SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Windsor Friday

Day One of the Berkshire Million Aye Aye! We’re racing three days on the trot with no inspections on the horizon, here’s hoping what follows is a punting frenzy to keep everyone enthralled, writes SIMON NOTT.

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12:40 – Thorn Plant Hire Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5YO plus) 3m

Star Sports were betting on the rail with Dan customer facing and Kaan behind the pitch on the computer tapping away, and tap away he did.

They Call Me Hugo was the one everyone, and there were plenty of people here, wanted to be on. The chap who complained the price had just changed when he wanted £200 at 9/5 was delighted to learn that 2/1 was bigger before later punters bet him all rates thereafter down to 6/5. Dan and Kaan were kept on their toes but at the off they’d only taken £1345 in bets of a bottle or smaller, mainly much smaller.

Dan allowed himself a little smile when 5/2 second-in Moneygarrow proved too good for the jolly, he was probably pleased that the firm copped £914 but more so that he didn’t have all those people to pay out.

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1:15 – Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5YO plus) 3m ½f

Between races, odds compiling legend Brad Barry and then legend without portfolio Andy Henderson came over to say hello, it’s always a pleasure to see them both.

The punters stepped it up a notch betting on the next, first in was £600-£200 Gamesters Guy, followed by £1400 – £400 King Of Answers and £1250 – £500 and £800 – £400 Queensbury Boy.

Three out the punters that backed Queensbury Boy must have been counting it as he was going so well, the Gambling Gods had other ideas, a couple of tardy jumps put paid to his chances, 11/2 chance Guard The Moon which had hitherto looked beaten, found a second wind and took full advantage forging on to win nicely. It was a very handy result for the book, they’d fielded £1750 and copped £1320 of it, so far so good.

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1:50 – Fitzdares Your Personal Bookmaker Lightning Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5YO plus) 2m

Next up, just the three went to post with Be Aware opening the 8/13 favourite. There were takers, a punter had £300 at 4/7 and another £300 at 8/15. The public money was on Alnilam, unsurprisingly being the outsider of three, though there wasn’t a lot of it, at the off the book held £1065.

What followed was an excellent race, in which the weak in the market No Questions Asked was held up early off what looked like a very fast pace then made stealthy and steady progress to take it up two out from the jolly to go on to win. It wasn’t plain sailing as the jolly did attempt a fight back but it was not to be. The book won £1065, well Kaan had to lean up one of them, didn’t he?

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2:25 – Fitzdares Telephone And Text Betting Service Mares’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5YO plus) 2m 4f

I spotted Racing Blogger Stephen Power was in attendance so had a quick chat with him between races, he was still buzzing from his Australian triumph but still looking forward to the chillier sport today. Today’s crowd appeared to be made up of knowledgeable enthusiasts, all keen to get involved.

Once again on the rail business was brisk enough though modest, the grand punters weren’t in evidence, though carpet bets on Hollygrove Cha Cha at 9/4 and Largy Force at 4/1 helped the field money to £1768 at the off.

Bluey, backed from 7/2 into 3/1 before winning the race copped £1215 in the book, it appeared Kaan was still leaning in the right direction this afternoon.

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3:00 – Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5YO plus) 2m 4f

You never know what’s going to come into the joint, a punter wielding a card asked to bet four horses in the 3.10 at Market Rasen, £200 on each, all at SP ranging from around 9/1 to 22/1 at the time of asking. He was accommodated, of course, but the team were curious about the bet.

Meanwhile, there was betting on the home race to get on with, featuring joint 2/1 favourites in Nemean Lion and Potters Charm. This time Kaan wasn’t having a lean, he left the prices there and let the punters decide, however they didn’t appear to know either.

The field money was well spread, but quite thinly; there was just £1462 nestling in the hod as they set off for a race with just shy of £40,000 to the winner. Once again, racegoers were treated to a terrific race ultimately won by Potters Charm the victory of which cost the book £168.

Racing Blogger was on the winner, luckily not with Star Sports though he was a bit miffed about having his bet referred to the boss of the firm he bet with before being laid, it’s the price of fame Stephen, the price of fame.

Meanwhile, over at Market Rasen all four bottle bets were beaten, lads in a box having a guess up maybe? Who knows, but it was a handy extra £800 added to the £4300 the firm were in front, though nobody was counting before the game is done you understand, it’s just on the print out, we don’t tempt fate here.

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3:35 – Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 2m

Next up, the penultimate, which appeared to have been a tickle attempted on Wilful overnight backed from around 7/1 overnight into an SP of 85/40. Sadly, for those who were on, the gamble was thwarted by 10/1 chance Hot Fuss beating the jolly into runner-up spot.

Despite being a £110,000 race, there was very little of interest in the heat from the punters, just one notable bet £1800 – £300 Knickerbockerglory into a book that held exactly £900. Kaan and Dan kept £845 of it though, so added to the winning day.

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4:05 – MPM Flooring Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5YO plus) 2m 6f

Things picked up a little bit in the lucky last, Alice Barnes came to the joint for a chat, she was on a busman’s with Wendy of the Ivor Perry firm, both keen paddock judges, they like Aviation here. Westerninthepark attracted more than just admiring glances, a bet of £1350 – £300 the biggest of a few bets tendered on him, there was also a carpet bet on As The Fella Says at 7/2, the rest of the bets making up the £1295 was par for the course on the day, modest.

If you are going to get a result, the last is the time to get one, with hardly anyone to pay out the team can pack up and get a flyer to beat the Friday traffic, Officer Of State winning at 25/1 was handy, winning £1190 in the book topping off a grinding out sort of day nicely.

We’re back at Ascot tomorrow, Star Sports may not have copped Millions in Berkshire but go into Saturday nicely in front.

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Views of authors do not necessarily represent views of Star Sports Bookmakers.

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