The turf
Betting coups
Robin Oakley
One small problem with writing a rac- ing column, I have discovered, is that every- body wants to bend your ear about their most successful bet ever. Usually it is a story of 'the big one I nearly brought off. It is dreams like that, of course, which keep the bookmakers in tables at Chez Nico. But they do help to sustain us all.
In my early racing days, I used to travel to courses on British Rail raceday specials. And occasionally I would share a particular- ly smoky carriage with bookies and tic-tac men heading for the same destination. I was invited once to join a card school of that fra- ternity. But I remembered the traveller invited to play by W.C. Fields, who inquired, `Is this a game of chance?' and received the reply, 'Not while I'm dealing, it ain't' and decided against. I preferred to keep my stake money intact until the races. But later we did fall into conversation about great betting coups and they told me what has since remained my favourite near miss story.
At the start of one season a new, smart figure was to be observed strolling the scene at every race meeting which mat- tered. He arrived alone. He was invariably smartly dressed, with a distinctive flower in his buttonhole. He would walk the ranks of bookies checking the prices. Answering to the name of John, he would pass the time of day with all the Rails bookmakers and knowledgeably discuss the day's prospects. But he would never, ever have a bet. Even- tually, it became quite a game to try to tempt him. 'Come on, Johnny,' they would shout, 'a special price for you.' But he would smile quietly and say, 'One day, per- haps, but not today.'
Most of the season went by. And then, suddenly, at the Goodwood July meeting, Johnny's answer changed. To the first inquiry he said he'd have a thousand on the third favourite, on the nose. To the second he had another thousand. On credit please. No need for the formality of an account, was there? It turned out afterwards he'd been all around the Ring. After a gulp or two, credit was extended, with a few little Jokes about 'Oh well, at least we'll know where to find you', meaning that such a familiar, predictable figure could be relied upon to be doing the same thing tomorrow.
But Johnny's selection, starting favourite with the weight of his money, was beaten a short head. And he didn't turn up the next day to pay. Or the day after that. Or ever again. Nobody knew where he lived, or even his surname. He was never heard of again. Except that one top bookie, many years later, returned from a holiday in for- eign parts tortured by something familiar about the manner of a well-dressed tempo- rary barman who'd served him pink gins in his Hong Kong hotel . . .
So let me, at this point, offer my ten to follow for the rest of this jumping season in the hope that we can all make it a prosper ous New Year without such desperate stratagems.
Paul Nicholls, very much back in form this year, has always had a high regard for Deep Bramble. Not the easiest horse to train, the nine-year-old Deep Run gelding looks just the sort for the Grand National, which is his target this year. But he won't want it firm.
Tom Tate's Lo Stregone is another National possible. Third in the Scottish equivalent last year, the gutsy, consistent ten-year-old was never out of the first four in six races last year when he won the Lad- broke Gold Cup at Newbury well ahead of Over the Deel.
While we are on National types, readers of this column may have noted my partiali- ty to Jenny Pitman's horses. This year she has had some good hurdle wins too, but there's nobody who knows better the art of producing staying chasers fit to run for their lives. Out of her multiple entry last year she won the National with old Royal Athlete. I had fancied her Lusty Light, which fell at the first at Aintree, overjump- ing as a number do. The winner of his first five races last term, the ten-year-old could run up another sequence this season. And he would like a dried-out Aintree. I also include in the ten, Mrs Pitman's seven- year-old Nahthen Lad. His hurdle win was a bonus. His real future is over fences.
I hear good reports of Mary Reveley's novice hurdler Turnpole, which had useful form on the Flat. And while we are on ex- flat horses, I noted that Lady Herries' River North was was entered in a hottish race for his hurdling debut on Kempton's ill-fated Boxing Day card. He won five times on the Flat in '93, won a listed New- market race in '94 and acts on the soft. He's already quoted for the Champion Hurdle so connections must think some- thing of him.
Julie Cecil's Sesame Seed, who beat the much-fancied Top Cees over 2m 4f at Don- caster, already looks a useful staying hur- dler and I was very impressed with Jim Old's Killone Abbot in the mire at New- bury on Hennessy day when he had Kissair in third place in a classy 2m hurdle. His trainer deserves some success and he could collect some nice hurdle prizes with this one before sending him chasing. Josh Gifford locks to have a powerful hand this season and his seven-year-old Major Summit appears a good chasing prospect. He saw off the much fancied Berude Not To on his Newbury debut this season and looks set for a successful cam- paign- Last, but by no means least, I am looking forward to the return after a season our of Seekin Cash, the former top staying novice hurdler and one-time conqueror of Rel- keel. Once with Charlie Egerton, now with Master Oats' trainer Kim Bailey, this seven-year-old should be an exciting prospect over fences.
Robin Oakley is political editor of the BBC.
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