After yesterday’s snow I was a little bit concerned about driving up today but needn’t have been, writes SIMON NOTT.

I enjoyed a beautiful drive up with clear dry roads, blue sky and the new Peacocks album. Just being here on a Friday was a treat, I’m told that they they’re expecting 9000 people who were taking advantage of the free entrance today, so with that in mind Star had the A team out, Lofty, Tony And Steve bet number one in the second row. One of the first people I saw when I got here was a bag man so everything all good well for a good day at the races though mind you it was flipping cold though of course betting than a proper job.

12:20 – Safer Gambling Week ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4YO plus) 2m 3½f

Despite the promise of 9000 people coming today, business was very very slow for much of the betting on the first race, but as the horses went down to post the crowd did appear from wherever they had been and at the off looked very healthy though it didn’t really translate into bookmaking business. The firm took around £400 which betting number one on the second row was pretty poor by anyone’s standards though it did look as if it would pick up, the guess was that many of the 9000 were new to the course and were having a good look around. Add to that, the opener wasn’t that an appealing betting heat. First Confession was the 5/6 favourite and won unchallenged costing the book £159, which could have been worse.

12:55 – CopyBet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4YO plus) 2m 3f

Next up and a four runner race where friend of Star Bill Esdaile’s Rare Edition was installed the 9/4 second-in. Business picked up a bit, more people were finding the bookmakers on the cold side of the stand. As the horses were going to post a score flew out of Steve’s hand sailing in the wind, he asked me to grab it, I missed and was going for retrieval when it landed, only for a big booted foot land on it. I looked up half expecting a big bruiser ready to claim ownership but was relieved to see the honest smiling face of a bagman who returned the note. Meanwhile, the first were hard at it fielding over a grand in a race where the biggest bet tendered was £100. Neither Steve or Lofty fancied the jolly Bad so as they set off the book stood it for £2 more than it held. They knew, Bad only managed third. Sadly, Rare Edition didn’t win either though, despite running gamely, he jumped the last in front though was ultimately no match for 7/2 chance Bucksy Des Epeires who won going away, thanks to the double lean-up the book copped a grand.

1:30 – Troy Asset Management ‘Introductory’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 1m 7½f

The first bet in the book ensured the team fielded more in the third race than the two previous races combined a bagman waded in with £1600 – £2200 Celtic Deno. That was just the start, although there were no more bets of that size there were plenty of them. Racegoers had certainly found the racecourse side of the stands and were flowing steadily into the pitch betting in scores and tenners with the forecast market offered in every race popular, the last bet in the book was £400 – £550 to the trade. At the off the book held just over £4000 with the jolly the only loser for £863. It was a decent book but this time it was the bagman knew, Celtic Dino hosed up, the book lost £750.

2:05 – CopyBet Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 2m 5f

The first bet in the fourth race was £1080 on Sageburg County at 4/1. That bet in the bag I nipped inside to thaw my fingers and read the then-breaking news about Constitution Hill. Up in the Press Room, I noticed a painting of the old stand, I thought it might jog memories of those old enough to remember it.

Back down in the ring, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. A chap came in with a carpet £300 and had it on Nocte Volatus, the bet was £2400 – £300. The fraction for 8/1 is 100/12 so £2500 – £300 if you ask for them, that’s £100 for nothing if it wins, you just have to ask for fractions, come racing. Considering the tremendous value available business from there on in was poor, just a monkey fielded on top of the two decent bets. At the off there were just two losers, for £3662 and £1168 no prizes for guessing which ones. The book held less than £2000. ‘The A-Team, have a look’ hollered Lofty as the 10/3 second favourite Gemirande won the race, no point not blowing if you have something worth trumpeting, the winner copped the firm £1860, a great win given the field money and the price of the winner.

2:40 – LK Bennett Autumn Collection Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (3YO plus) 1m 7½f

Next up and Break My Soul opened 13/8 favourite then drifted to 7/4 before a punter had £2100 – £1200 which got that one in the book. Then it happened again, a punter bet £150 each-way at Alnilam at 16/1 so £2400 – £150, the fraction for 16/1 is 10/6 so £2500 – £150 would have been available. Betting was OK apart from the two bets so when Aucunrisque won the race at 9/1 relatively unsupported the book copped another £1400. Add to that a selection of bets away that got beaten including £700 at Chepstow, with two races to go the day was shaping up nicely.

⭕️ | STAR AT ASCOT

Attendance was free at Ascot today – how has business been in the ring? @SimonNott asks Steve on the pitch:

Keep your eyes peeled for Simon’s blog shortly after the last for a full rundown on all today’s betting ring action! 👀

18+ | https://t.co/M160bmFAf9 pic.twitter.com/OXXAGfjVmK

— Star Sports Bookmakers (@StarSports_Bet) November 22, 2024

3:15 – CopyBet UK Handicap Chase (Class 4) (4YO plus) 3m

Next up, the penultimate where Lofty laid £1100 – £400 Law of Supply before that one collapsed in the market and then bounced back again, the other bets of note were £4000 – £400 Hall Lane and £250 each-way Bertie Wooster at 14/1 in an otherwise small but busy £2500 staking race. At the off Bertie Wooster was the bogie roughly losing £3000, Hall Lane £2300 and Law Of Supply £700 in the win book. Law of Supply did the business for his backers winning at 5/2. The places in the book eased the blow, the book lost £450, the least of the bad ones, going into the last the firm were £4000 in front and hoping to coast home showing a profit and hope not to do too much via the last race.

⭕️ | STAR AT ASCOT

Ahead of the last, @SimonNott asks ‘Lofty’ (@MartinChapman12) how business has been on the pitch this afternoon!

Keep your eyes peeled for Simon’s blog shortly after the last for a full rundown on all the betting ring action! 👀

18+ | https://t.co/M160bmFAf9 pic.twitter.com/Pb2QXefXaW

— Star Sports Bookmakers (@StarSports_Bet) November 22, 2024

3:50 – Not Forgotten Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4YO to 5YO) 1m 7½f

Blues Singer opened 7/4 for the lucky last but for some time there were no takers. It suddenly went eerily quiet. That quiet was punctuated, not with bets but by incensed greyhound face Simon Banks who came over to vent his anger over the imminent closure of his local greyhound track, Crayford, the air was blue I can tell you, well I could but it would be a bit sweary. In short Simon Banks is not happy, something I’m sure he shares with plenty of dog racing fans.

Oscar who knows Will and Ben came up to say hello and that he enjoys these blogs which was a nice bit of positivity to soothe my ears still ringing from Simon’s tirade. In the meantime, Lofty laid £1000 – £400 the hitherto friendless jolly which got that one in, but that was about it. At the off the book held £1000 in what Lofty called a (self-made) shocking book with half the field of six in red for a nice few quid including the front two. The good news was none of them were red enough to end the day winning less than £3000. The race itself was a cracker, all the way to the line Blues Singer losing £875 led only to get joined in the shadow of the post by Kdeux Saint Fray winning £945. It looked desperate, the machine opened 1.05 the firm’s winner, and hopes were higher then higher still when about 30 seconds before the winner announcement someone decided to go balls deep and scoop the lot up. Their courage was justified, the result won by a nose, Star Sports copped another £945 and would leave the course the thick end of £5000 up. Aye Aye, not bad for a Friday.

We’re back again tomorrow, those that study meteorology tell me I should be packing a Mac. Noted.

Views of authors do not necessarily represent views of Star Sports Bookmakers.

Simon Nott is author of: Skint Mob! Tales from the Betting Ring
available on Kindle CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

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