TOWCESTER BETTING RING

AUTHOR: Star Sports Content

SIMON NOTT betting blog: Towcester Saturday Greyhound Derby Quarter Finals

My mother-in-law Brenda really is a dear old soul, but she should never be let loose with weather apps on phones.

She was at Nott Towers when I left, ‘No chance of rain tonight Si’ she informed me from her phone.

Now, it’s been known for Brenda to put us away unintentionally before, several times with the weather but notably her prediction that our Betsy was a boy for sure… before she was born that is. Anyway, given Brenda’s confidence, I nearly didn’t pick up a coat. Imagine my shock when the rain started and bookies hurried off to their cars for mushes as they were setting up.

I may have been a bit unfair on poor Brenda, the sun was soon out again but rain it did, briefly. The crowd looked bigger earlier than previous weeks, punters were keen to get on even before the prices were up. The team remained unchanged, Lofty and Charlie were taking the bets while Carly was roaming recording interviews with as you can see, me tapping away writing this.

My brief was to concentrate on the four Quarter-Final races but the second race the RPGTV Derby Plate is definitely worth a mention. The punters waded into Trap 5 Fromposttopillar backing him from 5/4 into ‘tips-on’ 10/11. The biggest bet was £600 at the top price but plenty of three-figure bets as the odds tumbled bolstered the take.

Lofty and Charlie had high hopes of getting him beaten when Trap 2 and market rival Brookside Richie broke well and was still about four lengths clear off the last, only to be mugged close home by the bogie. Exciting stuff unless you are pulling it up, in this case £1300.

Ben, with daughter Georgina and retired greyhound Goldie, swept in very briefly by the joint heading for his dinner. He was closely followed by his pro-punting mate Jerry Croxford. Now I’m not a man that’s in a position to judge another man’s dress sense, but with added security and a few people ‘protesting’ on the entrance, was his choice of shirt colour prudent?

Next up, a punter came to the pitch, not to bet on one of the dinner service of plate races, but to have £18,000 – £1000 Brinkley’s Magic for the Derby from the ante-post list. I presume he didn’t have the extra hundred quid for the fractions bet.

7.10pm THE STAR SPORTS & TRC ENGLISH GREYHOUND DERBY – QUARTER-FINAL 1

Race 5 was the first of the Quarter Finals. Romeo Command from trap five and Boylesports Gift from trap three opened market leaders at 5/4 and 7/4 respectively The first big bet in the book was £3500 – £500 each-way Savana Beau from trap two. When Lofty went 11/8 the jolly he was accommodated with £400 at the price and a host of smaller chasers in. There was no bet of note until the hare was running when a bookmaker called in a £1250 – £1000 the favourite.

They were off in a flash and the book had little hope as Romeo Command was soon in front and stayed there. The saving grace was the each-way bogie was only third. The book lost £1900.

7.30pm THE STAR SPORTS & TRC ENGLISH GREYHOUND DERBY – QUARTER-FINAL 2

The betting for the next Quarter Final saw traps two and three Clona Duke and Romeo Hanzo open at 13/8 and 7/4. As they loaded the traps there was nothing of note in the race despite Clona Duke hardening to 6/4. Lofty’s summing up was ‘It’s too good a book’. That was until a bet of £1500 – £1000 right in the hole.

That turned out to be a handy late lay, 8/1 chance Mystical Mario won nicely from Clona Duke, a virtual skinner, just one punter to pay out, the firm copped £2500.

7.48pm THE STAR SPORTS & TRC ENGLISH GREYHOUND DERBY – QUARTER-FINAL 3

Ballymac Marino running from trap two opened at ‘wrist-on’ 4/5. Lofty announced that he wanted to get the ‘untested good thing’ in the book but resisted the temptation to top the ring, for a couple of minutes anyway, 5/6 it was. I was always told that the best way to approach a bookie on course and catch him on guest was to come up under his arm. The punter that bet £4000 – £1000 trap four Brinkleys Magic must have been old school. That was also the dog Lofty laid £18,000 – £1000 ante-post. ‘Evens’ screamed Lofty with Charlie on backing vocals, adding ‘This good thing’ with a flourish. They laid an even £50, which was a start but not enough. ‘11/10 this 8/13 chance’ hollered Lofty.

A punter came in with a grand, the trouble was it was for Brinkleys Magic at 10/3. It’s losing over £7000 now was the report from behind the joint. The firm were betting forecasts every race too, the bet was popular but the £2.50 reverse forecast punters had an uncanny knack of bad timing when it was busy. There were a few £100 bets at 11/10 but not enough to level the gradient in the book. It went the way of the firm, the bogie was worried out of it at the first bend, trap five Gaytime Nemo emerged from the pack and forged ahead to win nicely at 9/2 winning £2500 in the book.

8.05pm THE STAR SPORTS & TRC ENGLISH GREYHOUND DERBY – QUARTER-FINAL 4

The final Quarter-Final featured the 5/2 ante post favourite, the impressive so far Swords Rex which opened at 4/7. Ben was already on his way home when Jerry came over to say he’d had £1200 on the winner at 11/2, not with Star Sports luckily, he wouldn’t do that to his pal.

Given that the favourite was the hot pot for the whole event it wasn’t a surprise that there was a lump of £2000 – £3500. He bolted up franking his spot at the top for the Derby. Lofty and team will be back next week.

Thanks for reading.

Ben Keith introduces #GreyhoundDerby2023

SIMON NOTT

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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