SIMON NOTT: Royal Ascot Saturday Trading Report

People that have been reading all week (thank you) will know that the firm has had a torrid time. The big punters’ bets, anonymous and otherwise, having been hitting the spot and cost Star Sports plenty. It’s been nice to see my blogs have been causing some debate on social media. There have been several kind-hearted people offering their advice to Ben. Some concerned he should hedge, others a little worried what he’s doing is not bookmaking, a few suggesting any idiot can fill the hod and even some with very outlandish theories about the firm. I’m assuming the latter find time to type between making hats from tin foil.

I must admit, it hasn’t been fun recounting what’s been happening because I want the firm to win. Anyway, we’re still here heading into an 8-race finale with one thing to take a positive from. I have no idea what the people imparting their advice on social media do for their living but I suppose we have to be thankful they aren’t competitors, we’d all be out of a job.

12:40 – Silver Wokingham Handicap (Class 2)

I was having to wait a while longer than usual for the bets as the guys in the office were so under the cosh fielding money. I did get the news that Aplomb was the bogey for the first before they set off. Given it was for £65,000 I was hopeful that Charlie Fellowes 20/1 winner Chiefofchiefs was a decent cop and the the sort of start to the day the firm needed.

The text ‘Good Result’ was just what the Dr ordered. Bets on the race included Aplomb, £84,000 – 12,000ew Nahar £26,000- £4000, £7500-£1000, Blue Mist, £15000 – £3000 each-way, £10,000 – £2000 each-way, £5500- £1000 Louie De Palma £36,000-£2000 each-way. Saturday had started well.

1:15 – Queen Mary Stakes (Fillies’ Group 2) (Class 1)

More Beautiful was hammered, with small, medium and undisclosable very large bets which ensured that she lost a considerable sum in the book. If we could get her beaten there was a chance that the day could go our way. Bets of, More Beautiful £1000- £1000, £4000-£4000, £7200-£7200, £2000-£2000, £5500-£4000, £1000- £1000, £2000-£2000, Royal Approval £33,000-£10,000 each-way, Scarlet Bear £50,000-£500 each-way, Sacred £10,000-£2000 each-way, £20,000- £4000, Mamba Wamba £25,000- £1000 each-way all stayed in the hod after Campanelle’s 9/2 victory. ‘A lovely winning race’ said Sam, let’s hope he plays that line again.

1:50 – Coventry Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)

‘We didn’t lay a nicker, stick that in your blog and smoke it’ was Sam’s ecstatic response to Nando Parrado’s 150/1 victory. That’s what we like to hear about the biggest priced winner in the history of Royal Ascot (£117 on the Tote). That in a race where a bet of £330,000 – £10,000 each-way had been laid about Science. Back in the (very) old days on course there would have been whispers from corners of mouths all around the ring, ‘quick, write one in’ as the clerk scribbled in an unlucky fiver each way last bet in the book, (a tenner if the sticker-in had gone for a slash). None of those shenanigans these days of course, no need either when further bets of, Admiral Nelson £2500- £1000ew, £135,000-£54000, £9000-£4000, Dark Lion £10,500-£1500 each-way, £14,000-£2000, £13,500-£1500 each-way, Qaader £7500-£2500, £6000-£2000, Lauded £8000-£1000 each-way all staying in the hod.

2:25 – Coronation Stakes (Fillies’ Group 1) (Class 1)

Were the punters on the Chevy Chase? Sam was on again, Sharing was a loser for bundles with five minutes to go and untold bundles by the off, the biggest liability of the week. Bets that we can quote included, Sharing £10,000- £2500, £100,000-£20,000, Quadrilateral £100,000- £50,000, £4000- £2000, £9000- £4000, £2400-£1200, £9000-£4000, £7000- £2000, So Wonderful £12,000- £1000 each-way, Run Wild, £6000- £1000. Alpine Star winning at 9/2 was another absolute blinding result, for us and the punters that had £3500 – £1000 each-way and £6000 -£1700.

3:00 – St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1)

Next up, the race that looked between Pinatubo and Wichita, the punters appeared to disagree with plenty of support for plenty of horses including, Wichita £2250 – £1000, £90,000 – £40,000 Arizona, £28,0000-10,000 each-way, Pinatubo £2750 – £2000, £6050 – £4400, £110,000-£80,000, £5500- £4000, £2750-£2000, £1375- £1000, £7000- £4700, £12,000- £8000, £6000- £4000, Positive £11,000 -£1000 each-way, £80,000 – £5000, Threat, £18,000 – £1000 each-way, £18,000- £1000.

Wichita went off the absolute bogey, Palace Pier winning under Frankie Dettori was another blinding result, so good Sam was speechless, well done to those punters who found the winner to the tune of £16,000 – £4000 and £18,000 – £4000 and of course the jockey being Frankie plenty of smaller bets too.

3:35 – Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1)

The race before the penultimate saw more spirited betting, again with money for plenty of horses. The biggest single liability was Speak in Colours which attracted a bet of £168,000 – £12,000 each-way. We got that one out of the frame but the wheels came off for the first time today when Hello Youmzain winning landed bets of £18,000 – £4000, £4500-1000 each way, £7000 – £2000, £8750 – £1945, £20,000 – £4000, £7500 – £1500, others that stayed in the hod were, Breathtaking Look £50,000- £2000 each-way, Sands of Mali £20,000 – £1000 each-way, The Tin Man £18,000- £1000 each-way, Khaadem £7000 – £1000 each-way and Sceptical £2000 – £1000.

There was plenty of talk on the TV about bookmakers running for cover after Frankie’s winners but that sort of roll-up money didn’t materialise with Star. Sadly, the winner was the second worst in the book, a result that Sam described as ‘Unpleasant but nothing to worry about’. That’ll do me Sam.

4:10 – Wokingham Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you let the punters make your book and try and find the winner in the big handicaps. They had a go, bets of note included, Summerghand £7500 – £1000 each-way, £140,000 – £20,000 each-way, Konchek £100,000 – £2000 each-way, Highland Dress £70,000- £10,000 each-way, Bielsa £16,000 – £4000, £8000- £2000. Hey Jonesy looked all over the winner then the bogey flew home and looked to have got up on the line watching live. The slo-mo camera gave us hope, which proved founded, Summerghand failed by just a nose to catch 18/1 winner Hey Jonesy. The firm did run into a bet of £18,000- £1000 each-way and the places were awful but Sam said ‘Mediocre win but a nice swing from the worst possible result’ which once again would do us with one race to go.

4:40 – Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions Race) (Class 2)

Just the lucky last to go, a lucky last with a short one, Who Dares Wins in the field, the whole day could be ruined if the big backers lumped on and he obliged, they didn’t, but he did. There were plenty of bets on the race, but no massive lumps on the jolly, Nate The Great £18,000 -£4000, Adrrastos £300,000-15,000 each-way, Fun Mac £16,000 – £1000 each-way which stayed in the bag, and Mukha Magic £40,000-1000 each-way, Who Dares Wins, £1250- £1250, £1400- £1400, £1000- £1000, £2000- £2000 and £7300-£7300. Despite the short one winning the getting out stakes, it was a good result for the book. Today had been a very good day, not quite the Houdini escape on the week but a huge comeback none the less.

For those that have entertained themselves scouring the bets for typos, I hope I disappointed you, if you found one, well it’s been a long week and I’m happy to have made your Saturday night!

Thanks to everyone for reading and commenting all week. It’s been a tough one, next year I’ll be reporting from a thriving betting ring.

A final word from Sam? ‘Time for drink…’

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 CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

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