SIMON NOTT: Betting Report NEWTON ABBOT Tuesday

It was great to be back at Newton Abbot, my favourite course and one I hope to see packed to the rafters again before the end of the season. I spoke to the course’s Managing Director Patrick Masterson before racing, he was as positive and stoic as ever and doing all he can to keep things running under whatever constraints the course has to adhere to.

There were some owners allowed on course too, it seemed that plenty had taken the opportunity to attend. Hopefully, some of them bet with Jo and Wendy of the Ivor Perry bookmaking firm who were there to provide a service for those that wanted a wager.

1:15 – Visit attheraces.com Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4) (4YO plus) 2m 1f

The opening race featured a short-priced favourite in Gary Moore’s Natural History which was hovering around the 1/3 mark most of the morning. Eight lined up but the late defection of 200/1 chance Twice The Mustard would have made any that backed an outsider in the hope of sneaking into third wince. I last spoke to Star Sports’ ‘Inlike’ Flynn when betting on the Grand National action at Aintree. We didn’t expect any bets of those size today but people were still keen to get stuck into the jolly. One punter gathered together £840 to have on at 1/3 and another bet a £1000 – £3500 which was the starting price.

The jolly made a bad rick on the first circuit then another at the last which put paid to its chances of copping for the money-buying punters. The market leader had to settle for second behind 18/1 winner Opening Bid trained by Chris Down and ridden by James Davis. The winning jockey stopped short of saying they expected to win but did say that they had hoped to finished a good second or third. He explained that his mount had run two solid races over further but had run too keen, a drop back in trip on better ground had relaxed him. He added that the going was good, a little quicker in places. Consensus on the beaten favourite was that it he had been too keen in behind.

1:50 – newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (4YO plus) 2m 1f

Next up and a five-runner race which revolved around Glory and Honour and Sweet Adare. Inlike reported a bet of £5000 at 5/4 the latter, the only notable bet of the race. There was another shock in store for punters when Evan Williams’ 10/1 chance State Crown did the business under Tom O’Brien from 6/1 shot Twin Star. Talking after the race the winning jockey said that his mount had ‘looked around’ in the past but cheekpieces focused him today and that he was able to take advantage of a massive pull in the weights.

2:20 – Sky Sports Racing On Sky 415 Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4) (4YO plus) 2m 5½f

There were 13 runners in the third, Paul Nicholls’ Whiskey Lullaby was sent off favourite attracting bets of £1250 at 6/4 and a monkey at 13/8. Once again jolly backers left it behind. The race went to 3/1 chance Tequila Blaze for Fergal O’Brien under Paddy Brennan by a neck from 50/1 Largy G.

Having ridden a birthday winner and number 96 for the century seeking trainer Paddy Brennan said his mount dug deep. He hinted that he might have been slightly fortunate to win as he’d winged the last while the runner-up missed it. Largy G certainly looks one for the notebooks reported as being described as been very green by connections after the race. Take nothing away from Fergal’s winner, just four more to go, we’re all rooting for him, I’m told Mr Kipling is gearing up for a big order.

2:55 – Racing Partnership Handicap Chase (Class 3) (5YO plus) 2m 5f

Just the three runners in the first chase of the day. Sir Sholokhov was returned the 4/6 favourite and duly obliged. After the race Mick Fitzgerald put it to Daryl Jacob, rider of the Harry Whittington trained winner, that his mount had been out of his comfort zone. Daryl said that the 6-year-old was still a bit ‘babyish’ having only run five times, he added that the fences at Newton Abbot come at you quick. He concluded that the gelding tries, is honest and will progress though he’s had issues with his wind so will need the better ground he got today. Punters with Star Sports had been keen to oppose the jolly latching on to runner-up Go Long with bets of £1500 and a monkey at 9/4, were possibly right to do so but still did their dough.

3:30 – Watch Sky Sports Racing In HD Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 5) (4YO plus) 2m 5½f

14 runners made the race before the penultimate the biggest field of the day, though reduced from 16 to annoy those punters that seek out the each-way value. Anyone who backed the winner and second favourite of day Mystic Court wouldn’t have been worried about place money. The 4/1 jolly bolted up by 13 lengths under Angus Cheleda for trainer Nick Mitchell. The pilot said that he felt that the field was starting to get away from him at the back straight so had to make his move. He added he was worried that he might have got there too soon but that his mount did the job well. Indeed he did, by 13 lengths.

4:05 – William Hill Betting TV Handicap Chase (Class 4) (5YO plus) 2m ½f

Just four runners in the penultimate with Court Royale a hotpot to make it a double on the card for Evan Williams. Odds-on backers managed to pull up some more punting ammo, including a bet £5000 – £10,000 after bets of £2000 – £2400 and £1000 – £1100 were seen earlier, but they did their money again. Jeremy Scott’s 5/1 chance Tikkinthebox survived a couple of blunders to win going away by 4 ½ lengths under Kieren Buckley. The hotpot had to settle for third. The winning jockey was literally right back on the horse after a nasty fall in the previous race. He made light of that, saying it looked worse than it was. He said that Jeremy had told him his mount might be a bit short of work so let him fiddle a few but survived, he went on to say that at the water jump he thought he was going to take some catching, and so it proved.

The smell of slowing charring digits sported by odds-on backers would have been wafting around the racecourse had bookies and punters been allowed on course. It’s not always as it seems though, especially in these strange times. As they were about to jump off for the penultimate, I witnessed Jo and Wendy on the Ivor Perry pitch take their 32nd bet of the day, £100 on the winner, at 6/1.

4:35 – Newton Abbot Maiden Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race) (Class 5) (4YO to 6YO) 2m 1f

Ted’s Friend won the concluding bumper, a double on the card for Fergal O’Brien under Max Kendrick. Hard Frost was sent off the 5/2 jolly but had to settle for third. Fergal’s 97th winner was returned a 10/3 chance. The only bet of note laid in the Star Sports office was one of £3000 – £1000 the winner, under the odds but I doubt the punter cared too much. I thought people would like a bet the firm had to pay out to end with. Aye Aye.

Simon Nott.

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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 now on Kindle CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

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