Tales From The Betting Ring – Kempton @WillHillRacing Lanzarote Hurdle

William Hill were the sponsors for the opening race and indeed the whole meeting. Sadly for the bookies at Kempton there didn’t seem to be a lot of action in the betting ring for the William Hill – In The App Store Juvenile Hurdle at least judging by the layers’ groans and long faces. The rail did boast a strong contingent of books who’d happily take a lump but there wasn’t a lump to be seen. So without a lot in the hods the result wouldn’t have made a lot of difference to the layers though getting any jolly beaten is always welcome. The winner, Officer Drivel had been backed from around 8/1 into 11/2 but not to significant sums. It didn’t seem to have done much damage on-course so probably lucky there hadn’t been any big-staking connected punters wading in.

Geoff Banks was feigning slumber on his pitch when his colleagues got to work on the second, the William Hill – Download The App Handicap Chase. Only five went to post and the vast majority of the chunky money was for Cocktails At Dawn supported from 11/8 into 11/10 with several hefty wagers. Cold March was also backed to some decent money. Once the race got underway it soon appeared that the weight of money resting on the jolly encumbered it, soon dropping away after some jumping errors. This left the race at the mercy of Cold March who went clear two out. What followed must have been like Chinese water torture for his backers as slowly but surely its stride began to shorten as both Lost Legend and Key To The West challenged on both flanks. The former got there in the last stride to get up for a 12/1 victory on the line and provide the ring with the result they were after.

Fairly quiet on the rails.

The layers didn’t bask in glory for long, Kingscourt Native was smashed in the ring from early 6/4 into Evens to bundles of three and four-figure bets in the William Hill – Bet & Watch Novices’ Hurdle before winning by nine lengths leaving the bookies with badly blistered if not yet burned fingers. At least they knew money was there to be taken but not so great that a good percentage of it was their own.

Only three went to post for the  williamhill.com Chase (Listed) but there was one less bookmaker in Tattersalls to bet on it. A veteran front-row layer had already upped sticks and gone home. ‘It’s terrible business’ was Tony of the Bob Stock organisation’s summing up but he was standing his ground. He was betting just up from the now abandoned pitch so you could understand the early bath. Those that held the line were soon under attack again, Balder Success was the one ‘they’ wanted to be on and that support proved inspired despite the books standing up to the weight of money. There were several four-figure bets on the rails. At least those firms had a chance of winning said sums, for those in lesser pitches chance of even being offered a lump of readies would be a fine thing. Once again, that lack of business pain was tempered by watching another jolly saunter home for its share of the bookie’s sponsor money, if you can’t take it you can’t lose it.

Plenty of shopping around choices for the punters.

The fifth and feature race of the day the  William Hill Lanzarote Hurdle (Listed Handicap) boasted 13 runners and a competitive market which saw the punters getting stuck in, to modest stakes. Geoff Banks came sauntering up to say he may have to sell his car should Shotavodka win, he’d laid a £10,000 – £400 which I’d image was sticking out somewhat in his book. There was a move for Warrantor backed from 6/1 into 9/2 and also good support for Lizzie Kelly’s mount Tea For Two also at 9/2. The gelding’s owned by her mother Mrs Jane Williams & Len Jakeman, trained by The Genius Of George Nympton Nick Williams. Stable confident Armaloft Alex was cautiously optimistic and my mate Andy Mount had also tipped it up in his GG.com column. Things augured well but I doubt either of them expected the gelding to win quite so easily as it did. I tried to keep near Armaloft to ensure his unlucky arm stayed down but when I turned to check he wasn’t prematurely celebrating he was already sprinting down the running rail almost at the pace of the winner, both arms aloft.  I’d imagine there will be celebrations in George Nympton tonight and sore heads at the Wadebridge point to point tomorrow. Of course the result was another terrible one for the ring but at least Banko didn’t have to flog his motor.

The penultimate, the  William Hill – Bet On The Move Handicap Chase once again saw competitive betting. Open Hearted went off the 7/2 jolly but could only managed a distant third behind 6/1 shot Ardkilly Witness and 9/2 second-in Masters Hill who battled it out for a thrilling finish the former getting the nod by a short head. The books may have gotten the favourite beaten but there wasn’t a lot to shout about judging by the sullen faces on the rails.

The lucky last was the  William Hill – Download The App Handicap Hurdle and had tight  betting at around 4/1 the field the 8-runners. Sadly for the layers the race went to Sleepy Haven one of the 4/1 joint favourites compounding what had been a pretty miserable day for them. But hey, have you seen Geoff Banks’ car(s)? Don’t feel too sorry for him.

(c) Simon Nott

My  (Award Nominated but sadly unplaced) book ‘Skint Mob – Tales From The Betting Ring’ is a book about the bookies, punters and other wonderful characters I have met in my time on racecourses. There have been some nice reviews. Here’s one from the Independent On Sunday 21/12/14

If you’d like one you can buy a signed copy  direct  from me via paypal here 

http://www.simonnott.co.uk/?page_id=315

It’s also available on Amazon and on Kindle.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skint-Mob-Tales-Betting-Ring/dp/0992755409/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?ie=UTF8&m=A21IPGCYKI6061

Available on Nook

http://www.nook.com/gb/ebooks/skint-mob-tales-from-the-betting-ring-by-simon-nott/2940149802029

Available on Kobo

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/Skint-Mob/577sO7waFEmz9tXv9posiQ

And one from the Racing Post just before Christmas.

 

Tales From The Betting Ring – Thursday – The bet365 Hennessy Festival – Newbury

It’s fair to say that the first day of Hennessy festival didn’t look as competitive as it could have been. The crowd didn’t appear to be put off though but some of the Westcountry bookies appeared to have opted for Taunton. The feature of the opening  bet365 Novices’ Hurdle was that  AP McCoy was riding,  Jollyallan for Harry Fry and JP McManus. It looked a penalty kick for the champ and the odds reflected that. The books priced up at a very tentative, you’d think prohibitive 1/5, but were soon on the retreat. One punter crashed in with £1500 to win £300, then another waded in with an £1100 to win £200 and so it went on right down to the starting price of 1/8. Those punters who lumped it on for a quick profit never even had to break into sweat, Jollyallan and AP delivered the goods like the champ on a short should.

Most punters adopted a watching brief in the first, but for those that had it on it was money without work.

The second race, The Burges Salmon Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase looked more competitive though only five horses went to post. Betting appeared quite light. That was probably just as well for the bookies when the 2/1f Woodford Country landed the spoils after having been available at 9/4 to value-seekers. It got worse for the books in the following bet365.com Novices’ Handicap Hurdle when David Pipe’s  Vazaro Delafayette got the treble up for jolly-backers having been backed from 2/1 into 7/4 before winning. That victory came despite the gelding looking a bit of a monkey but that was no consolation for the layers.

Evens each of two if it’s burning bookies’ fingers or burgers you can smell after the third.

As an interlude this blog has been entered into the UK Blog Awards if you could vote for me I’d be very grateful http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/Tales-From-The-Betting-Ring-2/

Geoff Banks had been having a bit of a moan, he wasn’t over the moon with the fare on offer for him to do business on. He was no doubt just about to launch into another salvo when all in earshot were spared another aural battering when he was summoned over the public address system to move his car. This caused some mirth from his brethren on the rails. ‘He’s probably parked it in the director’s space’ chuckled one, ‘Or in the Winners’ Enclosure’ surmised another. What his misdemeanor actually was he didn’t let on but it appeared to have brought a bit of luck to the ring. Only three lined up for the bet365 Novices’ Steeple Chase. The punters came out of the bars and decided that Paul Nicholls’ Southfield Theatre was home and hosed piling on the pounds from 1/2 to 4/11. They got it wrong and left it behind though, Carraig Moor proved to be too good on the day. The outsider of the three My Silver Cloud plodded around in his own time and collected £3263 for his trouble.

Back in the game the books were keen to get stuck in to the fifth.

The bet365 Novices’ Limited Handicap Steeple Chase sported eight runners and at last gave the betting ring and punters something to get to work on. The trouble was for the bookies it seemed everyone had heard about the same horse and all wanted to be on. Alan King’s Ned Stark was the buzzer, after an initial drift the gelding was lumped on, from 3/1 into 5/2 including a couple of two grand bets and plenty of monkeys and roufs including some trade sources. The confidence was justified much to the dismay of the bookies. It gave Geoff ‘Blog Gold’ Banks another chance to pipe up, this time to an on-course rep to whom he just bellowed ‘Thanks for the business’.

Word came from the Press Room that The Racing Post had been dishing out Christmas jumpers to the great and the good up there. Thinking that the doyens of the turf I had spotted earlier wouldn’t be seen dead in such items I nipped up to see if there were any going begging. My reasoning being that the majority in attendance were Gentlemen of the turf, dressed accordingly and would have discarded such garish items, even if free. I on the other hand have no qualms about donning slightly eccentric (OK tasteless if you will) items. How wrong I was, all those festive pullovers had been quickly snapped up and secured under desks of the most unlikely to sport them. It really should have been insisted on that they should have been worn on acceptance and paraded in the front of the rails.

Goodness knows those beleaguered bookies need cheering up. As it turned out the penultimate and listed bet365 Intermediate Handicap Hurdle was the liveliest betting heat of the day. A guy I’d never clapped eyes on before came up to me prior to the race and said ‘Astre De La Cour wins this’, I must have looked glum and in need of a tip, maybe I was still sulking about not getting a Racing Post Christmas jumper. It was nice to be told though the market didn’t appear to share his confidence as the gelding took a walk from 8/1 to 14/1. Maybe the tipster had backed his mouth with money because one firm did lay a £7000 – £500. In the meantime some real chunks went in on Le Mercurey backed from 7/1 into 5/1 including an eye-watering £21,000 – £3000. Violet Dancer was another supported, this time from 20/1 into 12/1. All the action on others in the race allowed market leader L’ami Serge to drift to 9/4, there had been a bit of money for it but Geoff Banks may not have been on his own when he used a phrase you never hear, ‘I want the favourite to win’. Well he got his wish, it did win, with some ease.

Newbury regulars Colin and Mike never miss.

You had to feel for the bookies, and the bookie sponsors bet365 when only four turned out for the concluding bumper to top off a disastrous day already beyond salvage. Even more so when Yanworth became the sixth winning jolly of the day, this was made even worse as AP McCoy simply toyed with the opposition before coasting to victory. One punter secured a bet of £5000 – £4000, that must have been very slow torture indeed for the bookie that stood for it.

There’s on consolation for the betting ring, tomorrow can’t be any worse.

(C) Simon Nott

Stuck for a Christmas present?

My  (Award Nominated but sadly unplaced) book ‘Skint Mob – Tales From The Betting Ring’ is a book about the bookies, punters and other wonderful characters I have met in my time on racecourses. There have been some nice reviews. 

If you’d like one you can buy a signed copy  direct  from me via paypal here 

http://www.simonnott.co.uk/?page_id=315

It’s also available on Amazon and on Kindle.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skint-Mob-Tales-Betting-Ring/dp/0992755409/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?ie=UTF8&m=A21IPGCYKI6061

Available on Nook

http://www.nook.com/gb/ebooks/skint-mob-tales-from-the-betting-ring-by-simon-nott/2940149802029

Available on Kobo

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Tales From The Betting Ring – Cheltenham ‘The Open’ 14/11/14

As always it was a pleasure to be back at Cheltenham where the ring was buzzing with the eternal pre-race optimism that always endures. One local bookie was keen to tell me that he had run into an ex-bookmaker who has recently turned his off-course betting business in and become a letting agent. ‘He stuck his chest out, marched over and told me he’s still getting his six-figures a year just in a different game’ bristled the Torquay layer, then added, ‘would n’t have minded but I only asked him if he was well!’.

John Hughes kept busy on #1 pitch in Tatts.

There wouldn’t have been many firms getting six-figures in the first, business centered around market-leader Broadway Buffalo with a few grand bets flying around at around 3/1. Also flying around was Geoff Banks, he kept popping up on various joints evidently AWOL from his pitch in the Centaur Building. Jolly-backers must have thought they had a chance of copping with just Benbens to beat but then 5/1 shot Charingworth came to do them both over the last. The winner had been 6/1 but at least the ring got the short one beaten.

Richard Power doesn’t look like he’s going to give Geoff the job.

The Paddy Power Handicap Steeple Chase looked a tricky heat to solve but the punters had plenty of fancies with a lot of horses punted. One of the more seriously backed was David Pipe’s Monetaire supported from 8/1 into 6/1. His backers can feel slightly unlucky not to draw having made a monumental rick at the first and still managing third place behind 14/1 winner Bold Henry who was a drifter from 11/1.

One of our hounds is missing, has anyone seen it?

The third race was preceded with a display of huntsmen and hounds. One of the pack decided to have a wander around in the betting ring much to the amusement of those present. It was last seen being fed hot-dogs at the far end of Tatts showing no inclination to return from the lap of luxury to go chasing around after imaginary foxes. It was warming to know he was missed with the cry going up over the public address, ‘Has anyone seen a hound, we are one short’. They had plenty of time to find him because the start of the race was delayed to doll off all the fences in the home straight made perilous due to the low sun.

As an interlude this blog has been entered into the UK Blog Awards if you could vote for me I’d be very grateful http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/Tales-From-The-Betting-Ring-2/

 

Found him, he’s over here.

By the time the race got underway Colour Squadron had been backed from 9/4 into 7/4f. ‘I had to stick my neck out to get him in but still haven’t got it for enough’ was Carl on the Cliff Emery joint’s summing up. He got it right even though he didn’t get his whack because the jolly had to settle for second behind 7/2 Champagne West. The winner had been 4/1 and attracted at least a couple of grand bets at that price. Not up at end where Derek and Helen Barnes were betting though. ‘It’s all small but we keep winning a bit here and a bit there’ was the cheery news from behind the joint.

Lest we forget.

The ‘result’ the ring was waiting for popped in the next. There had been money for Blaklion at around 7/4 into 13/8, Minella Present and notably Port Melon smashed into 5/2 from 4/1, that takes some doing with the formidable rail of books present. All that money stayed with the bookmakers, the race went to Parlour Games which had been allowed to drift from 8/1 to 10/1, the outsider of all those given a realistic chance.

No sign of Boss Ben, but fear not, the staff kept tapping away.

The layers stopped short of embarking on ‘Skinner Walks’ and the ultimate ‘I’ve copped the lot’ call of ‘Pay Pay’ (knowing that all there is to do is count the money as there is nobody to pay). The smiles were broad though. At least in most places. ‘It’s no good good today, I take more money at Kempton’ one firm down at the wrong end of the rails confided. There may be a tip for any layers that are finding business tough, get a camera to point at you. Channel 4’s Tanya only had to hop on the joint to talk to the late great Freddie Williams’ daughter for the punters to almost fight to get on. Some people will happily have a tenner on one for 5 seconds of fame.

‘They think they are going to be famous – don’t tell them the lens cap is still on’

 

It may have been profitable vanity though because the race to come was the Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, these races are the ones where they seem to go around and around and around until the favourite wins.  ‘We need this one beaten’ was the message from one of the only rails firms who appeared to have got stuck into Balthazar King. Sadly for him, this year’s outcome was no exception the 4/7f landing the spoils and a plethora of bets including a £4000 – £6000.

On the lucky lucky last, no need to push you’re all on.

The last, the Michael Scudamore Handicap Hurdle was possibly the best betting heat of the day. There were plenty of wagers for Cup Final backed from 6/4 into 5/4 plus a £20,000 – £1000 each-way on Cloudy Beach which would have made the race interesting for the book that laid it. At the whistle though the money went to Morito Du Berlais, although quietly backed, including a not so quiet £7000-£1000 each-way it returned 8/1 and was a cracking result for those that filled their hods with the bundles for the jolly.

Day one to the bookmakers, but of course, it’s not over yet. Back tomorrow, now then, has anyone seen that hound….

(c) Simon NOTT

My  (Award Nominated but sadly unplaced) book ‘Skint Mob – Tales From The Betting Ring’ is a book about the bookies, punters and other wonderful characters I have met in my time on racecourses. There have been some nice reviews. 

If you’d like one you can buy a signed copy  direct  from me via paypal here 

http://www.simonnott.co.uk/?page_id=315

It’s also available on Amazon and on Kindle.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skint-Mob-Tales-Betting-Ring-ebook/dp/B00HUWR8RE/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1403039085&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Available on Nook

http://www.nook.com/gb/ebooks/skint-mob-tales-from-the-betting-ring-by-simon-nott/2940149802029

Available on Kobo

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/Skint-Mob/577sO7waFEmz9tXv9posiQ

Tales From The Betting Ring – Ascot 03/10/14

There was a very respectable crowd for The Eighth Annual Camra Ascot Beer Festival meeting with a similar turn-out from the bookies to match. Things didn’t start too well for the latter when Charter justified its position as 9/2 market leader by winning the opening Veolia Handicap Stakes. One bookie’s day was particularly bad having run into a £4000 – £800 the winner.

Has anyone seen KP?

Between races I had the absolute honour of being invited to join a group of Westcountry bookies for their Christmas shindig. ‘The last Cheltenham before Christmas’ I was told, venue to be arranged. Paul and Ian of the Jack Bevan (Est 1897) firm were the bringers of the glad tidings. They had smirks on their faces though, that meant something must be up. It was. They let me in on the other guests, the final one was the one they were so tickled over. The reason being, the last time we all got together the bookmaker in question got the right hump when I dared to suggest the Plymouth council estate he was brought up on wasn’t actually the roughest in the country. ‘Yes it was’ insisted as he stormed from our cosy gathering slamming the door behind him. I’m sure it will be fine, I’m just going to have to agree that it was rough and cross my fingers.

No, I’m not Ken.

Had the bookie in question been in attendance he may well have entertained thoughts of upgrading his dwelling after Excellent Guest sprang a 33/1 surprise in the Faithdean Handicap Stakes. The race was competitive for punters though and with no short one to get stuck into so possibly no fortunes were won but was still a great result for the books.

Once again I had another message, this time a twitter challenge from Polly Rodgers who tweets for WilliamHillRacing and as herself to get a ‘selfie’ with their infamous ‘KP’ (see last night’s blog for further info http://wp.me/p1dLbd-lE ). Now I did try Polly, I searched high and low for Ken, but he was very elusive. Bets were elusive too, at least according to Geoff Banks betting on the rail, ‘I’m getting the keys on my computer changed’ he confided, then went on, ‘The £100’s, £50’s and £20’s into £1’s, 50p’s and 20p’s, I have taken 3000 bets which total £60 so far’. Hmm I’m no mathematician but something doesn’t add up. Safe to say Geoff was a little disappointed with the business. There were bets out there though, one book laid a £5600 – £800 Mr Win (which didn’t) and also a few four-figure bets Telmeyd, which was the 13/8 jolly and did.

Not only have I not seen Ken I’ve not seen a punter for a bit, having a pint I expect.

There were only six runners in the Londonmetric Noel Murless Stakes but the betting market was lively. One layer on the rails took a £13,200 to £200 Statsminster while there we lumps for every other horse in the race including a nifty each-way on the 100/1 shot Koliakhova. Big Orange won the race at 10/3 by a short-head from 7/4 jolly Marzocco.

As a musical interlude, this band played German music, in leather shorts.

There weren’t huge bets reported for many horses in the Troy Asset Management Handicap Stakes but it doesn’t mean there weren’t any. One prominent rails layer was seen to jump off his stool and call in frantic hedge bets (that’s what bookies used to do before they had the exchanges, lay off liabilities with each other) for 9/2 shot Outback Traveller. This so shocked some firms in Tattersalls that they were seen performing group ‘Betfair Twist’ pirouettes checking on their computers that they had not been caught napping with the price. For what ever reason for the hedging, the bookie got it right. ‘It’s p***ed up’ shouted one observant bookmaker. He wasn’t wrong, it had, by seven lengths, some handicap.

The ring took the strain, but nobody clapped eyes on Ken.

The seven-runner last saw several horses backed. Quest For More won the race at 7/2 from 3/1f Firefighter. ‘It’s not been bad’ was the report from a man who usually likes a moan. That means it must have been quite good.

(c) Simon Nott

My  (Award Nominated but sadly unplaced) book ‘Skint Mob – Tales From The Betting Ring’ is a book about the bookies, punters and other wonderful characters I have met in my time on racecourses. There have been some nice reviews. 

If you’d like one you can buy a signed copy  direct  from me via paypal here 

http://www.simonnott.co.uk/?page_id=315

It’s also available on Amazon and on Kindle.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skint-Mob-Tales-Betting-Ring-ebook/dp/B00HUWR8RE/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1403039085&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Available on Nook

http://www.nook.com/gb/ebooks/skint-mob-tales-from-the-betting-ring-by-simon-nott/2940149802029

Available on Kobo

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/Skint-Mob/577sO7waFEmz9tXv9posiQ

Tales From The Betting Ring – Sandown 23/07/14

The heatwave continued at Sandown blessed with a glorious evening for racing. There were six races on the card followed by a performance by Wet Wet Wet. The bookies are still not convinced that music evenings do any good for their business. It’s hard to tell if the extra amount of people at the course make up for the regular punters apparently put off by the higher cost of entry due to the extra fee to cover the non-racing entertainment. ‘Come and see me after the fifth’ was Brian from BG Racing’s offer.

Bird’s eye view of it looking a bit thin.

Given the 6.05 start of the race it was hardly surprising that the crowd seemed a bit thin early on. ‘Nip round and open the gates’ shouted a seemingly quite down-beat Geoff Banks. As he spoke the train was delivering more racegoers who could be seen snaking across the course. Some novices were already getting into the spirit of things though. ‘What’s your minimum bet?’ asked one lady punter. That was ominous for the evening. Ian standing on the rail for the Martyn Of Leicester firm told her he’d take a quid each-way if she had the right money. Happy with that she called in her bet then handed over a score. Change was given with a smile of gritted teeth.

No Dollars or Euros were harmed or even spotted in this evenings punting, though not for the want of trying.

My old boss Jack Lynn used to call that ‘the full treatment’.

The ring may well not have been awash with high-staking punters betting on the first but they did get a result. 14/1 Hallingham got the layers off to a good start. What a start it could have been. My oft-mentioned workmate, a connection with the in-form Johnny Portman yard was with us this evening. All eyes turned to him, he hadn’t mentioned that the beast was fancied, which it surely was having won by over two lengths. ‘Oh I didn’t bother talking to him, I’ll go and see him now’ was the word from the man who is without a doubt the worst stable mole in the world ever.

How do you spot Wet Wet Wet’s biggest fans? Mushes in 80′ maybe?

The ring got a result in the second too, well sort of, it was a weird betting heat. Early on there had been a few bob about for Alketios including a few grand bets at around the 6/4 mark. Despite the money the jolly ended up at 15/8. Ogbourne Downs had been backed from 8/1 into 5/1 and got home by a short-head from Jack Of Diamonds who had been 7/1 before hardening at 11/2. The ominous drift of the favourite was prophetic trailing in last.

The rails bookies waiting for a punter to make them jump.

The bookies knew their fate a long way out in the next. ‘I’ve laid a monkey the winner’ was Martyn’s verdict two furlongs out. He should bet in running because he was right, 11/8 market-leader Darshini won as it liked. Provenance won the next, the 11/4 second-in. It had taken a walk in the market 9/4 out to 3/1 before a late flurry of cash saw it contract again. That may or may not have been down to the commentator mentioning that Glynn Jones was a stand-out price, needless to say it wasn’t there for long. Mention must go that the winner got up on the line from Mezel foiling a mini-punt from 16/1 into 12/1 though I’m sure the ring would have settled for that.

Things were starting to look a bit shaky for the bookies again. Paddy Campbell wasn’t too happy with the business down at the stage end. The bets were all a bit small for the way he likes to play. My quip that at least he’d get a good view of the band didn’t appear to go down well. Some times it’s easy to forget that people’s livelihoods are at stake at these meetings.

Digging deep in that hod.

The next market leader got beaten, though only by the second favourite, so it was Meetings Man from Gambol. As promised Brian from BG Racing gave me the low-down. ‘I have taken a total of 88 bets, and fielded £1400, mind you, a monkey of that was a back-bet from another bookie’

Hopes of a result went down with the sun.

Sadly I imagine his night got worse when 7/4f Perfect Muse won the last. That was probably the final nail in the financial coffin for most of the ring. It’s only half time however, all back tomorrow for another crack.

(C) Simon Nott

My  (Award Nominated but sadly unplaced) book ‘Skint Mob – Tales From The Betting Ring’ is a book about the bookies, punters and other wonderful characters I have met in my time on racecourses. There have been some nice reviews. 

If you’d like one you can buy a signed copy  direct  from me via paypal here 

http://www.simonnott.co.uk/?page_id=315

It’s also available on Amazon and on Kindle.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skint-Mob-Tales-Betting-Ring-ebook/dp/B00HUWR8RE/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1403039085&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Available on Nook

http://www.nook.com/gb/ebooks/skint-mob-tales-from-the-betting-ring-by-simon-nott/2940149802029

Available on Kobo

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/Skint-Mob/577sO7waFEmz9tXv9posiQ

Royal Ascot 2014 – Tuesday

Royal Ascot has hurtled back around in no time and it’s really like it was only a few weeks ago I was last here. Of course there have been several changes. There were bookies all over the place last year and they were again this, the difference being that it’s the big names that seem to be bagging the unorthodox new pitches. One well-known layer was missing altogether, Geoff Banks, missing from his joint but not the course. He was marching around the Royal Enclosure looking every inch the toff. I did dare question why he wasn’t betting there on the rail any more and his answer was a quite direct ‘Because I got offered an awful lot of money for my pitch’. Can’t argue with that.

 

There was an awful lot of money about for Tornado in the opening Queen Anne Stakes, with four and five figure bets from 10/11 into 4/5. More worryingly for the bookies there was very little for the second favourite Verrazano which basically meant a lot of them were left with a one horse book with its main rival an each-way price. Tornado won the race by less than a length but never looked like being beaten by the friendless second-in runner-up.

Simon James was betting down on the other rail, his torrid time from Epsom continued. ‘I wasn’t taking forecasts, but when a Gentleman asked I thought I’d make an exception, that cost me plenty extra’. So seemingly a nasty start all round for the ring. ‘That’s why I sold my pitch’ shouted Geoff Banks when he collared me just after the race, at least one bookie in the ring was happy.

Word went around that a bookie was betting 1/4 odds each-way in the Ascot Cup

The Coventry Stakes saw some lively bets including some real lumps for the price on Angelic Lord who attracted early bets at 33/1, 25/1 and 20/1 all to four figures. He did come there looking  like he might make the frame for long enough to put the wind up those that laid him but dropped away in the final furlong. The winner was no good for the layers either though, The Wow Signal won the race landing some nice bets including a £10,000 – £1600, that’s 6/1 with the fractions, come racing.

The King’s Stand Stakes heralded something you don’t often see, a bookie telling the punters to get on a well-fancied one and then being delighted that it won. The legendary rails firm Richard Power, connections of Sole Power, told all and sundry not just once on the Morning Line in the morning but also live on Channel 4 racing prior to the race that he was fancied. Despite the tip from the right people Sole Power wasn’t the best backed horse on course but won with impressive ease at 5/1. The smiles from the joint were great to see.

As I spoke to a neighbouring bookmaker I was aware of a chap in morning dress next to me but thought no more of it. Shortly afterwards a familiar face came up to me and nodded towards the gent who was wandering off. ‘Did you see the way he looked at you?’, he spat with some contempt. I hadn’t so he enlightened me, ‘Put a bloke in a top hat and tails and they suddenly think they are royalty’. Of course there was a chance that he was, second cousin once removed, but I doubt it, the professional backer went on, ‘He looked at you like you were something nasty stuck to his shoe’ I’m glad I didn’t see that because I thought I looked quite smart in my brown pinstripe made to measure, albeit in China. ‘I could probably buy half of this lot’ was the final word from the soberly-suited but shrewder than most punter.

If he was the intrepid backer that had £60,000 – £75,000 on Kingman before it ran away with the St James’s Palace Stakes he could possibly bag another Royal Enclosure on a credit card type. That was by far the biggest bet I heard of but there were plenty of others to go around and bring tears to the eyes of the ring. ‘They are doing their brains’ crowed Geoff Banks who appeared to be enjoying his former rail-mates’ suffering a little too much. The Ascot Stakes didn’t offer a lot of opportunity for the books to get much back. Perfect Heart was sent off the 5/1 jolly, had been backed at bigger each-way but finished out of the frame. 12/1 winner Domination looked to be a half-result for the ring but some firms laid it to chunks including a £60,000- £5000 each-way.

The Windsor Castle (getting out) Stakes would prove to be the final nail in the coffin for the layers.  Hootenanny was backed from 5/1, including £10,000 at that price, and won easily the 7/2 favourite. Just to rub salt into the bookies’ wounds the 100/1 runner-up would have been a virtual skinner for all and gone along way to getting some back. By the end of the day I was suffering a bit from hayfever but the betting ring had collectively caught a very nasty cold.

With all his crowing Geoff Banks appeared to have forgotten that he also runs a credit business. ‘Any jobs going?’ he enquired to nobody in particular. He then enlighten confused listeners that he’d just called his office and they just replied that he didn’t want to know and put the phone down. I feel he feared the worst. Shame.

The staff at Star Sports, betting in Tatts, looked a little despondent. ‘It’s been a nightmare’ admitted clerk Lofty, ‘One minute we have clients asking to back horses to win £20,000 and then the next a chap in top hat comes up holding a bottle of £70 champagne asking for a quid each-way, when we tell him the minimum bet is a fiver, he looks mortified and leaves.’ His exasperation was evident.

Heading out via the paddock, Dave Spice wasn’t happy either, yes he’d done it too. But it wasn’t just the jollies. He started off on a loser betting on the colour of the Queen’s hat as he often does. ‘A chap asked for £300 at 3/1’ bemoaned Spice, who had laid him as the punter neither looked like a footman nor royal milliner. ‘It looked silver to us, but then when we checked the official colour on the  website they said it was duck egg (bloody) blue. Now that is nasty, still it’s only Tuesday and the punters will surely open their shoulders with pockets full of readies tomorrow.

Duck egg blue? Ha ha, well if you didn’t laugh you’d cry.

(c) Simon Nott

My book ‘Skint Mob – Tales From The Betting Ring’ is a book about the wonderful characters I have met in my time on racecourses. There have been some nice reviews. 

 

If you’d like one you can buy a signed copy  direct  from me via paypal here 

http://www.simonnott.co.uk/?page_id=315

It’s also available on Amazon and on Kindle.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skint-Mob-Tales-Betting-Ring-ebook/dp/B00HUWR8RE/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1403039085&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Tales From The Betting Ring – A Tale Of Two Courses ‘Ascot and Chipley Park’

The tales from the weekend’s betting ring are from probably one of the most famous and prestigious racecourses in the world, Ascot (18/01/14) and a Somerset field hosting the Tiverton Foxhounds Point To Point, Chipley Park (19/01/14). Tiverton I hasten to add is in Devon and this Somerset field is only a rocket-propelled Wellington throw from that fine county.

Saturday’s venue was the aforementioned Ascot, the venue as far removed from Chipley Park as you could possible get whilst being in the same family. As opposed to the chances of me being personally offered to view racing from the Royal Box it’s not far from beyond the realms of possibility that one of Chipley’s participants could grace this meeting in a few year’s time. Ascot is designed around the hugely attended Royal meeting in the summer so little surprise that you can rattle around in it at other meetings.  Likewise, the betting ring for jump racing is far from that of the summer but can still come to life. There was action in the first when off-course firms on-course got involved backing Handiwork at around 6/4 into 11/8, while a smaller but more effective and ultimately inspired punt went on Astre De La Cour backed from 7/2 into 2/1. The latter went on to win from the 11/8 jolly, basically the bookies had no chance.

Do you want crisps or peanuts with your lager sir?

There were a couple of hundred and the odd thousand pound bets around if the layers were lucky. Not enough to go around or make business worthwhile according to the more vocal on the rails though. ‘The business is pitiful’ announced one rails layer to everyone but nobody in particular. Geoff Banks, not one to shrink from speaking his mind, was first to pipe up in response. Ears picked up in expectation of tales of monster wagers absorbed by his prime pitch, then were once again at ease after his retort. ‘Did you say pitiful? I take issue with that, it’s nowhere near that good!’

For those at the ‘wrong’ end of Tatts (and there were plenty who appeared to have given the meeting a swerve) there was  a punter keeping them on their toes. One bookie took the first couple of bets which were successful. ‘He had it on again’ the layer exclaimed and then added with some exasperation ‘But not with me’ pointing to a beaming layer behind then adding ‘He nicked my punter!’ He was exasperated because having taken his winnings from him the punter was playing it up and losing and leaving it behind elsewhere. On a day so quiet that’s all the more galling with little chance of getting it back.

Sire De Grugy looked to be the only chance of getting anything on the day for many. One prominent firm were determined to take him on and stuck their chest out. The writing was on the wall for them when their main chance of getting it beaten, Somersby, unseated. The rest of the race was akin to equestrian water torture with our bookie knowing his fate and just waiting for it to be over. 11/8f Champagne West was the aptly named coup de grace for the layers in the last on a day they’d rather forget, especially if they actually did manage to field some money.

Talking of fields all roads from Tiverton on Sunday led to one in Somerset for the annual point to point bearing the Devon town’s name. Back in the 1800’s Tiverton hosted a prestigious meeting that attracted  Cesarewitch winners. See here http://wp.me/p1dLbd-J Those glory days are gone but the point is much loved, even though it’s not in Tiverton or even Devon.

Muddy without work.

It’s not hard to see why it’s so popular, especially in glorious sunshine  like today. The previous few days of heavy rain had taken their toll though with tractors ready to help vehicles bogged down in the mud. Thankful I didn’t see those agricultural workhorses in action towing people onto the course as witnessed in the past, so it can’t have been that bad!

It’s all very well saving on tickets but every bloody bet is down to ‘Farmer’!

There were plenty of bookmakers in attendance that would be familiar to regular racegoers but also a phenomenon that is sadly a blast from the past these days. I had forgotten the fun of rushing around looking for the best prices. Without Internet hedging and exchanges to be obsessed by the ring at point to points is alive with action. Markets are still initially dictated by the shrewdest layers having done their homework and consulted their moles and  pricing up accordingly. What follows is what it always used to be about, weight of money and perceived weight of money topped up with who has backed what and hedging. It was a real pleasure to get skittled by a panting floorman lunging for a £200 – £24 only to see him unashamedly bluffed, probably just for fun.

As a cool down interlude. If you are enjoying this blog, any chance you could take time out to vote for it in the UK  Blog Awards here? Just seven days of voting to go. http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/blog-entries/tales-from-the-betting-ring/

I was told that an investment on Un Ami in the second might bear dividends. Trainer Jane Williams, wife of the Genius of George Nympton Nick, was sure to have him fit and their son Chester was an able pilot despite his relative inexperience. He was up there neck and neck at the last it was impossible to see who had won from my vantage point. The intrigue was added to as the commentator stopped commentating on the run-in. Who’s won? Nobody seemed to know, Jane and Chester were all smiles though so that was positive. I’m not sure it if was watched kettle syndrome but the actual result seemed to take an age. I assume the judge didn’t have a photo to study so quite what was taking the time was anyone’s guess. ‘He’s won it’, I was told on several occasions from people on the line. My confidence grew as the announcer eventually started to give the result, but not before reading the whole title of the race ‘The agrii Restricted Race (Div 1)’but was then shattered. Chester had been pipped, deemed to have been second, by a short-head. One chap in the ring was incandescent with rage. Arms outstretched  (not up but widthways but if you are guessing who it could be you are probably right) akin to a fisherman regaling of the one that got away. ‘He won by this far’,  he protested demonstrating with various lengths of arms akimbo.

Best seats in the house for the officals.

Did he back it? Of course he did. The meeting hosted ten races with the ninth split  so our furious fellow had a few heats to get over his losses and recoup enough money to buy the judge some glasses. Of course those who were on the winner had no doubt of the judicial official’s 20/20 vision.

Regardless of not backing a winner it would have been impossible not to enjoy the day. Seeing bookies’ clerks still using the art of pen and pencil and bets called down to ‘me’ and ‘farmer’. Some of the horses doing battle will doubtless never trouble the judge unless its their distance behind the winner prompting him to invest in some new bins. On the other hand we could have witnessed a future Gold Cup winner in one of the maidens, that’s one of  the joys of grass roots racing. All to the backdrop of proper bookies doing battle in an albeit modest market, something that as all but disappeared from our racecourses and a hugely enjoyable blast from the past, alive and well in a field near you. Can’t we get that back on racecourses? I doubt it sadly, come pointing!

Two more circuits to race.

(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.

Skint Mob! Tales From The Betting Ring. OUT NOW

Full details can be found here.

http://wp.me/p1dLbd-9n

Tales From The Betting Ring – Hennessy Heritage Festival (Gold Cup Saturday)

As you would expect for its most prestigious meeting of the year, Newbury was rammed with punters. It was a big day for the bookies too, but none bigger than for Bo Brown’s son Charlie.  He was celebrating his 18th birthday and standing on the stool for his father’s West End Racing firm for the first time. If Bo believes in luck then Charlie is going to be a permanent fixture for the foreseeable future because today the layers could hardly have written the results in better had they been given the option.

Now that’s how a ring should look!

The first race kicked off in style for the ring, well most of it, when they got Vicky De L’Oasis, the well-backed even money favourite beaten. It was a great result for those that took on the off-course rep that was having lumps on. Spare a thought for the firm that laid a monkey each-way the winner at 6/1 As I Am though, but not for too long, read on.

Black River was backed from 7/4 into 5/4 in the next, it was going well when it fell but the bookies still kept what they had taken on it, though gave most back over the winner Valdez who also attracted some good support including a £4000-£2000. It was pretty difficult getting any gossip today, mainly because the books were too busy stuffing their hods full of readies for idle chat. Add to that though wall to wall blokes holding pints in very flimsy looking plastic ‘glasses’. If that wasn’t bad enough making sure you didn’t spill some bruisers pint you also had to keep your eyes on the floor to make sure you didn’t kick their booze over either. We all know that the girls like to put their handbags in a circle and dance around them at discos. Well it seems the blokes have become fond of doing the same with their beverages, well stand, not dance of course, at least not at the races.  It’s lucky there aren’t hordes of  floormen careering about the ring this days or it could have been carnage in more ways than one.

There was a stick-on in the bet365 Fulke Walwyn Chase when Philip Hobbs’ Carrigmorna King was backed from 15/2 into 9/2 including a bet of £5000 – £700 (that’s fractions come racing). Those that got involved must have been gutted to have done their money with only 14/1 Tatenen spoiling the party. Only the punters’ party though, the bookies were in high spirits and keen to get stuck in again. bet365 sponsored the next hurdle too, and were no doubt slapping themselves on their collective backs that they did when 16/1 Vendor won the race. OK it was 6/1 the field but still an excellent result for the ring.

At Fishers Cross looked to be one of the bankers of the day and despite previous reversals there were no shortage of punters who wanted to be on at around even money and a shade of odds on. It was a good betting heat though despite only 5 runners (four after Battle Group planted itself at the start but was a loser if you backed it). Celestial Halo was backed from 5/1 into 7/2 and that money proved to be inspired as it won easily. The jolly did make a bad mistake but was already beaten by then, the punters that had £2000 and £1000 bets on were hopefully not trying to get out.

Anyone that was trying to bet themselves out of trouble had a tough task with Hennessy the penultimate. Our Father was the plunge from 10/1 into 11/2 but always looked to be labouring and unlikely to land the gamble. Several other horses attracted money which looked to be a great betting race for the bookies. A little bit disappointing then that for this hugely competitive 21-runner Class 1 handicap a lot of the layers showed a Scrooge-like mentality  betting 1/5 the odds a place. Yes I know they are allowed to on-course these days but it wouldn’t have been bad PR to have bet 1/4. The generous and the not so all got rewarded when Triolo D’alene won at 20/1 making it another cracking result for the ring.

As his team got to work on the last a grotesquely almost unbearably smug Geoff Banks came over to gloat at how much he was winning. If that wasn’t bad enough he went on to boast that the punters were betting in desperation to try and get some back. He seemed to be enjoying the afternoon a little too much for my liking

Those desperate punters looked to have latched onto Next Sensation backing the Scudamore trained and ridden gelding from 11/2 into 7/2, with Geoff Banks at the top price I found myself hoping. That thought was only held until the combination parted company at the 8th. 6/1 shot Filbert won the race, once again for Philip Hobbs. It wasn’t a right result but it was probably still a winner for most of the bookies just adding a bit of garnish to what had been a veritable feast for the ring and famine for the punters.

Sorry to bring her up again, but I have to keep the theme, the metaphorical fat lady had sung and it was backers licking their wounds and the layers their lips looking forward to counting the winnings after the three days.

(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.

http://wp.me/p1dLbd-9n

Skint Mob! Tales From The Betting Ring. OUT NOW

Tales From The Betting Ring – Hennessy Heritage Festival (Friday)

The layers may not look gloomy….

You’d expect the bookies to be quite chirpy and chipper with an excellent 7-race card to look forward to on a crisp and dry Friday morning. But not so, there were rumblings in the ring. Word had got around that apparently one of the day’s sponsors had been given special dispensation to pitch up and take bets in the bar. Yes in the nice, cosy and packed bar, with no competition. This very desirable trading position was seen as very unfair by the majority of the rails layers. Grumbling over, the head of the  diplomatic corps (Geoff Banks) was sent into action. I’m told he returned unscathed with a promise from the upper-echelons of racecourse management that it won’t be happening again. That was music to the shivering layers out in the wind. Probably not so much for the bookie in the bar contemplating an orderly queue of what appeared to be 30 or more people clutching folding money for a good part of the afternoon.

Coveting your one-time neighbour’s pitch over it was time to try and win back yesterday’s from the punters for the bookmakers. That plan didn’t go too well in the first when Calipto, one of the joint favourites won the race at a well-backed 5/2. Highway Code won the next at 5/1, not a result by any means but at least not the jolly. There was plenty of punting interest in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle, with 21 runners a lot of that was each-way but fairly modest but very steady. One punter got the shock of his life when Rocky’s team trading as Kelross called him back. He had given them a tenner too much and they wanted to return it. Hardly the stereotypical image of racecourse bookies’ behaviour but actually very common-place with on-course layers. Let’s hope the punter bet with them all afternoon.

You had to feel for the ring, after two out right up until the shadow of the post it looked as if they were going to get a 33/1 result in the shape of Pateese. The eventual winner was Mickie who took it out of at least one rails operator  who fell into a £2000-£200 each-way, hardly a massive bet but would make a dent in any book.

On the rails they bet.

Talking of books, mine, one very kind gentleman bought a copy of ‘Skint Mob! – Tales From The Betting Ring’* from me earlier. He had skimmed through and spotted a picture of Jack Lynn so had a bet with the firm. ‘On the winner, a tenner each-way at 10/1′ he shouted in my general direction. Roy Lynn grinned at me through gritted teeth from behind the joint, nodding his head in thanks.

Brewers Fuller’s sponsored the next race. Their benevolence is obviously not in doubt but one lady punter did assume it extended just a little further than their remit. They had apparently issued green vouchers, that looked vaguely like money, well they were green anyway. That was all wonderful for the recipients, especially if they like beer, because that’s what they could be exchanged for. Not a bet with Rocky, as one lady found out when she tried to have a wager. She was told politely of course, today that firm were exceptionally saintly. To exacerbate matters the jolly Wonderful Charm won the race at a well-backed 8/11. Cantlow won the next,  it wasn’t favourite but was ridden by AP McCoy and backed from 15/2 into 6/1 so popular with the public.

Carole’s Spirit won the penultimate, yet another favourite, this time 11/8 from 7/4. Lynn on Sam Harris’ joint did not look happy. Although obviously concerned about her boss’ wealth it was me she really had the hump with. Apparently some people who’d read my previous blog had correlated my mention of her followed by the old ‘Fat lady singing’ chestnut with a slur on her figure. Nothing could be further from the truth, so I won’t mention the fat lady again. It is the main course tomorrow though, bring on the Hennessy.

No, this is not the fat lady and nor does she burst into song at any point.

(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.

http://wp.me/p1dLbd-9n

Skint Mob! Tales From The Betting Ring. OUT NOW

Tales From The Betting Ring – Glorious Goodwood Wednesday

There were quite a few new faces in the press room, you do wonder where they come from sometimes. One particular very pretty face was turning a few more heads than your average new hack would. It was quite humorous to watch certain members of the press stumble and trip as their eyes were averted from where they were going to the lady in red. ‘It makes a change from the miserable grizzled blokes we normally get in here’ commented one very observant bookie’s rep.

You have to feel for the bookies at times, even the very well-heeled. One rails layer had taken a chunk each-way on Beyond Conceit in the opener. Once headed he looked cooked and sure to be swallowed by the field, except it still pugged on for fourth landing the place part of the bet. Worse still for two rails books were separate bets of £10,000- £1200 the winner, that is 8/1 with the fractions, come racing for value you won’t get on the Internet.

Geoff Banks was very vocal before the Gordon Stakes, yes I know, it’s hardly news that he gets vocal, but he was telling the world that he was sticking it up the jolly because it was sure it would not stay. Well he got the money all right, but not because he was right, rather than not stay Excess Knowledge would have surely won had the race been five yards further. One wag said that they would remind Geoff that the horse doesn’t stay Im 4f when it wins at Cheltenham in a year or so.

Geoff hid behind his photogenic staff after his ‘won’t stay’ comment!

The big-hitters came out of the woodwork to lump on Dawn Approach but they had their fingers badly burned when the jolly was blown away by Tornado. That result kept some of the bookies happy for a bit. Not for long though. Toormore was well-backed too in the next and this time the readies went to the punters including a £7000-£4000 and £6500-£4000, cue bookmaker misery again. I bumped into gamekeepers turned sometimes poachers John Henwood senior and junior in front of the rails. They had started well but were licking their financial wounds after some nasty reversals but seemed undaunted with plenty of the meeting ahead of them.

Rocky looks the punters in the eye.

The nightmare continued for the bookies in the maiden-fillies’ stakes, all the clever money was on Valonia in the shape of several four-figure bets. One again the hot money was spot on.

Poor old Paul Gold trading as Pickwick had been having a torrid time in Tatts, not only were the results badly going against him he had been having all sorts of problems with his computer. The tales of woe continued all the way up the line, it was almost unbearable to hear such punter-inflicted cruelty to bookmakers. Then I got to the ever-cheerful Dave Hazell betting with his lovely wife Jane. ‘I’m winning eleven grand’ he beamed, ‘No not really I’m not, I’m losing of course’ he added through and even bigger grin, ‘It’s only money and I’m still enjoying it and will still be out for a nice meal tonight’. And with that they got to work fielding in the next.

Jane and Dave keep smiling, it’s only money.

It was a bit of a shock to see two legendary professional in-running punters working a pitch in Tatts. Rumour was liquidity was massively down in Internet land because of it though of course those rumours could be unfounded. They wouldn’t have done a lot of good when Ribbons won the penultimate at 4/1. Richard Hughes getting the 5/1 favourite Magic City home in the last would have been the final straw for most of the ring who had well and truly done their cobblers on the day. Big Jim was still smiling though but was in the minority.

Would you like a flake in that cornet love?

Cheer up though bookies, it’s Ladies Day tomorrow, win or lose it’s going to be sunny and as Dave Hazell says,’It’s only money’!

(C) Simon Nott