SIMON NOTT AT WINDSOR

AUTHOR: Star Sports Content

SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Windsor Monday

Does anyone else out there ask ‘Alexa’ what the weather at the races is going to be like and trust her implicitly? asks SIMON NOTT.

I asked ours that very question this morning and didn’t like what I heard, rain and thunderstorms of the yellow warning variety. Nasty, so I had to dress accordingly, mind you, when I arrived for the eight race card other racegoers must have wondered exactly what forecast I’d seen, most people were dressed for the beach not biblical downpours.

5:10 – Sharon Barry Up The Saints Nursery Handicap (Class 5) (2yo 0-75) 6f (6f12y)

Tonight was a big night for Star’s neighbours tonight, with the O’Gorman Bros firm celebrating their centenary by sponsoring the last race on the card. Congratulations Joe and team. Meanwhile, those that turned up in shorts had still backed the winner in the weather stakes, so far. The punter that asked for £100 each-way on the first two in the betting Luminare and Vlad was wearing a nice pair of shorts, he also tried to pay with a credit card, which of course was declined and a shame, they’d have been nice bets to lay. The punter that had £5000 on Vlad at 11/4 did have the means of payment, so was on. As the horses reached the post, there was a big crack of thunder and a definite chill in the air, it could be a lively night in more ways than one. As the horses went into the stalls the £100 each-way punter’s mate came and paid for him, what a pal.

Vlad won by a short head under the course’s top rider Oisin Murphy. The book lost £14,331 which wasn’t the best of starts.

5:40 – MPM Flooring Ltd EBF Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes (Bands B/C/D) (Qualifier) (GBB) (Div I) (Class 5) (2yo) 6f (6f12y)

By the time betting got underway for the second race on the card the short wearers had legged it to the cover of the stand because it was tipping down, Alexa knew. The rain didn’t stop a punter having £2000 – £3500 Come On Eibhlin then £6000 at 8/15 a short while later. The rain eased a bit as the horses went to post but cracked on again as the field set off. It looked all over bar the shouting for the jolly until she veered violently left inside the final furlong. It was a hairy moment for punters but she had enough in the tank to hold on from the closing pack to win by a neck, the book blew a further £5070. Once again, nasty.

6:10 – MPM Flooring Ltd EBF Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes (Bands B/C/D) (Qualifier) (GBB) (Div II) (Class 5) (2yo) 6f (6f12y)

The race was ultimately a flag start, and a battle between Wren Runner and Reimagined, the latter getting best of the former, winning at 5/1. The book copped £461 despite £100 each-way man backing the winner, the book held £200 apart from his and the monkey bet. And still the rain poured down.

6:40 – Join Fitzdares For A Personal Service Maiden Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 5) (3-4yo) 1m2f

The going had been declared as soft as betting was displayed for the fourth, the hope being they’d make up time. In the meantime, Mukhtalif opened 4/5, one of the big punters came to the joint, not to back the jolly but to draw which was a bit of a blow, but not a long blow, he was back as the horses got to the post and had £2500 on a 4/5, a modest bet for him but a bet none the less. £100 each-way man had two more bets but apart from him and the chap the had £40 on Royal Emblem the 18/1 winner there wasn’t a lot of other business, the jolly was runner-up and returned even money copping £3000 in the book, and the rain stopped too, it was turning.

7:10 – Fitzdares Sprint Series Handicap (Windsor Sprint Series Qualifier) (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-78) 6f (6f12y)

The fifth race on the card boasted 10 runners, where they bet 10/3 the field with Expert Agent heading the market. Before £100 each-way man came in as the horses were loading, there was only £297 in the hod, at the off there had been £776 taken in total. That gave me a chance to have a chat with my old pal Mark, who didn’t bring a coat and was a bit on the damp side, Alexa knew. The sun had come out by the time Cindy Lou Who won the race returning 17/2, the book copped a couple of hundred quid. The people had emerged blinking into the sunshine again but the bigger punters appeared to have legged it, making it 1.01 for a hefty losing night even with three races to go.

7:40 – British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-85) 1m (1m31y)

Things in the ring were as damp as Mark’s shirt and my coat. Kaan and Carol, trying as hard as they might had taken just £376. Then £100 each-way man came to the joint, said he wanted to upgrade and bet £1000 each-way, but was still getting his phone out to pay when they were off, nothing done. Ultimately, Azaniya, 9/4 joint favourite beat Princess Rascal, the other 9/4 joint favourite, the book got £326.

8:10 – Peter Hughes And ECA Memorial Handicap (Class 6) (4yo+ 0-65) 1m2f

Looking around as they bet on the 8.10, it was hard to believe that we’d been ducking for cover a couple of races ago. We were now bathed in glorious sunshine. Cathedral Peak was the 10/3 jolly, that was trimmed into 3/1 when a punter bet £200 each-way at the price. £100, now £1000 each-way man was back, called two grand each-way bets then said he needed the toilet. Things were getting weird. Kaan held on to the tickets for when he came back to pay, he returned but didn’t appear to be able to work his phone payments, no bet. Phoney bets? No, they went through in the end, a grand each-way on Imperial Cult at 9/1 and Moonlit Cloud at 9/2. Neither were placed behind 14/1 winner Ghost Story, the book copped £4435 but was still £11,000 down going into the last. The O’Gorman Bros sponsored race needed to attract the punters in and provide a massive result to get out on the night, it was a long shot.

8:40 – O’Gorman Brothers Centenary Handicap (Class 6) (3yo+ 0-62) 1m (1m31y)

Give the racecourse their due, they’d done pretty well catching up time. The field were going to post for the lucky last at the original post time. Saturnalia caught my eye, not because I’m a judge of horse flesh, but I wrote the sleeve notes for the reissue of the Long Tall Texans album of the same name and I’m a shameless self-publicist, it’s a great album by the way.

Sadly, nothing quite so awe inspiring as that slab of wax was happening in the betting, Carol and Kaan struggled to take four hundred quid on the race. No big punters, hardly anything of interest, a couple of late bets £250 and £150 Towerlands and Gone Rogue made it at least interesting and pulled the field money to over £743. Double time winning the race at 25/1 should have been a cracking result, hopefully it was for most of the ring. Star copped £277, a damp squib ending to a damp old night. I’ll be heading home with the heater on to dry out and for the last time from Windsor this summer, next stop Ascot on Friday and Saturday.

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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