This was the final of our triple header of early season Hamilton jaunts which were all something of a reconnaissance mission. First two were workable, this one, on figures alone, fell a wee bit short averaging around 40 bets a race- our benchmark is nearer 50. There may be reasons for this- it's still establishing itself as a meeting (2nd season) and the date changed from last year. We'll probably have another look next year. So, as always with the quieter meetings, look at the words "max" and "jackpot" through the prism of taking 500 quid a race. We don't back outsiders just to make them winner/bigger winners so, literally, we can't win more than we take.
As we've previously said, we have a workhorse pitch here rather than a top drawer one. We used to have a better number than we do now and we never quite felt we got out of Hamilton what we should have, which is why we went back in somewhat cautiously. Having said that, the track itself is great. Everyone asks for the number, not the name, almost everyone bets in cash and you get most of your bets in the last 5 minutes. Proper old school.
1) Betting was desperately quiet. 6 runners, 3 losers (Dolce Vitta, Motawahij and Proud To Be Fox) and we got off to a steady start with the favourite Catalyse. We had, in jest, been told in the huddle that proper bookmakers couldn't have won at Musselburgh yesterday and we were doubled down on here as we won on a favourite. My monthly clarification! We don't necessarily win on favourites. If the punters back them, we lose on them. Fortunately they didn't in enough numbers here.
2) And, just to prove the point, the top two in the market were losers and the bottom two winners. We needed Whathappensinvegas yesterday and the same today. Fortunately for us it went one better, despite looking 4th best at one stage, and we had another positive result in what was, again, a very modest betting heat.
3) With 5 minutes to the off we'd taken 57 quid. Fifty. Seven. Quid. I opined that if it didn't pick up we were going home in disgrace. Fortunately it did a wee bit in the final moments and we had 3 of the top 4 as losers including the jolly Fairbanks. We had a skinner (see above for the context of "skinner" being less than £300!) when the rank outsider Dark Moon Rising looked like being caught by the aforementioned jolly but reasserted in the final furlong.
4) We were still there and the betting finally got to workable levels as, again, we stood the favourite in the big field sprint. 3 other losers dotted around including Jordan Electrics which is always well bet here. Laid a couple of each ways at 10s on the winner Desperate Hero but not enough to make it a loser and we nudged forward again, perhaps not in jackpot territory but we were 4-0 up, perhaps more scruffy tap ins rather than 30 yarders but they all help.
5) Make that 5 in a row as we stood our 4th jolly of the day, plus the 2nd favourite and the bottom of the market for symmetry. The betting was, again, fairly decent and we got a bona fide result this time on the barely bet Fiver Friday. There was a bloke dressed as Harry Potter but, really, it was Steve on the back conjuring up the magic.
6) When your luck's in... 3 of them traded around the same price for favouritism and we ended up standing one of them (Cargin Bhui) and made it 6 in a row as Mr Irrelevant got home. Ziggy's Queen the other loser for completeness. For you readers north of the border, we are assuming a love of befuddled aliens swept through the ring.
7) Top 2 again and the rest of the field winners. A stress free end to the day as the only two who could win were both in the realms of "solid" and winner Letsbefrank was even a hair better than Real Terms and we had Liverpool v Spurs 7-0 circa 1978 on our hands. Again, through the prism of 40 bets a race.
So, if the first 3 races had replicated the final 4 in terms of turnover we had a workable day. Steve commented on the way home from Musselburgh that we'll get all the results at Hamilton when we take a fraction of the money. He was right but I'm not looking this particular gift horse in the mouth.
Perth next for us on Sunday. Until then...
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