Betting was brisk and bold at Ayr
In week two of her new column, bookie Julie Williams reflects on a hectic Scottish Grand National Festival, and looks forward to this week’s racing action, which includes Punchestown and Sandown.
Business was brisk and bold in the betting ring for the Scottish Grand National meeting at Ayr.
With the sun on our backs layers, punters and spectators alike were in good fettle.
After the Nicky Henderson trained favourite THEINVAL ( 3/ 1) stormed to victory in the first the bookies were less buoyant.
In the Champion Hurdle last year’s winner CHESTERFIELD ( 6/ 1) was backed ferociously.
The Seamus Mullins’ trained eight- year- old could do no better than a gallant third against an impressive winner, MIDNIGHT SHADOW.
As big as 50/ 1 in the morning, the result was perhaps no shock to those who bet Sue Smith’s five- year- old in to 25s.
There was, however, a collective sigh of relief from the bookmakers.
You have to feel for Tom Bellamy, the rider on the runner up in the Scottish Grand National.
After losing out on BALLYOPTIC ( 9/ 1) in a photo- finish to JOE FARRELL ( 33/ 1) the luckless jockey had then to endure a torturously long car journey south - thinking long and hard of what might have been.
Sat beside him was none- other than Adam Wedge, rider of the game winner.
Fortunately the friendship remains intact. The fickle hand of fate can be cruel when it comes right down to it.
The Punchestown Festival comes under starters orders this week and all the talk will be of Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins and their titanic battle to be Champion Trainer.
Elliott is no shorter than 4/ 7 to take the title, despite being over half a million pounds in front, with Mullins at 5/ 4.
This time last year the contender was 1/ 5 before a blistering run of good form and good fortune saw Mullins tear back in front to claim his tenth title.
Should Mullins saddle the first three home in the Champion Chase - as is distinctly possible with DOUVAN ( 5/ 4), MIN
( 2/ 1) and UN DE SCEAUX ( 11/ 2) all declared to run - that would put a quarter of a million pound dent in the hopes and dreams of Elliott in a matter of minutes.
It will make for a thrilling end to the Irish jumps calendar.
This side of the Irish sea the jumps season comes to an official close this Saturday at Sandown with another marathon race.
This time we’ll be tackling the Gold Cup Handicap Chase.
Twenty four fences and a gruelling 3 mile 5 furlong stamina busting gallop lie ahead for a maximum field of 24 runners.
Touched off in the Scottish National, trainer Nigel Twiston Davies has two of the front three in the betting.
MISSED APPROACH at 8/ 1 currently vies for favouritism with BLAKLION, with stable mate BIGBADJOHN 11/ 1 hot on his heels.
The former a faller at the first in the Aintree Grand National, the latter brought down at the third.
There is a stone or more between them at the weights as it currently stands.
And BLAKLION will have it all to do to win off top weight.
The fast improving MS PARFOIS ( 14/ 1) ran a very credible second to TERREFORT last time out at Aintree and while this is a significant step up in trip for the seven- yearold novice chaser, you could not rule out a bold showing.
Same of Anthony Honeyball’s REGAL ENCORE 20/ 1 who comes to Saturday’s race fresh from winning a listed event at Ascot in February.
The lightly raced ten- year- old ran a credible eighth in the Grand National last season ( a minor injury ruled him out this year) and he is our hope of landing a winner on the closing day of the season.
So back REGAL ENCORE e/ w at 20/ 1.
Follow Julie on Twitter @ RacingJulie