SIMON NOTT BETTING REPORT: Newbury Friday

Newbury used to be one of my favourite places to work at when I was in the ring, writes SIMON NOTT.

It was a lucky track for me and always hosted loads of characters. Back in the day, there was a chap that would sell you a suit cheap, not a cheap suit, the gents toilets were a regular changing room. The ‘new stand’ now must be 30 years old but took some of the character, but not characters out of the place, it was still a buzzy lively ring.

We used to have fun here, mind you had this morning’s journey been in the 1990s, we might not have got here at all. No, not spinning around on the M5 in Jack’s Jag, which also happened, but I drove past a hearse, even worse, the dearly departed was on board. Back in the day, that would have instilled horror in the occupants of the Lynn’s car, they’d seriously talk about turning around and going home such was the hoodoo around a hearse before racing.

Of course, they never did turn around, but they always talked about it….

12:15 – Play Coral ‘Racing-Super-Series’ For Free ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4YO plus) 2m ½f

There was a buzz about the place again, the crowd looked very respectable, in size at least. They were getting involved too, Star Sports team of Kaan and Tony had only just set up when a punter came into them with £3000 which he had to the first favourite Regent’s Stroll at a bottle on.

The backer got the value, the price of his fancy tumbled forthwith eventually returned 4/11 and bolted up despite giving his supporters a few anxious moments when far from foot perfect. To make things worse for the firm a punter also had a correct £100 straight forecast with them too.

£1969 done on the first, it wasn’t all doom and gloom though, as I said, the crowd was a decent size and appeared to be comprised of punters, they couldn’t be right every race, could they?

One punter who has come out on top for years is pro-punter Alan Potts who came up to say hello. It’s always good to see Alan back on course.

🐎 | STAR AT NEWBURY

Just before the first, @SimonNott bumps into #BettingPeople interviewee and punting legend Alan Potts!

👋 Be sure to visit us if you’re on course today – and don’t miss Simon’s betting report after the last! pic.twitter.com/zVX5X5V7CE

— Star Sports Bookmakers (@StarSports_Bet) November 29, 2024

12:45 – Coral Racing Club Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (For The Fulke Walwyn Trophy) (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4YO plus) 2m ½f

Next up and a disappointing race given that there was another short one to get stuck into. The punters didn’t want to know Kalif Du Berlais despite being around the even money mark.

The biggest bet Kaan and Tony took was £75 each-way Tapley but was still a fair one to lay, at 40/1, there were also £50 and £40 bets on Tedley, watch your bets, at 16/1 and 14/1.

The latter ran very well, he looked like winning jumping the last, but ultimately wasn’t quite good enough for the favourite which lost £4 in the win book, once the places had been taken into account the book lost £190, not too bad over a jolly.

1:20 – ‘Bet In-Race’ With Coral Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle (Listed) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (3YO only) 2m ½f

Next up and another the punters didn’t really want, there was a flurry for Ambiente Amigo at 11/8 but to no lumps and ultimately went off at 6/4. Bets in total were modest, just over £1100 taken in total but kept £771 of it when 5/1 chance Opec won the race.

The winner had been 13/2 but the punters mostly left Star Sports out.

1:55 – Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (Formerly Known As The Berkshire) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 2m 4f

The weather forecast was sunny, which was correct, but there was a chill breeze to go with it, exacerbated by pick one on the second row being in the wind tunnel. The race came to life early though a punter bet £2500 – £1000 on Johnnywho, it was cash and a grand in the neatest bundle of tenners you’ve ever seen.

The punters continued to have their tenners, though not so many in one go on Johnnywho despite it being friendless on the exchanges. At the off he was losing £3797 in the win book, with the rest copping, the race went to The Jukebox Man who the jockey got a real tune out of, boom boom I’ll get my coat, winning nicely, the book copped £1200, music to the ears of Kaan and Tony, ok ok I’m getting it.

2:30 – Coral ‘Daily Rewards Shaker’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 2m 4f

Next up and a bagman bet £5000 – £1000 Scarface which was enough to put the cat among the proverbial pigeons. Even worse panic, I lost my racecard, nightmare, in the good old days if you dropped a fiver three floormen would scoop for it, these days it’s racecards though floormen are no more. I’m blind without a racecard and also miss floormen, ah lamenting the past. Anyway, Alan Potts came back over, he’d not let the negativity of the trainer put him off the last winner so was all smiles. Galop De Chasse was hard to lay, opened 7/4 then drifted to 5/2 though Kaan and Tony did manage to get £1200 – £600 twice in the book.

At the off there was £3500 in the hod, with two losers Scarface for £3172 and Galop De Chasse for £2402. Ultimately nothing was a match for 10/1 chance Le Patron which absolutely bolted up from the two bogies. The winner had been more than double the price so someone somewhere had it spark off, but not with Star Sports they didn’t. The team had five punters to pay, with just one tenner the winner. The book copped £3200 on the race. The firm may have been fortunate to cop as Scarface blew the start but the winner won with something in hand, so who knows.

3:05 – Coral Long Distance Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 3m

The first bet in the next book was £1470 on Strong Leader at 8/11. ‘Bit random I know’ said the punter, indeed it was but he offered no further explanation and why should he, apart from we were curious. A bit later on a punter came in with £3000 for the same horse at 4/6, he then stood there expectantly, he wanted his elastic bands back. A minute later, he was back, he’d lost his ticket, soon after another punter had a grand on at the price, he let Kaan and Tony keep the bands and put his ticket safe, hopefully. As did the grand punter who bucked the trend and backed Monmiral. At the off, the book held £7150 with Strong Leader losing £3006, the rest good winners.

Strong Leader won in just a workmanlike fashion, but the punters copped nonetheless. Due to the lost ticket, the Betting Ring Manager was waiting by the pitch as the horses passed the post, just as well as the £3000 punter was first up to draw. Luckily he’d found his ticket. He drew his money with a smile, blagged two free sweets and hopefully had enough to money to stop off at WH Smith on the way home to stock up on stationary. The field book was now just £90 up with one race to go.

3:40 – Coral ‘Pipped-At-The-Post’ And Win Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (4YO plus) 3m

Despite the fine margins, it soon became apparent that there were chances of going home in front on the day with one hear to go, a punter bet £5000 – £1000 Chantry House early doors and got the ball rolling. Next up and another punter wielding a grand had it on the jolly Woodie Flash at 2/1.

During the race, Steven Wheeler came up to say hello, he’s been coming here since 1978. He reads the blogs and said he enjoys them, so he’s in today’s.

Thank you Steven. Meanwhile, the punters weren’t done, there was £1050 – £600 bet over the jolly as the horses went to post. Incidentally, one of the fastest moves you’ll ever see on the racecourse is commentator Ian Bartlett dashing for the exit after the last, they tell me his bins are still spinning as leaves the course. Notice how when he’s working he gees up the course with a time check on a regular basis when it comes to the last, they were off bang on time.

The book boasted just two losers against the field, anything but those for a winning day. Chantry House lost £3868 and Woodie Flash £2003. They were both in the shake-up but the Gambling Gods smiled on the layers down in a by now very nippy betting ring. It was Gary Moore to the rescue again as Hermino AA won the race at 17/2 from Woodie Flash. The book copped £2789 and the hod was lined in readies ripe for tomorrow’s big day.

Anyone got any elastic bands?

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