SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Windsor Sunday

I was a bit concerned that my car appeared to sink slightly after I slithered into the parking space on the field I was directed to on arrival. It didn’t bode too well for when I leave, but if it doesn’t rain I should be OK, fingers crossed, writes SIMON NOTT.

There was a large crowd anticipated for today’s eight races, early indications were that there could be. Early indications betting were positive, a bet of £10,000 – £3000 Anariza was hopefully the shape of things to come, followed up by an away grand each-way on Castle Quarter at 10/3 up at Fakenham galvanised that thought. Having done their orchestras at Ascot yesterday today’s Star Sports team of Kaan, Dan and Tony were hoping for some early confidence building cops kick the day off.

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12:20 – TDJ Williams Waste Limited Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+) 2m

Early confidence is what they got, the 13/8 jolly Getawhisky won the race with some ease. Although the firm copped £2179 on it, having only taken another £1175 on the heat and watched Anariza backed from 10/3 into 7/4 they hadn’t done anything particularly clever, but copped over a winning jolly so happy days.

Happier days were only minutes away when the punter who thought the £1000 each-way bet at Fakenham was a good one was hit by a cold blast of reality when Castle Quarter was pulled up.

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12:50 – Royal Windsor Horse Show Cup Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-125) 2m4f

Next up, it was small and steady business from the crowd that hadn’t yet materialised in the numbers that had been rumoured were coming. Something to note, though readers, as Harry Lowes trotted down to the start he was showing 9/4 on the big screen, punters queuing on course were getting 11/4, come racing. The bogie in the book at the off was Scorpio Rising losing £1700 in a book that held £1377 in tenners and scores. Those tenners and scores were spot on, the Sean Bowen factor kicking in to knock the smile off the faces of the intrepid trio Scorpio Rising did the business returning 3/1 to the punters at home, the winner was still 7/2 on the Star Sports board at the off, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again come racing.

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1:20 – LSL Racing Auctions Hampton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) 3m½f

Next up and it was a similar story regarding the size of bets. The big punters who came in all guns blazing early doors appeared to be keeping their powder dry somewhere that wasn’t the betting ring. The people who were betting, and there were plenty of them, were mostly recreational; the biggest bets were £100 until a face bet £700-£400 Salver with a couple of minutes to post time, that was followed by a further £600 at 7/4 as the horses were being called in. At the off Salver and Wade Out were losers for £2492 and £1431 respectively with £3181 in the hod. Salver won, the firm’s wheels were beginning to wobble, the winner returned 7/5, remember the last bet in the book on course? Yep, 7/4.

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1:50 – Fitzdares Extra Places Every Day Great Park Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) 2m

Next up and a the firm took a couple of chunks £3000 – £2000 and £1375 – £1000 on Highlands Legacy and £10,500 – £3000 Mirabad, the bigger punters had just been licking their wounds after all. The rest of the business added up to £985 so £6985 at the off. The bogie for £7186 Mirabad unseated early in the race which just left Highlands Legacy losing £1767 to get beaten, sadly for the firm, Highlands Legacy had other ideas, winning after getting the better of a tussle up the rail with Torneo.

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2:25 – Weatherbys Racing Bank Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+) 3m

It looked as if the fifth race, where they bet 4/1 the field, might be a slow punting race, after all it was one of the trickiest looking heats on the card. So it transpired, until a punter had £2500 each-way Lud’Or at 9/2, which ignited a bit of a flurry. That was the only bet of any note but there was £6548 in the book as they field set off so plenty of smaller business, no prizes for guessing the only loser for £12861 and the each-way bogie. Go To War winning at 20/1 was roared home by the bookmaker next to Star’s rail pitch, the layer had backed the winner as well as going for it in the book, things weren’t quite so good for Star Sports, depending on how half full your glass is. They did cop £3642 in the win book but as Lud’Or was placed lost a chunk of it back eventually copping £1018 which nobody is going to sniff at but they didn’t get their whack despite Tom Segal tipping the winner.

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3:00 – Fitzdares Fleur de Lys Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) 2m6f

Protektorat was popular in the race before the penultimate, the veteran attracted bets of £1200 – £1000 and £550 – £500 early then a later £2400 – £2000 backed pretty much to the exception of anything else with £6659 field money. At the off, Protektorat was a loser for £6272 with everything else a winner. Now, at this point I have to type as a racing fan, what a joy it is to see these older horses in action, it looked like it was game over for Protektorat with three to jump only to battle back to win courageously, sadly for the firm that pay me they suffered a loss of £6659 which plunged the Kaan, Dan and Tony further into the red, £7250 bad on the day.

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3:35 – Fitzdares Personal Betting Service Stayers Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5yo+ 0-125) 3m4½f

Next up, a heinous looking race to solve, but there were people that thought they knew. There was a big punter of some renown running around backing Gold Clermont early, he had £450 each-way at 10/1 with Star Sports and plenty elsewhere. A bookmaker was backing Express Sunrise each-way having reportedly having laid a lump at 20/1 while the general public latched on to Holokea. That all added up to a hairy old book, £2658 in the bag, Gold Clermont losing £4388 and Holokea £1082, the rest winning. Star had been betting 1/4 the odds a place the 16-runner handicap but it’s doubtful if many of the punters took notice, they need a bigger sign. The bogie was beaten a long way out but jumping the last it looked as if the public choice Holokea was home and hosed. Kaan was having a right old bleat, the lamb was only silenced when Neo King flew home down the centre of the course to win going away, the book won £1603 back, there’s no last race of course. Well, there is actually, the one coming up, but you get my drift, considering the bigger scheme of things.

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4:05 – Dave Marley RIP You Legend Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4-6yo) 2m

The lucky last, run in memory of trainer Chris Gordon’s late farrier pal, had been reduced to six runners from the original nine. There was a hope the punters might still get stuck in one last time but eight races is often one too many at a meeting. Ti’Mamzel opened the 7/4 favourite but was soon flip flopped by Tally Ho Back, supported from 9/4 into 6/4 with a punter betting £400 at half-arm late on and late to the party, at the off the bogie was losing £507 in a race that didn’t really come to life, there was no getting out on the day though St James Finest winning to cop £491 at least ended the meeting on a winning note.

We’re back at Cheltenham next week, it’s only lent.

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

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