SIMON NOTT: CHELTENHAM Tuesday Report

There’s nothing like it. After all the talk, Cheltenham 2018 was only hours away, I was on course early for all the build up to the opening day at Prestbury Park. Star Sports were betting in the ring, the rails and the on course betting shop plus on our brand new web site starsports.bet

PRE-RACING VIDEOS

BIG MAC and BEN (part 1)

BIG MAC and BEN (part 2)

ANDREW ON THE RAILS

MARCELLA IN THE RING

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1:30 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

The anticipation had become almost unbearable on the run-up to the Festival, not least today. Everyone was keen to get the first race underway. As the roar went up the pressure release was palpable, at least on our joint.

THE ROAR

Ben was determined to get Getabird in the book, no monster bets came in but we still had him to the tune of £26k in the Tatts book at the off. We had him beaten over the last but the more likely looking winner Kalashnikov was just winning a cup of tea. Then that God sent hill worked its magic as Summerville Boy pounced to land a 9/1 victory and get us five figures despite laying a hedge bet that took £5k out of the winner right in the hole. Great start.

2:10 Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

Now we were underway, off and running with the punter’s money as a buffer. Ben was screaming to get Footpad as well as offering the forecast option – keeping both clerks under the cosh. They had their work cut out with both Marcella McCoy and Ben Keith calling bets.

The bigger punters didn’t steam in which was disappointing but when Ben went 10/11 the jolly in came a £10,000 to £11,000. Shortly after we were made to jump again with a £27,000 – £6,000 Petit Mouchoir. At the off both were bad losers.

Turning for home we had no chance, over the last even the hill wasn’t going to save us with cheers of ‘Ruby Ruby’ booming around the ring, Footpad sauntered home and we were already on the back heel.

2:50 Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

The ring opened up 5/1 the field in the Ultima. Big handicaps don’t usually attract big punters but liabilities can be huge. They need to come at you though but they stood back for much of the race. We eventually laid a bet of £10,000 – £1,200 Singlefarmpayment then the office called to say they’d laid £75,000 – £15,000 Coo Star Sivola and they were off.

It was a fantastic victory for Lizzie Kelly and the Genius Of George Nympton, Nick Williams but an absolute disaster for the firm, especially in a race like that.

Losing untold bundles in a handicap isn’t the ideal preparation for the big race of the day. That is doubly compounded when the race harbours one of the bankers of the meeting.

3:30 Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)

Buveur D’ Air opened at a tentative 4/7 as Ben braced himself for the first real monster bet of the day, for surely if there was going to be one today, this race was it.

It really was an anti-climax on course, no big bets at all but the office livened things up reporting £8,000 – £12,000 and £8,000 – £14,000 the jolly and £7,500 each way Melon.

It’s not a very nice feeling when you have no possible chance jumping the last. The result was an absolute disaster, but there’s always a silver cloud, if a punter had wanted £100k – £140k the winner they’d have got it, so thankfully there were no takers.

4:10 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Similar to the Champion Hurdle, the layers priced Apple’s Jade at 4/7, certainly more tentatively given everyone was now doing their cobblers in style. Star Sports gave the punters the option to bet the forecast, it was mission claw back.

ANDREW’S MID AFTERNOON UPDATE

Try as Ben might he couldn’t take a significant bet off the floor for the jolly but still had it a loser for a thick four figures. It was a similar story in the office, worryingly they did lay £80,000 – £20,000 each-way Benie Des Dieux.

Brand ambassador Davy Russell almost did the ring a favour when conjuring a cracking run out of Midnight Tour but was run out of it by the absolute disaster each way lump with the favourite beaten. It was a winning race on course but the bigger picture was an absolute disaster, with seemingly no way out.

Only five races into the Festival the game is far from over but a degree of stoicism is required to get back on the joint and stuck into the next race. Ben’s a stoic man.

4:50 National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)

Ms Parfois was the one the punters wanted to be on, backed at 13/2 and clipped a point. Business was notably lighter than previous races though and they hadn’t exactly had the joint rocking.

Late money for Jury Duty saw it nudge to market leader at the off.

As they were off the office called, we’d laid a £50,000 – £10,000 Rathvinden which made that the absolute bogie whilst Ms Parfois took £10,000 out of the on-course book. I’m not sure that those Gambling Gods were overly happy that Ben suggested that a deity was a bookmaker. They were having their fun today, no doubt chortling as the two battled it out up the hill with the absolute just getting up. Those 000’s were going to take a lot of adding up tonight.

5:30 Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase (Listed)

It would be a lie to say heads were not bowed going into the concluding race. You couldn’t really make up the terrible results, even though there’s never a last race the entire team were glad that this one was today’s.

There were a few of bets to make us jump, not Ben though, he’d legged it and who could blame him, including a £20,000 – £600 each way Rocklander and £5,000 – £900 Any Second Now and steady money for De Plotting Shed. It was a case of waiting and hoping.

Mr Whitaker was a good winner in the book, despite being only 13/2 but Rocklander finishing third just about summed up the day. Tomorrow will be better, won’t it?