Good morning all,
I've got a tale or two to tell from Aintree last week, the first part of which is on the main piece. I'll tell you all about the Grand National next week.
It's also Good Friday, althugh it'll only be good if I can find a winner, so hopefully there's one of those on the main piece too.
Aintree begins for me on Wednesday evening, as that’s when we travel up to our hotel for the week. It’s a good move, as Aintree want bookmakers on track for 10.15 on Thursday and Friday, and 10am on Saturday, so if you want to arrive at the track with plenty of time, it would mean setting off around 6am from the Midlands, allowing for M6 traffic, on the Thursday morning. We avoid this by travelling to Warrington on Wednesday evening, leaving us with a half-hour journey to the track Thursday. Much better!
There’s no official car park for bookmakers at Aintree and so, the usual patch of wasteland is in operation. It’s basically about 800yds from the track, just up from an industrial estate, and you are charged the princely sum of £20 a day by some lads in hi-vis jackets on the gate. Whether they actually own the land we are parking on is never questioned, we just pay them and they give you your ticket. The wasteland is bramble-strewn, and one member of our party almost comes a cropper getting out the car.
We’ve time for breakfast in the local Harvester before we hit the track, and it’s here that we have our first problem. Colin, in charge of the tickets for the week, announces he’s left them in the hotel. I thought he was joking at first but no, he’s genuinely forgot them. Frantic phone calls with the betting ring manager take place, and our tickets are located on the system. That means no dash back to the hotel, and we can have breakfast in peace.
It may only be half a mile to the ring from where we’ve parked, but it’s pretty much a slight uphill all the way, so pushing the gear in becomes something of a trek. You’re knackered by the time you’ve got the gear in. Thank goodness there’s time to recuperate. Plenty of it, as well, because you’re in your betting position by about 10.45, leaving you with a mere three hours to kill.
For me, that means taking the laptop somewhere quiet and doing some work, but the wifi lets me down and Rory can’t hear me. Just as well, really, as none of selections are any good, as it turns out. For some the time is harder to kill, and at times like this, it’s hard not to perch yourself at the bar for an hour or two. I couldn’t drink and then work, I’d fall asleep halfway through the afternoon, but some manage it.
It’s good to know that, despite Covid keeping us away for two years, some things never change and the tannoy is still deafening, coming in just under the decibel level of a Boeing 747 taking off. A woman sings Land Of Hope And Glory to open the show (do we need music?) and it sets the local dogs off. It really is ridiculously loud and having to shout at customers is hardly good service.
Rain is forecast and sure enough, we get a couple of showers as we start betting with about an hour to go. Thursday is the quietest day of the week, betting-wise, and the first race is always the quietest too. We tick along until a £200 ew Pic D’Orhy comes in, so we know which one we don’t want. Thankfully he’s nowhere, and the money stays with us.
The second race seems some drama, with Pied Piper dead-heating then getting thrown out, with interference deemed to have taken place. It was a decision that split the ring, with some saying the right decision and those who had backed Pied Piper saying it wasn’t. The bloke who had an even £300 with us wasn’t impressed. He tried blaming the bookies (“you lot got that thrown out, you didn’t want to pay”), suggesting we have both a lot of sway and a direct line to the stewards. We have neither. The lady who had a tenner each-way Knight Salute wasn’t complaining, funnily enough.
The rain is getting heavier and it isn’t helping business, although our pick is in front of a bar, which helps. When it rains, people tend not to shop about, just bet with the first book they see, so us and our next door neighbour are getting the lion’s share of the business. There’s no big money about at all, just lots of tenners and scores, which is fine, but it’s clear we won’t be getting the expenses back on day one. Not with the amount I eat for breakfast.
The wind is getting up and the umbrellas go up with it. Sadly, I fail to fasten ours in well enough and it’s off, blowing across the ring. Thank God it hits no-one. Ours isn’t the only brolly to go for a wander, and one from the rails goes flying too. We hear the sound of crashing change as well – a joint has gone over not far up from us. I hate working in weather like this, you’re constantly drying everything and trying to hold it all down. As such, you’re not concentrating on your work properly, and that’s when mistakes happen.
The biggest bet we take on the big hurdle is in Euros, with a E300 bet struck on Epatante. The punter barely has a moment’s worry as she saunters clear late on, looking like her old self. My first thought is “will they try and step her up for the Stayers next year?” We’ll see.
I spoke to commentator Martin “Bomber” Harris last week, he knows his point-to-point form and after tipping me Cousin Pascal for the Foxhunters at a price last year, he gave me Latenightpass this year. It’s not a good result for the firm, but it’s a good one for me, and that’s another pint I owe Martin now.
The rain has killed the day off, sadly. The Last Day is a 12-1 winner but it’s short-lived relief, with the 9-4 jolly winning the last. It’s all about getting back and getting dry now, and we’re in the pub by half seven. Two days to go….
Today, well, three all-weather meetings mean we're rather limited but it's good racing and at Newcastle, and I quite like Tempus as an each-way alternative to My Oberon in the 2.00. My Oberon ought to be wining this if he shows his best form but the way the race should unfold should suit Tempus, who can sit on or near the pace before committing first and hopefully holding them off. He likes Newcastle and I'd have him a little shorter than his current 10-1 price tag.
Today's selection – Tempus (e/w) 2.00 Newcastle (4 places Hills if you can get on)
Good luck with all your bets today,
David.
Thursday was the coldest of the three days. I’m still recovering now!