Tales From The Betting Ring – A Wet Weekend At Newbury and Exeter

My weekend’s racing action had to survive two inspections, and survive it did. Your (waterproof) hat has to go off to ground staff at Newbury and Exeter who defied not only the elements but the odds too, ‘It’s a million to one that Newbury will be on’ proclaimed one bullish Press Room regular earlier in the week. I would have had a life-changing quid on despite the rain pouring as he  prophecised a weekend washout of biblical proportions but sadly it seemed the odds he was touting weren’t actually available.

Scarf anyone, anyone?

Needless to say I didn’t become a millionaire just before 8am on Saturday morning when racing was given the go ahead. I did get to go to Newbury though so still not a bad outcome. Despite being on, the weather was atrocious for most of the day. Umbrellas were flying about again in the howling wind, the ones that got loose were the lucky ones though because for more than one mush Saturday would be its final day. My bookie mates who occasionally mark my card with their speed-figure inspired selections were loathe to advise anything today. It seems that the going horses have been running in the past few weeks have been unprecedented. They told me that for their own benefit they added a ‘very heavy’ going a few years ago but times in the last few weeks have even been off that scale.

If they aren’t confident enough to tip anything you’d imagine they’d be hoping the dire conditions would come to their rescue with a few ‘funny’ results. Sadly for those layers enduring a literal battering from the elements three of the first four jollies went in. There was a small boost for the ring to discover that a  building had been previously housing the Tote at its entrance had been transformed between meetings into a fish and chips emporium. ‘It was a credit office anyway, only the potless in there so no benefit to us’ dismissed one grumpy bookmaker.

The best plaice for a bet?

Some delightful looking ladies clad in yellow appearing in the maelstrom to dish out Betfair scarves did brighten proceedings. Racegoers keen for something for nothing, but possibly less cynically something to keep the wind out, clamoured to relieve them of their loads. Well they did for a bit but it seemed supply exceeded demand. The bookies did look in need of scarves but the vast majority of them appeared less than keen to don something advertising arguably the catalyst of the betting ring’s downward spiral.

Having said that, a lot of the on-course layers didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory betting to 1/5 the odds in the 20-runner feature hurdle. They were doing nothing wrong of course  but there were grumbles from punters who could easily stand a few yards away in a warm betting shop and get 1/4, that of course was a very inviting option on a miserable day like today. Skinny place odds aside I for one couldn’t begrudge the ring their 33/1 result with Splash Of Ginge, those layers looked frozen out there. You’d have to hope they got their whack out of the race because there was little other respite though they did get the well-backed 5/4f beaten in the bumper. 6/1 shot Definitly Red won the race but I was more interested in  Mountain Of Mourne finishing third at 25/1. The gelding won at Wincanton last time out for Tiverton trainer and second cousin once removed Linda Blackford and local owners. This was a great run in a step up in class so a real thrill for the handler and connections.

Those connections were still buzzing at Exeter, yet another meeting that defied the weather and the odds to be on, though I didn’t hear a million quoted this time. ‘We’re going to Cheltenham with him’ enthused part-owner Bill still hyper over the Newbury third, impervious to the driving sleet and freezing wind. There was more buzzing when it transpired TV celebrity Jeremy Kyle was in attendance to see his Paul Nicholl’s trained Dormello Mo run in the opener. Luke Harvey got to interview the owner before racing who seemed very happy to be at the course despite the weather. While being regaled by Leglock the horse’s odds tumbled from 9/4 into 13/8f, let’s hope Jeremy was on before he was collared by Luke or he might not be so keen to be on the receiving end of a microphone pre-race again. Sadly the favourite went from going very well to appearing to get stuck in the mud eventually finishing 4th.

Haldon Hill does its best to batter the bookies.

By the second race it was snowing, then the sun came out for a bit before we were treated to some rain, this was Haldon at its best. People have often said it’s possible to get all four seasons in one afternoon at Exeter Racecourse and this afternoon was the proof. There was some great racing action out on the course and decent betting in the ring too. There was an excellent crowd despite the initial doubt about the meeting taking place. ‘It’s not been bad, there’s not a huge quantity of bets but there are some decent punters out there’ was Richard ‘Tall Boy’ Watson’s summing up of the day’s business, with a ‘Well worth coming’ top up.

I suppose it depended on which weather forecast you saw really.

By the last Luke Harvey really did deserve an award of some sort, he had stood out in all that the elements could throw at him all afternoon. He’d interviewed owners, celebrities or otherwise, presented prizes and talked to trainers  and all with a smile while looking like he’d just been pulled from a swamp. Back in the ring Philip Hobbs’ Trickaway was being smashed into for the concluding bumper. Some punters got on at 7/4 but those who had dawdled got the crumbs, the gelding went off at 11/10 and landed the gamble despite running all over the track. It was probably lucky I talked to Richard Watson before the last not afterwards, after all, nobody likes to hear of poor beleaguered bookies soaked, freezing  as well as losing money, do they?

(C) Simon Nott

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From the Sunday Independent

Tales From The Betting Ring – Wincanton 16/01/14

I must admit that when I turned up at Wincanton with rain bucketing down and the going described as ‘Heavy with some standing water’ I feared I may have had a wasted journey. ‘Leave it to the experts pal’ was a response on to my tweet relating the going, good advice not that I could have had a hand in it if I’d wanted. The author of the tweet was correct though, those in charge at Wincanton obviously know their stuff because despite the inclement weather racing went ahead with not so much as an inspection.

Martyn of Leicester had two pitches at Wincanton, one on the rails and number one in Tatts. His staff were putting on brave faces after their long journey from the Midlands especially in the miserable weather. His man on the rails looked rather glum though appearances can be deceptive. For devilment I asked where the boss was; ‘He could be either in Hawaii or maybe Las Vegas’ he replied, looking gloomier than the weather. I replied that the game may not be ‘gone’ quite yet then and that it was all right for some. ‘I’d rather be here than there any day’ was Neil’s response as a rain-loaded dewdrop collected on the end of his nose. He still looked miserable but as long as he was happy. He might have cheered up after 8/1 shot Bob Tucker won the opener. Mind you he didn’t look to have taken much so I didn’t like to give him a further rubdown by asking.

I’d rather be here than Hawaii.

By the second race the sun was out and someone even had a monkey on one, Denali Highway but it stayed with the bookie. 11/4f Bennys Mist  won the race so the ring generally did their money. I mentioned in a previous blog that bookie’s right-hand man Ian is on a diet. I have to admit his daily home made low-cal rice dish looks bland but he’s a determined man and has lost half a stone with another double that the target. Check it out, at least it saves the firm a bob or two not having to buy him racecourse food.

Yum?

Talking of which, just as well because the firm he works for went up an opening show of 106% in the nine-runner next. All of you sat at home on your computers, come racing there’s still value. Let’s hope they took plenty after sticking their necks out because they got a result with 14/1 Flying Award. There was a classic moment while they were still betting on the race. Our old mate ‘Armaloft’ Alex came over for a chat, as he had done a bit earlier. The meeting from Ludlow was being shown on the big screen, as some familiar orange colours jumped the last seemingly home and hosed his arm went into the air accompanied by an ‘Ei Ei’ (that’sa how he says ‘Aye Aye’ weird I know). He turned his back to the screen in triumph as those of us in the vicinity were asking that if he had known Lizzy, as he affectionately called the jockey on board, was going to win on Shalimar Fromentro why hadn’t he mentioned it before? As our hero protested that he had told us (he hadn’t) and did a little jig with his arm in the air our protests stopped. They did so because over his shoulder we could see his ‘winner’ veering badly on the run-in and getting chinned on the line by 10/1 shot Rhum. It may sound unkind, but his expression was a picture before he stormed off without a word in the face of our cruel laughter . It did get a text later saying he’d booked in to have his premature celebration afflicted arm amputated. It was OK he backed a couple more winners that afternoon, yes told to us after they had won, and cheered up. It was a classical Alex moment enjoyed by all. Except Alex of course.

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Betting had been fairly light but came to life in the fifth with a nice few quid about for  Hansupfordetroit including a £4500-£1500. That gamble of sorts looked likely to be landed but 10/1 Bertie Boru had other ideas and ended up winning by couple of lengths rewarding  those books who stuck it up the short ones.

The rain’s stopped let’s punt!

The rain was pouring down again by the time betting kicked off for the sixth. The race was sponsored, as was the whole card, by Higos Insurance Services Ltd and attracted eight runners.  The market revolved around two horses sent off at 4/6 and 6/4. Pickwick bookmakers bet on the straight race as well as what they described on their board as the ‘Donkey Derby’ (apologies now to any connections of the bigger-priced horses in the race) which was betting without the front two. Sadly for them and their imaginative, if cruelly named, market the weather was so bad they hardly took a bet on it. The jolly beat the second in with the rest led home by Billy My Boy. 4/9 Vieux Lion Rouge won the last but didn’t appear to do much damage to a ring that saw little large bet action on the race to end a soggy but enjoyable day.

(c) Simon Nott

*My new (and first) book ‘Skint Mob! – Tales From The Betting Ring’ is out now. It covers people and events in the betting ring from the 1980′s where hopefully some colour has been captured. It is a royal sized paperback. It’s on Amazon, eBay and Kindle or direct from me.

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Tales From The Betting Ring – Newbury 28/12/13

Proper job bird’s eye view

Newbury was an absolute picture postcard first thing with the course bathed in glorious winter sunshine. A far cry from what we’d been used to and a welcome change of climate, for today at least. There had been fears that the meeting would suffer in attendance going head to head with Chepstow’s Welsh Grand National card. Those fears appeared to be unfounded though with a very decent crowd turning out despite the clash and fairly small fields.

The bookies looked happy to be there too. One firm was proudly displaying his ‘Christmas present’, a brand new headboard for Kelross which Rocky on the joint no doubt hoped would draw the punters in without having to go 6/4 about an 11/8 chance. There was a few bob about in the opener, from shrewd sources too one layer confided. That may well have been true but they can’t all win and the couple of grand on Cadoudoff at the top end of the 7/2 into 9/4 tilt was thwarted by easy to back Baradari who’d taken a walk from 9/4 to 11/4 in the market. Saroque won the next at 5/2, it had been 10/3 and attracted at least one bet of a grand to ruin a rails firm’s book though there had been a couple of carpet bets for Castle Conflict but was pulled up.

Santa loves at least one bookie.

Betting had been described as ‘steady but small’ in the Betfred Mandarin chase, that is until quite late on. Howard’s Legacy had been easing in the market from around 9/2 out to 6/1 until one rails firm stuck their head above the parapet chalking up 13/2. The old adage was, never do such a thing or you’ll get picked off, and picked off they were to the tune of £6500 -£1000. I’m told the punter wanted double but had to settle for the rest in monkeys at 6/1 elsewhere. The layer kept his cash and head but would still have been a tad worried even approaching the last where a rick put paid to the gamble that had been hanging in there tenaciously. The aptly-named Financial Climate won the race at 4/1.

Ian, stalwart member of Jack Bevan’s staff has been seen munching on a weird looking rice snack from a Tupperware lunch-box for some weeks now. It’s a bit weird because up until recently anything remotely ‘foreign’ to eat would have been positively off the menu for this chap. So bad has been his aversion that ‘rice’ would have definitely  fallen into that exotic category.  ‘I’ve lost 12lb since I started eating  this’ he beamed. Paul behind the joint didn’t say much but you can bet your hat that he’s hoping this penchant for ‘foreign’ (but plain) continues for a stone or two more. The reason being this particular member of staff has a reputation for choosing the most expensive ‘English’ food on any menu when staying over on the firm. Maybe a wallet tremble when jumbo fillet steak is spotted on a usually reasonable hostelry’s specials board will be avoided in coming weeks.

There was serious payout  ducked by a couple of books when AP McCoy’s mount Captain Cutter won the next returned 8/1 after opening around the 5/1 mark.  In doing so he scuppered a brace of grand bets on the runner-up Timesremembered. I thought that would have been a decent result for all the books. At least until one excited punter beckoned to me with what looked like the offer of a drink. Being the consummate professional of course I declined. Our punting mate obviously wanted to celebrate so came over to me and thrust two betting slips into my hand. Sadly only to look at not as a belated Christmas gift. He’d had a carpet each-way on the winner at 8/1. His wife was all smiles too in a very fetching fur coat, but not a broad as our man who explained proud as punch how he got it cheap. He then went on to explain he likes it best when she wears it………. No we won’t go there this isn’t 50 shades of anything.

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Just as well for the light-hearted break because things got particularly nasty for the layers, the rails at least, in the next. There were, by today’s standards, untold bundles for Vukovar, some at 8/11 and the lumps at 4/6. Those bets, including one of £6000 never looked in any doubt at all with the plunge landed in bloodless fashion. The penultimate looked to be the lightest betting-wise largely due to the punters watching the Welsh National. There was a flurry of interest as they were off but winner Whisper was 13/8 jolly and no good to most of the ring of course.

There were two horses backed in the last. Stand To Reason and Wilde Blue Yonder who flip-flopped as market leader before the latter was sent off the ‘tips’ 11/10 favourite. One rails firm had laid Stand To Reason to a real chunk at 6/4. ‘We need it beaten’ they confided. There was nothing in it as the pair battled it out approaching the last, then the jolly came down, you had to feel for them.

On the plus side, Rocky (who hadn’t laid ‘that’ bet) was still cheerful enough to give me one of his excellent calendars to go with my two-diary booty on the day. Who says bookies are mean? No me that’s for sure. That’s it for this year, thanks for reading in 2013 and I’ll be back with tales from Exeter on January 1st next year, apocalyptic weather forecasts permitting of course.

Thanks Rocky!

(c) Simon Nott

*My new (and first) book ‘Skint Mob! – Tales From The Betting Ring’ is out now. It covers people and events in the betting ring from the 1980′s where hopefully some colour has been captured. It is a royal sized paperback. Full details can be found here.

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Tales From The Betting Ring – Kempton Park 25/11/13

It’s always a pleasure to witness jumping at Kempton. It seems I’m not alone in that opinion with a very healthy crowd turning up for the 7-race card. Given that four of the races were likely to feature an odds-on shot the number of punters may have been a pleasant surprise for some of the layers. The opening race provided the longest odds-on jolly of the day with West Wizard expected to win and sent off at 1/6 accordingly. With 8 runners and a well odds-on favourite the ring was split into win and each-way markets with only the short-one bearing any resemblance to both. Some punters were grumbling about the place market and the fact that bookies betting each-way were not offering win only odds but had no reason to quibble. Even with the each-way market betting to a healthy margin the bookies were still betting to much less than 100% on the places. It wasn’t the places that the punters were interested in, well to be honest most people didn’t seem interested in the race as a betting medium at all but a couple did get involved. One punter waded into Peter O’Toole with £550 hoping to nick £100 off him. Peter took the bet and stuck it in his hod, then confided it’s the biggest bet he’d ever taken in 49 years. Well maybe he should get stuck into the short ones a bit more often because he got it turned over. Not one for over-indulgences Peter and his amiable companion celebrated by putting an elastic band around the monkey, pouring a cup of soup (that looked like tea) and tucking into a sandwich.

Get the Thermos out, we’ve copped!

I’m pretty sure Peter was still munching when odds-on punters got some back when Bear’s Affair justified odds of 3/10, one bookie laid a £300-£900 but it wasn’t him. It wasn’t him who laid the £800-£1100 and £800-£1300 Highland Retreat in the third either, the latter made backing the short ones look a good idea again but not before supporters got a real scare with a clumsy jump at the last. Despite the noted bets the ring wasn’t really alive, nor did it seem was the crowd with the last last two winners called home by isolated punters and polite applause rather than a roar.

If people had been keeping their money as warm as Peter had his winnings waiting for a good betting heat they unleashed it in the fourth. There were chunks for three horses including on Mentalist at 5/1 despite it going on to drift alarmingly. Giorgio Quercus won at 9/2 but hardly unsupported being a Henderson/Geraghty combatant. The fifth race looked competitive but was won with some ease by Dreamsoftheatre who was sent off the 7/2 favourite.

The Kempton market has surprised in the past and it gave the bookies a start again in the penultimate. There were just four runners with Royal Boy a shade of odds-on. There were a couple of monkey bets for the jolly but then the layers got a real shock. A punter appeared on the rails and also appeared to think he was at Cheltenham or Royal Ascot judging by the bets he was asking for, not on the jolly but Baby Mix. Some firms ducked for cover while others took him on, to the tune of over £6000 in noted bets forcing his fancy from 7/2 into 5/2. Whoever the punter was the books need to remember his face because he was right on the money, the layers that accommodated him endured having to sit and watch as the horse drew further away and hoping for the miracle that never arrived coming to their rescue. That situation is of course, nasty.

Did the punter get to Peter O’Toole? I’m not sure he did but to be certain I’ll ask him at Newbury.

(C) Simon Nott

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Tales From The Betting Ring – Newbury 17/05/13

Decent weather and what appeared to be a larger than average Friday crowd was the reward for the bookies that turned out for the Scope and SIA Charity Raceday. Getting to the racecourse was harder from some than others. Full marks to Paul Metcalfe, the fourth generation bookmaker that bets under the name of Jack Bevan (a name that has been seen on racecourse betting rings since 1897). He broke his ankle just a few weeks ago but is already back and betting albeit with the aid of a wheelchair. Of course his fellow layers were full of admiration for his gallant refusal to shy out of work. They showed this admiration by christening him ‘Angel’ after the name of the firm that provided his conveyance proudly displayed on the back of his chair. Sick of that moniker he seemed quite relieved when offered the alternative of ‘Ironside’, though only those over a certain age got that one.

The result of the first race wouldn’t have eased his various discomforts. The favourite, Championship, managed to win despite drifting from 15/8 to 5/2. Worst still one layer was reported to have run into a top-priced £5500-£2000. Even worse than that, the main gamble of the race, Man Amongst Men supported from 33/1 into 14/1, was second, only thwarted in the shadow of the post. The second race result was even worse still. Winsili was backed from 5/2 into 2/1 favourite and fair hosed in. The 14/1 winner of the 5/1 the field handicap third race at least stopped the jolly-winning rot.

Armaloft Alex went down to the paddock prior to the fourth. He came back with a spring in his step and quite bullishly announced that the odds-on favourite Oriel didn’t look too special and he certainly wouldn’t be backing her. It was a surprise then to see that at least one firm appeared to be supporting the filly. I rubbed my hands in anticipation of a paragraph belittling my mate’s lack of prowess as a paddock judge when the jolly won by half the track. I should have had more faith, Armaloft was right, Oriel was a big disappointment, at least for her backers, only managing third. One rails bookie appeared to have made a stand against her financially and was soon packing up to go home.

Ninjago was well-backed in the next including a couple of two grand and grand bets. He was another that could only manage third place. That was another rails firm upping sticks and heading home. They were not alone. right down at the other end of the ring another layer was off, they had been offered a £1000 bet all down there, decided to take and stand it and copped the lot. They too were thanking their lucky stars and making a break for it. The winner Zanetto looked to have landed a bit of a touch from around 5/1 into 10/3 but nothing lumpy was reported on course. Prairie Ranger appeared to  landed another nibble, 9/2 into 3/1 in the next but in doing so beat the favourite so not all bad for the bookies.

As is often the case you could see the thinner crowd and feel the apathy by the seventh race. It didn’t help that it was a hard-looking handicap. You could almost hear the bookies snapping  metaphorical  elastic bands around their winnings too. Nobody was going to stick their neck out in a couple of races where field money was going to probably be minimal. Just as well as a second favourite and a favourite obliged for those jolly-backers who had any money left to play with.

Bookies West End Racing from Southampton stuck it out until the end and couldn’t report having done any good on the last two. They did have some good news though. Lewis Brown who stands for his long-standing family firm told me that he is taking part in a run around Fontwell Park to raise money in memory of his Uncle Matt who recently passed away suddenly aged just 45. Anyone who would like to sponsor Lewis can read more about his effort by following this link justgiving.com/westendracing 

It’s back to Newbury tomorrow for their nine-race card. Proper job.

The show must go on for Jack Bevan and Co.

(c) Simon Nott

Tales From The Betting Ring – Exeter 30/04/13

The first of two evening meetings to close the season at Exeter attracted a very decent crowd. Though there was one familiar face missing, bookie Paul Metcalfe who bets under the name of Jack Bevan. His right-hand man Ian was there with a brace of young ladies but no sign of the boss. It turned out that he’s laid up for some time after breaking his ankle. Ian said that he came back from doing his cobblers at a point to point (6 out of 7 jollies went in chipped another layer), marched into the kitchen and promptly slipped on the freshly mopped floor. He immediately felt that his ankle hurt a bit, but was quite taken back to see on further examination that his foot was pointing in the opposite direction to what it really should have been. Nasty. Let’s hope it heals in double-quick time, meanwhile Ian is holding the fort and will keep us all informed. It was also pointed out that as ruggedly  handsome as Paul may be, the girls are easier on the eye, so it’s not all bad for the punters.

Talking of which, there has been a change in the ring, well several to be honest, one bookie has changed his trading name to ‘Billy No Mates’. I’m told in reaction to a heated argument over several beers with fellow layers over place terms that have been well documented in these blogs. Billy no mates or not there was no evidence of anyone at all in the ring betting to anything other that traditional place terms today which is a right result for everyone especially the betting ring. Let’s hope that’s a corner turned.

50 years of going to Exeter races may have passed Badger by but that’s more than can be said for any stray note. He has long been the undisputed king of the ‘scoops’. For the uninitiated that is stray money floating around the betting ring dropped by clumsy punters. It is said that in his prime he could hear a note hit the floor from 20 paces. He told me he’d bagged his first scoop of the day before racing. He copped a score in the street so thought his luck must be in. It dawned on him that the strategy of  the evening was going to be keeping his eyes on the floor for further booty and not on the bookies the more traditional way of leaving the races better off than you went there. He kept it up too, all night as far as I could see, looking very determined.

As far as the racing went, not one favourite won. Maybe the Gambling Gods small reward for the Exeter bookies playing the game at long last? Probably not of course.

Ascot bound tomorrow.

Simon Nott

Tales From The Betting Ring – Exeter 16/04/13

There were plenty and runners and racegoers at Exeter for their 8-race midweek card for which the sun even made an appearance. The favourite beaten in the first,  Billy Dutton won the second at  14/1, he had been 18/1 so maybe landed a tickle for somebody but it also doubled up as a result for the bookmakers. Drama followed in the third when 4/1 favourite The Clyda Rover came from what looked like a hopeless position for a dramatic victory. I am told that over £100 was matched on the winner at 999/1 in running on the exchanges. It’s hard to have sympathy with people I’d think of as graspers prepared to nick pennies at 1/999, minus commission, on beaten horses.  On the plus side, where there are losers there are also winners so good luck to those who copped a small fortune. The latter would no doubt have seen similar things happen in the past in long-distance races up on Haldon Hill, it’s certainly not the first time.

Talking of graspers, that brings me nicely on to the fifth race, a Novices’ Chase with an odds-on favourite. As far as I could see everyone was playing the game place-wise until the spectre of an odds-on favourite and the possibility that the punters might have a chance (heaven forbid) loomed. There were five runners, so the layers only had to pay out on two places so traditional odds would be 1/4.  A commendable few did bet to those terms, most to 1/5 and at least three firms went 1/6. No concession on the win prices either, just trimmed place terms. Of course, proper bookies, those that actually fancied taking on the punters and the short one and not just having it all back at a bigger price on the exchanges needed to get it in. There didn’t appear to be many lumpy punters in the ring. Yes that is the moan that you hear, but hardly surprising. These days the vast majority of people have a phone which they can place bets on. They are not daft, why would they want to have their grand on with a bookie at one price only to see him pant with excitement and have it all back immediately at slightly bigger odds with some anonymous layer on-line and skim some of their winnings?

There were a few false alarms of a big backer. One guy marched into the ring with a plastic bag. In days gone by a ‘plastic bag man’ wasn’t racecourse myth but every so often a reality. The quite often innocuous looking punter would saunter up, wait in the queue of old ladies and then ask for a lump of grubby readies he suddenly produced from the bag on the odds-on shot. The biggest I saw when I was working at a run of the mill meeting was a £2000 – £13,000. The boss laid him half (I know I know, lay a bet) and it won by about a furlong. Anyway, this guy wasn’t a blast from the past, he was picking up rubbish. Farmer Derek and Pennymoor Peter were also spotted in front of the bookies but turned out to be just having a chat and not betting, they wouldn’t get much off those two shrewdies anyway.

2/5 shot Coole River was beaten, so the ring copped again.

The next race was a nine-runner Hunters’ Chase with an even money favourite, perfect excuse for the three 1/6 the odds merchants to get to work again. The favourite won but to be honest it probably didn’t make any difference to these particular firms. The last two races were bumpers. Then it dawned, the horrible reality that the shameless three were going to bet to 1/6 regardless. There was no excuse apart from short-changing the punters in the 7th, there were nine runners in a competitive 5/2 the field heat. Their odds stayed the same in the last, the favourite was beaten in both.

I remember when Exeter was full of gentlemen bookies. The pitches were occupied by men who were also sportsmen, Harry, and later Ian Metcalfe, Dave Pipe, Bernard Redfern, Norman Barnes and a whole host more. What they would make of  some of the people and practices in the ring these days is anyone’s guess, but I expect Bernard would have told them exactly what he thought. It would probably include a few Anglo-Saxon words that weren’t exactly flattering.

As far as I can see most racecourses ensure that prices for cans of fizzy pop and cups of tea and coffee are universal at their meetings so racegoers aren’t ripped-off. Surely that can be imposed on the ring too? That way the majority of bookmakers who are desperately trying to keep up the reputation and tradition of the betting ring and ensure its longevity can compete on a level playing field with those few short-sighted graspers.

Sorry that this is more of a soap-box than a colourful tale of the ring and its characters. Normal service will be resumed, but I feel these things have to be highlighted or before long there won’t be any colourful ring or characters to regale, and that would be heart-breaking.

(c) Simon Nott

Tales From The Betting Ring – Wincanton 12/04/13

One of the things about travelling the turf that isn’t often what it’s cracked up to be is staying away. Sometimes of course it is fantastic, generally big meetings where a group of you get together and socialise. That’s when you get to see people you only know by their racecourse persona in a totally different light. Very rarely in a worse one, once the pressures of racecourse goings-on are off sometimes amazing things happen. For example, nobody who was at that meal in Arundel a couple of Goodwoods ago will ever forget the delight and surprise to discover that a well-loved bookmaking family can transform into the singling  Von Trapps after a vino or two.

Staying over after Ascot was not one of those evenings. I had a fairly miserable night at the Sunbury Premier Inn, well not miserable exactly because it’s nice enough there. The problem was I had a  bit of a shock, I used the automated machine for checking in and  lugged my weary bones up the stairs to room 303 I had been allocated. By the way, the lift wasn’t broken but I’m on a fitness campaign to fight off middle-age, get me. My abode easily found, I slid in my key-card, the light went green and I tumbled into the room. Only to find somebody was already in it. I didn’t catch a glimpse of the incumbent but did hear the TV and see a suitcase with what looked like a builders hard hat on it. It flashed through my mind that I might well need that for protection should I be mistaken for an intruder up to no good. I made a hasty retreat back downstairs, but this time in the sanctuary of the lift. Lenny Henry never mentioned this scenario in the advert with tales of comfy beds and nice hot baths.

Luckily I wasn’t perused by an angry brickie and was apologised to  profusely by the bemused receptionist and given another room. The rest of the evening was spent having a meal for one in the bar. The only other customers were some quite loud Scottish lads all drinking beer and having fun. They did give me disapproving when I ordered a diet coke but apart from that just ignored me. Whilst sitting there a bit bored I checked through coming month’s schedule and decided I’d try and get some staying away mates for the next few nights away. I spotted the Saturday and Sunday Goodwood and Salisbury double, there is usually at least one firm who are up for staying up for that one so gave the bookie a call. Sadly he informed me that while they would normally would be up for it his main man’s father wasn’t too well so they would probably go home and back rather than stay en-route. He did add that he’d like to know where I was going to stay in because if the old boy got better they would join me.

I booked somewhere  on-line before heading to Wincanton so decided to search out the firm, established in 1897, on arrival. I marched into the ring and informed the boss where I had booked and then breezy as you like turned to the guy who’s father was poorly and wished him a speedy recovery. You know those moments when you immediately know that you have made a rick, the world stands still and everyone in earshot looks horrified? Yes, this was one of them. His father had since died. Doh. Where’s the ground to swallow you up when you need it. Maybe I shouldn’t have added that at least we’d be able to have that drink after racing at Goodwood now. Never start to dig deeper when you are already in trouble.

There was a really decent crowd at Wincanton, though sadly for the bookies most of them seemed to have backed the runaway winner of the opener from 13/8 all rates down to 11/8. Not a great start for the ring. The second race on the card was a 17-runner handicap, only two bookies appeared to be betting 1/4 the odds a place. I shall say no more, but on the bright side, the winner, Midnight Prayer landed a bit of a touch from 12/1 into 8/1.

Things went the way of the layers in the fourth race. The favourite, Addiction, had been a bit weak in the market but was a popular choice on course. There were a few rumblings around me that the drift was a bit fishy but those soon vanished when the jolly appeared to be going by far the best and looked the likely winner. Then he stumbled and unshipped jockey Nick Scholfield. ‘He jumped off’ screamed one slightly refreshed punter. There is no accounting for the way punters handle losing but it was probably a mercy that the poor jockey was out of earshot as he hobbled into the waiting ambulance.

The first real market move of the day didn’t come until the 7th race, the first division of the bumper. Despite there being solid support for the favourite Vodka ‘N Tonic, including a £700-£400, it was Spring Steel that was the big mover. The early 18/1 had collapsed into 13/2 at the off, nobody had stories of untold bundles of cash being spread around the ring for it, sadly those days have gone. Wherever the money had come from and how and where it was placed those involved could have been forgiven for thinking they’d copped when the gamble took up the lead at the furlong pole heading leader Tea For Two. It must have been a nasty feeling watching 18/1 shot  fight back and forge clear foiling the gamble by just over a length.

The winner was trained by Nick Williams, the Genius of George Nympton, owned by his wife Jane and ridden by her daughter Lizzy and apparently a surprise winner. Well that is how it looked for a while until a gangling figure, so far conspicuous by his absence, made his appearance. Beaming from ear to ear and gesticulating wildly, ‘Armaloft’ Alex. He’d evidently managed to keep his arm down for long enough for Lizzy and Tea For Two do their stuff, the result of which he’d had it spark off. Being a pal of the yard he often gets to know, and it appears he got to know today. Nobody had to say anything, the little gathering around him while he regaled all who would listen how exactly spark off he’d had it, had it written all over their faces, ‘Yes thanks Armaloft, no bloody good telling us now’. At least one of them must have started to look thirsty, so maybe fearing a costly round our victorious, non-tipping, hero quickly added that he hadn’t backed it on course.

He’s probably collected by now though, so Lizzy, if you are reading this, you can no doubt expect a very generous present next birthday or Christmas from our extremely grateful, loaded but secretive mate because that Axminster each-way he’d had on would have come to a nice few quid!

(c) Simon Nott

Tales From The Betting Ring – Ascot 07/04/2013

I backed my first winner before I even got into the course proper. How I wasn’t wiped out by the guy in the estate that came hurtling toward to me as I was getting directed into the press carpark I’ll never know. Getting the car written off on day one of a two-day stint would have been a right pain. My guess is he (with a car full of people) was charging in to watch the charity race, he was definitely wearing metaphorical blinkers. The near miss gave me the collywobbles for a bit that’s for sure. I was more interested in a strong coffee than watching the  race I assume he thought was dicing with death in  the rush to see. It seemed a bit weird to have it at 12.30, almost two hours before the first race proper so I doubt there was any betting on it or that many people there to enjoy it.

The bookies were probably too busy still counting their winnings from their jaunts up to Liverpool to worry about pricing up a charity race anyhow. One front row layer did try to play down how much they must have copped by telling me how much he had paid out over one of the other ‘results’ of the meeting. He must have clocked the incredulous look on my face. He gave up but just stopped short of  conceding  that they had had it spark off. Believe it or not the same bookie, almost, and I say almost, looked guilty when it transpired that 40/1 shot Forresters Folly had won the opener. Another skinner for their books despite virtually all observers, including the usually spot-on cameraman, thinking Warden Hill had won. They were only a nose out.

Of course, as these are bookmakers that we are talking about, there were moans that business was a bit thin in the first despite the good crowd. Things picked up in the next with the help of one firm getting involved in a small way. Not on the winner though. Victor Leudorum was  another result for the ring, at least on paper at 16/1 but had been a pony so wasn’t a total surprise in some quarters.

Race three was a 16-runner handicap. Now I don’t want to bore people to death banging on and on about the place terms that books in the ring bet to. The vast majority went 1/5 the odds a place which is fast becoming the norm though the hardcore few on the rails are keeping the flag flying betting 1/4. Yes the punters do have the edge in these races, as opposed to the bookies having it the bulk of the time. Many businesses have a loss-leader that they absorb for the better good so fair play to those that take the same approach continue to offer the punters value. One of these bookmakers was incandescent with rage that another rails firm was betting to 1/6th, yes on the rails at Ascot, surely there’s little to justify it.  Aptly named 4/1 shot Calculated Risk won the race, you’d have to hope that at least one firm stood it for their maximum.

Well -fancied horses winning didn’t last for long, 11/1 shot Fairy Rath took the next, though it had been 14/1 so someone somewhere had a tickle. Not with one layer you’d assume who was later reported to have been celebrating with the winning connections, who happened to include Mrs Jeremy Kyle.  There didn’t seem to be many others in the ring that had laid it either mind. A cheerful bookmaker volunteered the information  that they had now got a few quid in front and were now ‘snapping the elastic bands around the winnings’. Maybe a race too soon because the next winner went in a 10/1.

The penultimate had the ring in a bit of a spin. There appeared to be a right old touch going down on Tim Vaughan’s Ballyrock whose price collapsed from 12/1 into 4/1. Appearances can be deceptive these days though, it looks as if it was an increasingly common case of the exchange tail wagging the on-course dog. Those sorts of gambles can be self-perpetuating though and there was a rumour that one firm had laid a £4000- £1000. Those who followed the money knew their fate a long way out when a blunder and a stirrupless jockey put paid to what ever might have been plotted. Not only did the books get that one beaten but were handed another near skinner with 33/1 winner Regal Presence.

Judging by their long faces the firm that had pretty much shut up shop by snapping their elastic  realised that they had done it wrong even though they’d got it right. No surprise then that they decided to call it a day and pack up and head for home before the concluding Hunters’ Chase. The jolly won that one. Not bad judges after all.

One happy footnote, at least for me personally. Anyone who read my blog over Cheltenham will know that I had set my heart on buying a tweed jacket and waistcoat from the profits of an ante-post punt when Reve de Sivola won the World Hurdle. As we all know, Reve didn’t quite make the frame and Geoff Banks kept my money. But Timothy Foxx got a sale anyway.  Well that nice Geoff was offering a free £5 each-way bet on the Grand National to existing clients, I followed my mate Andrew Mount’s advice and had it on Aurora’s Encore. Geoff laid me 80/1. What a gentleman, you paid for it in the end, thanks very much. Aye Aye!

(c) Simon Nott

Grand National 1996 – Tales From The Betting Ring (Book Excerpt)

This is an excerpt from Skint Mob.

I was extremely pleased when the boss bought a pitch at Liverpool, just for the Saturday of the Grand National. I had never been so was very excited at the prospect of seeing the great race in the flesh. We were to bet on the embankment which was down by the start of the race near the usually dramatic first and second fences of the race. It was also the cheapest enclosure at the course. The pitch has previously been worked by an ageing silver ring firm and was according to them, maybe not surprisingly, a ‘goldmine’. It was ideal for the boss, he was going to enjoy the day out too and being a position that is only used the one day of the year there was no onus to make that long journey more than once a year.

As word got around that the firm had bought the pitch other rumours about the ‘goldmine’ came out, more like a gold rush in the Wild West was one opinion. Apparently although there was undoubtedly a large crowd out there they were according to some, drunken hooligans all, add to that aggressive and thieving and you get the picture that was being painted for us. Most of the stories about bookies getting rushed and their hods dipped or gangs of hard cases flash mobbing a pitch with a fabricated dispute and intimidating the firm into coughing up a sum of money in fear of their lives were third hand. Even though obviously told with a little bit of devilment  they patently preyed on the bosses mind. He did his best to give the impression that he had shrugged it all off. After all, the firm that sold it must have had a combined age of 400 years and had probably worked the pitch for 100 of them so it couldn’t be that bad.

On the eve of our first trip up to Liverpool it appeared that it could, or at least it had preyed on the bosses mind enough to give me a call. Tiverton had long-since had a reputation for harbouring its fair share of yobbos, at least for a small market town, so that is why he thought of me. Not for my street-fighting prowess, hell no, I’m 5′ 7” in my socks but always found it easy to get on well with the town’s hard nuts. That was the talent he was after. He wanted to know if I knew a ‘Reliable hard bastard that wouldn’t steal from us and knew a bit about racing’ anyone who met the criteria was to be asked if they’d like to come to the Grand National 1996 and work on the joint for a day.

I did know a few such fellows, most of the Tiverton hard cases around my age would have a punt in between their pints on a Saturday, that was enough to know about horseracing the boss told me. The one I asked was the hardest case in town. He was one of the volatile ones who was friendly enough to me on most occasions but you wouldn’t take liberties with him because you were still just as likely to get a smack around the chops if you said something out of turn. I saw this as a great opportunity to get in the tough guy’s good books a little bit more and thus protect my safety in Tiverton’s rougher drinking establishments in the future. My theory did seem to be barking up the right tree when the guy I had in mind was extremely excited to be asked. He was pretty chuffed when he got the full story that he was there as protection as well as giving change and was ready at the allotted time very early on the Saturday morning. He was dressed to the nines, suit and tie with a very smart raincoat. He sat in the front with the boss and elected to keep his coat on despite the boss suggesting as it was a long journey and he might be more comfortable with it off.

On the journey up to Liverpool the allotted hard-man told a fair few stories about how often he had been to the races and of his betting successes. Obvious to the boss and me that they were being embroidered somewhat, but not to worry it was his brick shit-house presence and hopefully amiable attitude that was needed. We stopped for a fry-up on the way up. The coat didn’t come off but the breakfast gratefully accepted and eagerly scoffed. My first sight of the approach to Aintree was a bit of a shock to all of us. The road was full of shops all metal shuttered and closed and had a grass verge running down the centre of it, strewn with rubbish. This quite desolate scene was a little alarming and I for one was glad to have brought our Tiverton protection. I think being miles outside of our comfort zone and heads filled with horror stories had affected us more than it should have, after all this was the world’s most famous horserace not some gypsy flapping track.

We had been advised that we would be better off paying to park in a nearby working mens’ club and walking the short distance to our enclosure to aid a quick getaway after racing. We followed instructions, paid the fiver and parked the car. The boss and I started unpacking the kit while our passenger shifted around looking uncomfortable, hardly surprising after being sat in the car for the best part of five hours with a rain coat on. He grimaced a bit and reached into the inside of his pocket, rummaged around a bit then to my horror and the bosses utter astonishment pulled out a large rubber cosh saying “This bastard has been sticking in my ribs for f***ing miles.” It was a horrendous freeze-frame type moment where I was unsure what was going to happen next. He broke the silence by re-sheathing his weapon with an “Oh that’s better” before returning to the passenger seat to get his bag, we dared not ask what was in there…………

(C) Simon Nott

‘Skint Mob’ it is about bookies, punters and racecourse regulars and has been quite well-received. Here’s a review from the Racing Post on Sunday 23rd March.

Review from the Racing Post 23/03/14

It’s available here on Amazon – Kindle and Paperback http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0992755409/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_s7Ymtb0Y2B