance Oceans Four.

The buzz continued, there was a bing bong a Stewards’ Enquiry after which the runner-up was demoted to third with Humidity promoted to runner up spot. ‘That’s handy’ beamed Lofty, adding ‘That’s a monkey better’, the book copped £6100 and Lofty got a free hotdog from a winning shrewdie in red strides.

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4:10 – Tattersalls 40,000 EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2) (2YO only) 7f

Back to reality in the ante-penultimate, those punters just weren’t parting with their money. Business was very small but had struggled to just over a grand by post time with jolly Deedaydiva a loser for £755 in the win book with £1120 field money in total. ‘It could have been a lot worse’ was Lofty’s summing up after the jolly obliged doing a jumbo jet, £747, in the book, it was a dent in the day’s winnings but only a dent.

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4:45 – Bet 10 Get 40 With BetMGM Nursery (Class 4) (2YO only) 7f

Next up, the penultimate where there were a few horses being bet to modest stakes. Lucky Hero opened the wrist on 4/5 fav was a bit weak – though not in the face of lumps for anything else, £500 – £200 Penhallam the second-in was the best Lofty could give me early doors.

The bets were coming in fast but not so thick though few of £100 and £200 denominations in a book of £2445 described by Lofty as an upside down book due to the two outsiders in the five runner field the bogies.

It’s not hard to see why 9/1 winner You Sexy Thing was popular with punters just picking names, mind you the gent that was trying to beg 11/1 to £200 when it was 10/1 on the board the last bet in the book probably wasn’t guessing. I expected he was more chuffed than the team that he’d taken the 10/1 rather than look elsewhere. The book blew £1250 over a result but were still £6600 ahead going into the last.

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5:20 – Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM Handicap (Class 4) (3YO plus) 5f

So, onto the 13th race of the meeting, a winning one before exes so far with a healthy cushion between the status quo and losing. It wasn’t ideal that it started to rain again but wasn’t as damp as it looked down at Newton Abbot showing on the big screen.

There were seven non runners in the Sandown finale but despite the depleted field and the rain there were still punters keen to have a go. One that wasn’t was Stephen Darbyshire, the punting hero to the masses had legged it after the fourth heat and headed down to Lingfield to ply his trade, he’s a grafter.

As the horses arrived at the start after what seemed an age since the last race the field money was just over two grand including the forecasts. ‘What a beautifully judged ride’ called Lofty as Saffie Osbourne came from well off the pace to win on the leant for 5/4 favourite Woolhampton which won a grand in the book.

Yes, the big fella cheered home everyone else’s bogie which added to the winnings and a £7600 winning day and about £7700 winning meeting. Aye Aye.

I’ll be blogging for Star Sports at Ascot next Friday and Saturday, if you enjoy these betting ring reports please share and spread the word to your pals, and if you copped a few quid today how about dropping some in to David’s charity walk highlighted at the beginning of this blog.

Thanks for reading.

Simon Nott

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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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