SIMON NOTT: Tales From The Ring WINCANTON Thursday

WINCANTON THURSDAY: SIMON NOTT reports from Wincanton’s meeting on Thursday where Star Sports sponsored five races on the card. A couple of hotpots on the card, did we see any future stars and who came out top in the betting ring?

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I was delighted that Star Sports and Star Recruitment between them sponsored five of the eight races at Wincanton. It’s long since been one of my favourite courses so I relished the opportunity to return.

Despite taking on a meeting from Towcester and racing last week, today was still the official ‘season ‘opener’ and extremely well supported by racegoers, trainers and bookmakers alike with a real buzz about the course.

1:40 Download The Star Sports App Now! Maiden Hurdle (Div 1)

The betting ring was heaving with punters for the opener. Bookmakers were busy but not inundated with lumps of cash. The biggest bet I heard of was from Martyn of Leicester in pick number one who reported a bet of £880 to £800 Olly Murphy’s Nickolson. The money was well-placed, the even money favourite won very nicely under Richard Johnson. Most observers were in agreement that there’s plenty more to look forward to from the gelding.

2:10 Download The Star Sports App Now! Maiden Hurdle (Div 2)

Betting on the next revolved around Paul Nicholls’s hot favourite Ecco, once again Martyn of Leicester was the man that took the money, this time £450 – £1500 the jolly. After it won with the ease expected of a, by that point, 1/4 favourite, the bookmaker was quite stoical and quipped ‘It’s only units.’ I pointed out that the units were adding up to which he replied he’s happy to see that there is still money in the ring despite not being able to keep it. With that the ‘money without work’ cry went up and he set out trying to get some back in the next.

2:45 Jockey Club Catering Novices’ Handicap Chase

Down the line and behind the magnet for big money that seemed to be Martyn’s hod, other bookmakers weren’t telling many stories, OK any, of big bets. In the time I was stood talking to Paul Metcalfe of the Pickwick-Bevan firm he was keeping busy with bets but let’s just say it would have taken a substantial queue of punters to fill his satchel. Dan Skelton saddled the favourite, though it was uneasy, drifting from 9/4 to 11/4. Another that took a walk in the betting on-course was Colin Tizzard’s Duc Kauto which drifted too, from 3/1 to 9/2. It didn’t stop the gelding winning though, a nice double on the card for Harry Cobden who steered Ecco to victory in the previous race.

The winner had been bigger prices in the morning so maybe the ‘drift’ was punters ‘getting out’ on the machine.

3:20 Tribute To Marcus Trescothick Handicap Hurdle

The next was a competitive betting affair, in which Tom Lacey’s Sebastopol was sent off 3/1 favourite and compounded the bookies’ misery by obliging under Nico De Boinville. There was drama in the race when Philip Hobbs’ Flying Tiger appeared to clip hoofs and stumbled unshipping Richard Johnson.

3:55 Trethowans Solicitors Handicap Chase

Hopefully Richard Johnson wasn’t too badly injured in his tumble but it was enough for him to give up his last two rides of the day. His ride on Philip Hobbs’ Barbrook Star going to Sean Houlihan in the next.

Down in the betting ring Jo Williams of the Ivor Perry firm reported that it was a very ‘flat’ betting heat, adding the the strong mover on ‘the machine’ was Tom George’s charge Forgot To Ask while the original favourite Flying Verse was very weak and hard to lay. Judging by the faces of the bookmakers further down the line, they were all proving hard to lay so I didn’t venture down to confirm.

Three out, Colin Tizzard’s Bramble Brook looked all over the winner. One shrewd judge piped it, he won’t win, he always finds a way of not winning, I don’t think he likes it.’ The man wasn’t playing in-running but maybe he should, the Jonjo O’Neill trained Terry The Fish flipped over the last to win going away at a bookie-saving 16/1 under Richie McLernon with the Bramble Brook appearing content to fill runner-up spot with the weak, now joint-favourite, Flying Verse back in third. One for the good guys, at least those that took any money on the race.

4:25 starsports.bet Handicap Hurdle

The race before the penultimate was another competitive heat, Colin Tizzard’s Little Vern was proving popular down in the ring along with Rosemary Russet sent off the 9/2f. Those that backed the latter each-way got most of their money back when the mare filled fourth spot but Little Vern backers weren’t so fortunate finishing out of the frame. At the business end of the race Jeremy Scott’s 10/1 shot Demon Fou led the way home under Matt Griffiths in front of Philip Hobbs’ 7/1 chance Dark Episode.

4:55 Read Silvestre De Sousa’s Exclusive Blog startsportsbet.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle

The bookmakers had another Paul Nicholls short one to get stuck into in the penultimate with Enrilo who opened at 4/7. Once again a punter waded in to Martyn of Leicester, with £800 – £1400 which ultimately copped, the jolly winning by four and a half lengths under Harry Cobden. The punter got his money’s worth though, the favourite looked in trouble turning for home touching 2/1 in-running before knuckling down to the task in hand. A double for Paul Nicholls and trebles for jockey and the lumping on punter. Martyn of Leicester however, not faring so well.

5:25 First For Industry Jobs Visit starrecruitment.bet Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase

The lucky last was competitive, the bookies had very little chance of getting all their loses back on the day. It appeared a fair part of the crowd had started to head for the exits despite an excellent race in prospect. The market opened tight with Our Uncle Pat priced at 4/1 and The Boola Bee 9/2.

At one point during the race it did look as if The Boola Bee was going to come from an impossible position to win. Ultimately it proved to be just too much for the mare who finished a couple of lengths second to the aptly named Johnny Farrell inmate 13/2 winner Love The Leader under promising young Luca Morgan. Not a great eight race card for the bookies but an excellent card which was a pleasure to sponsor. If you’ve never been to Wincanton you are missing out. Come racing!

Simon Nott

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Simon Nott is author of:
Skint Mob! Tales from the Betting Ring

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