SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: York Wednesday

It was glorious up at York when I arrived at the train station just after 11.30 this morning…writes SIMON NOTT.

‘We’ve had hail’ a lady on the gate told me, then Chris, one half of the Star Sports team for this meeting along with Nick expressed his doubts that it would stay dry today, bourn out by the ominous presence of a bloody great leaden cloud just over the clock tower. Chris knew, just before 1.30, it started to rain.

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1:45 – British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (Class 2) (2YO only)

At 1.30, the Star Sports duo hadn’t taken a single bet and I was regretting just bringing minimum kit and most of it, including my body warmer, was back at my digs, dumped en route from the railway station.

The clouds and rain had stifled the warm spring sunshine I’d enjoyed on arrival; it now felt more like a National Hunt off meeting than the first day of the Dante, but still better than labouring for a couple of brickies.

Coward that I am, I ducked out of the rain to type my opening premise, hoping that on my return the lads would have something to report. They did, ‘Absolutely zero has happened’ smiled Nick rain dropping on his hood and down his nose.

The zero field money had risen to £215 but the rain was hardly going to draw punters out and wasn’t added to. The 3/1 second-in Cut A Dash won the race, the book copped £76, that’s my train fare paid for, aye aye.

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2:20 – Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus)

The sun came out again for the second time, which encouraged the punters to do so too – well, sort of. A bet of £900 – £400 Klassleader at least gave me something to write about and helped hoik the money in the hod to over a grand though there was precious little else of note to report.

As the horses went into the stalls 14/1 chance Fireblade was withdrawn, though it hardly affected the book. At the off, Klassleader, now a 2/1 was the only loser for £1258 with £1160 in the hod. Klassleader won without coming under too much pressure and the firm went behind on the day.

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2:55 – Churchill Tyres Handicap (Class 2) (4YO plus)

Next up and a bet, £22,000 – £1000 Sondad from a punter of the floor, he didn’t expect the horse would win, Nick hoped it wouldn’t, no offence to the punter. After that little spike of excitement, it went flat again, so I was sent off for coffees, Chris had a hot chocolate, I know, the shame just asking for it for a grown man, at least he didn’t ask for marshmallow and sprinkles.

When I got back, William Kedjanyi – Star’s politics guru – came to say hello, coinciding with a visit from Andy Henderson, a veteran of many a racecourse.

Meanwhile, field money had risen to £2060 with the one loser for £26,160 after Nick laid another £4400 – £200 to a punter with an owners’ badge. My coffee, a flat white, wasn’t great, which wasn’t a result, but Dark Thirty winning at 11/1 and copping £1193 was, and the fact that the sun was still out. Back in front again, by a whisker.

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3:30 – Go Local Stores Minster Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3YO plus)

‘At least the sun’s come out’ beamed a bagman eying up the prices for the next.

Indeed, it had been out and stayed out for a while, though you don’t want to hear about the weather but bets. Sadly, that depended on whether there was a punter in the house keen to have it on, looking at the thin crowd, which certainly wasn’t a given. Still, Chris and Nick were charm personified, chatting to the punters and drawing them in.

Luckily, a punter waded in with £10,000 – £500 Diligent Harry and another couple bet £1350 – £300 and £1000 – £200 Time For Sandals, bets which made the race interesting to report and the bulk of the £1780 book.

The bogies got a mention in the commentary but not at the business end when 8/1 chance Elmonjed did the business for William Haggas under William Buick, inadvertently do the business for Star Sports too, copping £685 which was handy.

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4:05 – Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (Fillies’ Group 3) (Class 1) (3YO only)

Between races, Andy Henderson came to tell us there were moody scores around in the ring, so the lads were on alert. It makes you wonder why they bother making them these days, you have a job to spend cash, certainly on a racecourse.

The race before the penultimate was the feature heat and attracted an early bet of £4250 – £500 Sea The Storm, which gave Nick and Chris a figure realistic to bet up to. There was a rumble around the ring when an Internet punter strode through but as far as I could see, nothing was done, certainly not with Star.

There weren’t any moody notes involved in the £10,000 – £2500 Moments Of Joy they struck to a punter off the floor not long after, those sized bets tend not to be in cash these days. Incidentally, working next to Star Sports on the rail was Dave Brewer, often mentioned as a favourite #BettingPeople interview by those that have watched them, it was good to see him looking so well. What didn’t look so well was the book, Moments Of Joy had been smashed into 5/2 and was a loser for over £13,000 at the off.

The deadly duo feared the worst but need not have, the O’Brien horse was beaten with a furlong to run behind the 6/4 favourite Legacy Link, unbacked to meaningful amounts copping £4160 in the book, you take your luck in this game.

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4:40 – Conundrum HR Consulting Handicap (Class 3) (3YO only)

Next up and they bet 11/2 the field, not a lot was expected in a race that looked a tough nut to crack. However, the lack of business did give me chance to chat to Mark who came over to say he reads these blogs and Neil from Darlington who enquired about Dave Stewart. Thanks, chaps, it’s always nice.

Sadly, business was as predicted poor, ‘I think they’ve all gone home’ was Chris’ comment knocking back a double espresso, no I hadn’t shamed him into it, he’s not read this yet. The book fielded £280 and copped £105 when Startled won the race at 13/2, our sometimes colleague Pam Sharman, not here knows the owner so well done all concerned.

Stephen Darbyshire came to say hello before the race, was here, agreed to the photo opportunity, then vanished again from whence he came. I’m guessing he wasn’t on the winner.

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5:15 – Stuey Weston & Friends Getting Out Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 4) (4YO plus)

So going into the lucky last, not only did the sun come out again but so did a knight of the realm, Sir Philip Davies who had a chat with Nick and the team, he’s a proper gent to talk to and a pleasure to see.

However, politics aside, everyone was asking him how long the PM has left, the business of betting, the book was winning £4948 which was a feat given the business, though par for the course for Star Sports, in came a bet that could ruin the day, £10,000 – £1000 Mafting.

Sadly, despite being freshly fortified by strong coffee, the lads couldn’t extract betting money from a non-existent crowd in front of their rails pitch, at the off the book held £1490 with Mafting losing £9765 in the win book, not the only one in red either.

They got away with it again, the 10/3 jolly Master Builder won the race, the book copped £1160, topping up a very satisfactory day given the business and results. We’re back tomorrow where it will be sunny and busy all day. Hopefully.

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Not quite a wrap just after racing a punter came to the pitch and asked for a price Golden Orbit for the Oaks, he was quoted 40/1 and had £750 on. What does he know? We’ll find out on the 5th June.

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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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