Andy Bell’s Racing Diary… Homeward and Newmarket bound.
Sunday 6th. Saturday is a very exciting and important days racing in the flat seasons calendar, with the Eclipse at Sandown. As I said in last weeks column, the short priced favourite, The Fugue needed avoiding at all costs as only two of her sex have ever won it.
Our free column tip COLLABORATION at 10/1 was backed down to 4/1 in places and than is mysteriously pulled out again, twice this has now happened to us in the space of a week.
I also put up a maximum bet on Sir Michaels Irish Oaks entry AYSAD at a shade odds on and written in my clients email that even Ted Durcan can’t get her beaten today.
As predicted the Lady, The Fugue is never at the races and I am sure the ride young William gave her will appear in the Grumblings column tomorrow.
Ted Durcan only needs to sit quietly and give AYSAD a gentle shake of the reins for her to win very nicely and give us another maximum bet winner.
In all a nice winning day yesterday, with thanks to AYSAD and Gentleman Ted.
It’s probably the biggest day of Rabat’s year today, with many events planned, which will include hundreds and thousands of confetti bombs and streamers, accompanied by many fireworks.
As I walk up between the market stalls the town is aswarm with people all in their Sunday best and smallest outfits.
The Maltese ladies and girls will dress up at any opportunity and today they certainly haven’t let us down, it’s frightening to think how high some of these girls must have jumped from to get into their outfits and as for walking in at least six inch heals is beyond me.
Today’s bets include an odds on shot from the powerful Ferguson stable, KINGS ROAD and DEFIANTLY GLAD which all run at Market Rasin.
The big day doesn’t let us down and the confetti bombs, streamers and fireworks are amazing and I will certainly return many more times.
KINGS ROAD almost tops a fantastic day as he wins at an amazing SP of 16/1, best odds guaranteed wins again and people STILL say to me why don’t you bet with the Greedy 1s on course anymore, that’s why, simple!!
Monday 7th. Great winner for us yesterday KINGS ROAD running away with the last and returning at 16/1, best odds guaranteed wins again. This certainly kick starts our month and puts us on the Betfan table and also nicely into profit.
Our holiday is galloping away and with only a few days left we are invited to LIttle Johnny’s boathouse also at Gnejna bay. He is also a butcher and if you have eaten in the past two day you will certainly struggle to clear your plate here, that’s for sure.
Today’s main bet is BALLYBOUGH GORTA who is trading at 8/1 when I email him out to my clients.
We have had a quiet, but a profitable start to the month on the LATE service and I get a very strong word for ROSALLE BONHEUR who is trading at 4/1, although I am told this is expected to win, I do just air on the side of caution and back this ew and advise likewise.
Richard Hughes rides ORTORIOS JOY, which is also trading at 4/1 and I also email her out as an ew bet.
By the time the starters have finished coming at Little Johnny’s, which include chicken, Maltese sausage, cheese, chicken kievs and a biscuits I am starting to bloat and guessing what’s to follow is a slight worry.
BALLYBOUGH GORTA gets the pulse racing as he trades at 10/1 ON in running only to fade and finish third, giving us a nice but small profit.
We are not let down as slowly cooked ribeye steak is presented in all it’s glory with potatoes and veg and it’s a mountain.
The digestive system is helped by ROSALLE BONHEUR winning very nicely at a well backed 9/4, making our 4s look very nice and although ORATORIOS JOY finishes third we have three non runners so our ew bet is unfortunately scuppered.
Tuesday 8th. I email out Dr Newlands HAWDYERWHEESHT as a max bet this morning, as I am told they are going for one of their touches, I also have a very big bet on him.
The smartie pot is looming and I just don’t know where these 14 days have gone. I did have a recky up this morning and I pleased to say during my jolly jaunt on the rock we have made 20 points profit so far.
Hey you, Jimmy brooooooown, what’s this, I can see you’ve now nicked my diary idea for your Tuesday column oh well, the GMT also copped the concept a year ago to improve, what at the time was a tiresome read and is much better now. Talking of columns, they did need spicing up a bit and thanks to Bellie I think there is light at the end of the tunnel. The old Simon Holden, Tuesday, I can spoil a good walk by carrying a golf club is thankfully no more and as for the Monday copy and paste stuff, you at least need to be part of Mensa and have an IQ of over 150 to understand it. What can I say about the old Grumbling Dons Sunday moans, which always seems to centre around jockeys lesser rides, oh sorry, this week he did jazz it up a shade and told us about how he broke down in his car and had to call the RAC, yawn, maybe he could spice his column up with some Sunday bible quotes, i.e. proverbs 3.5 “With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment.” (CEV)
Bugsy’s on the menu today, Maltese rabbit, which is one of their traditional dishes and I must admit one of my favourites. I remember many years ago my youngest had rabbit and loved it. To our shock in her homework diary the following week there was a lovely sweet little rabbit drawn, nibbling grass in the sunshine, with the caption underneath, we had this for tea.
Today unfortunate will be our last day and last swim and last homemade wine and, and, and, as it’s homeward and Newmarket bound tomorrow and Thursday.
Wednesday 9th. Oh dear for once the good Doctor got it wrong and we did our monies in cold blood, never mind, if all my information was as good as his, I would be a very happy and much richer gambler.
A few wines pre the Smartie pot and as we settle down for three hours of torment, I am mortified as a mouthy mum of two plants her butt in the row behind us. The form wasn’t hard to read on this one, as soon as we are in the air, she is screaming at the kiddies like a banshy and they are squawking and kicking my seat like, well not little angels, shall we say, If she looks over the seat right at this moment as I am writing this I reckon I will cop a right good left hook.
I eat a couple of Haribo bears to pop my ears and then realise they are in fact ok, she has just gone for a whizz, the whole flight is a nightmare and who wants to be the grumpy old man and moan, not me anyway.
Apart from the circus behind me the flight is ok and we are back in good old Blighty safe and sound.
Simon Holden arrives tonight and I understand he is doing the special for the July Cup three day meet, good luck and he will need it with the forecast rain, as the July course is a nightmare to get right if there’s any under foot cut.
Thursday 10th. I am proud and pleased to be able to pass on that ANDY BELL is now No 1 in BETFAN for this year so far, with over 500 points profit, whoop,whoop.
It’s Day 1 of the Newmarket July meeting and one of my favourites at this course, normally we do very well and win lots of money. I just hope the ground stays sound and has not been over watered.
I have arranged to pick up Mr Jolly and my Father and treat them to some of the unique sights of Lady’s day.
Just as we hit the A14, I wonder whether I have made the correct decision with my two invitees, as it starts hammering down with rain.
If that’s not bad enough we hit traffic just as we cross the traffic lights on to the Bury Road, still three or four miles from the course, as we pass Bedford lodge the first race is off, not a good start as I wanted to see how our Royal Ascot second WINDSHEAR runs.
We finally splash into the car park and OMG I’m not going to retract my earlier comments about ” I hope the ground stays sound” because it hasn’t and I am convinced we have already done a large amount of our hard earned on Richard Hannons, COULSTY before we even enter the course, as he doesn’t want any cut at all.
Now, I am soaked, virtually lost my money and pissed off by constantly dodging and ducking umbrellas, Malta and her sunshine already seems a far cry away.
Simon is waiting for us soaked standing under a tree and his tan suit looks like captain Birdseye’s waterproofs, with a grimace, as we are late he greets us and we head to the owners and trainers bar.
What a shame I so do feel sorry for all the girlies as it’s absolutely pouring with rain and I am sure lots of them have been planning their outfits and day out for months.
The bars are all rammed as the rain doesn’t stop and doesn’t look like doing so and the day is spoilt for so many, even us as our COULSTY doesn’t go a yard in the soft and as I had feared our monies are blown.
The ground has certainly now gone and I am going to cut my stakes until things settle down again.
Friday 11th. Although yesterday I said I was going to cut my stakes the French filly HIGH CELEBRITY, has come into today’s race with such a reputation, I just can’t help myself and have a big bet on her and advise all my clients to do likewise and take the 5/6 on offer. I am still very wary of the ground at Newmarket, so our next bet is at Ascot and it’s the Mr Haggis trained ARABIAN COMET which is ridden by Jimmy Fortune and is trading at a tasty 6/1.
Manchester Pete arrives at my house at 11am and we set off for the course, Basil Holden should already be there as he stayed in Cambridge last night, allegedly. Pete has booked us into what I think is the Rutland arms on the high street, so I tell Basil this and tell him he can crash in one of our rooms and get his work done until we arrive. Pete turns left at the clock tower, to my surprise as the Rutland is on the high street and when we turn into the Heathcourt, I say to him I thought we were in the Rutland, no the Heathcourt. I call Basil who has had a right standup row with the receptionist at the Rutland because she won’t let him in our room as she has no knowledge of our booking, I wonder why? He is not best pleased when we tell him we are a mile up the road lol.
The weather is better, which is more than I can say about the Frenchman’s ride on HIGH CELEBRITY, who, in his right mind gives Ryan Moore a four length start, a man which is riding like a demon at the moment. We finish a clear second, on the best horse, in my opinion and Ryan gives David Elsworth his day in the sun with a Group 1 winner, not literally.
Oi Oi JImmys not out of his ground on ARABIAN COMET as he wins very nicely at a well punted 9/4 and gives us over 20 points profit, but don’t forget the Frenchman has chucked away a 10 point maximum which still leaves us with a very nice profit on the day.
I was made to have my semi sensible head on by the more mature Manchester Pete and we had a nice meal in town, well ok ish. We popped into The Yard to see if PCH was around and whilst we were there we lighted the Bin Suroor Indian boys payroll by kicking their arses at pool. We moved into the high street and popped in the White Hart, which was buzzing, Simon Basil Holden was in top form and using his best chat up lines, until I ruined it for him by asking his lady friends whether they were gypsies, as they didn’t greet this with smiles and flutters we quickly left. Last port of call was The Kings club where Captain Bailey (Trainer Alan Bailey) normally plies his trade and we weren’t disappointed as he was in great form. I/we had a right result as I made a great contact from a top northern yard. I think our night ended at about 2-30am, so I think tomorrow may be a shade quieter, but who knows.
Saturday 12th. Surprisingly it’s an early rise, Basil has actually caught his 7am train to York and I am really up for todays JULY CUP, which is normally ran at a blistering pace, I don’t think there will be any track records broken in today’s conditions. As yesterday I think we will have lots of non runners, which is far from ideal, especially when we are trying to obtain the best prices and value for us all early doors.
Today the pin has fallen on REX IMPERATOR 3-50 Newmarket 50/1 ew, as I said in my column Mr Haggis don’t often punch above his weight
“The price of greatness is responsibility.” Winston Churchill
With both services now about levelish, hopefully I can now kick on and make us more profits this month. I am doing the Northern circuit next week, if any of you are about and fancy a beer.
If any of you proper gamblers fancy a laugh, have a look at Andy Bell Racing Facebook page and the comments, I made 300 points profit last month and when I went 18 points down this month, which is now almost rectified, I had whinging and moaners, your gotta laugh. Funny old game this!!
Heheheh good luck and be good.
Back next Saturday.
Andy Bell
http://go.betfan.com/1000/258
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