HEADING into Friday, I am up on all three days so far, writes Ronan Graham.
They say the crowds have been down but I haven’t noticed it. The people who bet with me are here every year, hail, rain or shine. Turnover is down about 10% but the results have been amazing for us.
Bookmakers don’t mind punters having a good Tuesday because that gives them confidence to bet for the rest of the week, so I didn’t mind Kopek Des Bordes winning the first race.
We got Majoborough beaten in the very next race by the hand of God– how far would we have won if he had not made that mistake?
The biggest bet I laid this week was £10,000 on Lossiemouth but that customer reinvested on Constitution Hill, so the money stayed with me. What a result – I’ve never had one like it here in 30 years.
Wednesday started well when The New Lion won. For whatever reason, punters didn’t want him and he drifted from 9/4 to 100/30.
Then getting Ballyburn and Jonbon beaten was massive. The results just fell out of the sky for us.
On Thursday we were looking down the barrell of a gun when Sixandahalf hit the front in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle. When Rachael Blackmore edged past on Air Of Entitlement it was a massive swing in our favour.
I think punters kept Rachael on side after that because Bob Olinger was well-backed and we didn’t win on that race even though Teahupoo was beaten.
Fact To File was probably the second-best backed horse of the week, behind Constitution Hill, so we gave a bit of our winnings back in that race.
Jagwar and Thecompanysergeant fought out the Plate and both of those were losers in our book. They really got stuck into Jagwar, in fairness, so that was a bit of a dampener.
Then we got it back in the next when Daily Present ran down Johnnywho.
On Friday I will be taking on Dinoblue and Galopin Des Champs. Dinoblue is nought from three at the track and while I think Galopin looks a penalty kick it’s our business to lay horses.
My banker of the day is Taponthego in the Martin Pipe – I just feel he has been laid out for this race.