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onlooker
14 Jul 23 20:52
Joined:
Date Joined: 18 Feb 03
| Topic/replies: 40,610 | Blogger: onlooker's blog
Here's a story for you ...

Many years ago, over 40 years ago in fact - I always used to attend this Friday Evening meeting at Chester.

It was the last Friday of my local town's annual fortnight Holidays, and going to this meeting became something of an annual ritual - as we all do with something repeatedly, but do not know really why, or how it all started.

Even in my youthful enthusiasm for Horse Racing, I always had the instinct for looking for an edge - honed when wagging off school to go to the races as a 15-year-old, to try and get the 5/-Tote Treble dividend up.

The first race on the Chester card, therefore, came onto my radar in abundance.

In those days it was a 7f Apprentice Handicap, and all Apprentices then were nowhere near as polished as the young riders are nowadays.
7f around Chester - No Rails movement or Cutaway into the straight, then - Inexperienced Apprentices ...

What a recipe for 'a Result' - a 'Turn up for the books'

My mission became - Find a good Outsider, two if available, for a Single bet(s) -

Perm those Outsiders with a couple, or three, other runners for the Forecast (which was a Dual (Either Order) Forecast on the Tote, giving the scope for a larger Perm (restricted by youthful finances, mind you) -
- and have a small Perm Tricast on them - if further finances permitted.

I managed to find the Winner a couple, or so, times over the years - and get the Forecast a few times, too - albeit never 2 Outsiders together, and just money back when a couple of the other shorter-priced make-weight selections finished 1st and 2nd

Circumstances change, and I was unable to attend Chester from 1984 to 1997 due to another racing commitment, and I have been about 3 times since, and not for the past 10 years or so.

Even so - I have still always had a good look at this race every year since, no matter -
-  although in quite a number of the more recent years had No bet as I had Not seen anything that appealed, or 'qualified' due to the tighter betting of many of those years, along with the fact that it was no longer an Apprentice affair.

However - 'Old habits die hard'

My this year's appraisal came up with 4 horses, although one would not be suited by the changed softer ground, so I left that one out - and Backed the other 3 horses for 'fun stakes' - and 'old times sake'

Horse Racing > Chester 14th Jul : 7f Hcap

Devasboy
*16.33    18.00    Back   
Mabre
*35.60    15.00    Back   
Mabre
*2.37    22.00    Lay   
Spioradalta
*7.07    15.00    Back   
91.00
Spioradalta
*1.69    15.00    Lay   
-10.40
               
Back subtotal:    58.00
Lay subtotal:    11.60
Market subtotal:    69.60
Commission @ 2.00%:    1.39

Net Market Total:    68.21

But, of course - The Aim was always to get the FORECAST up ...

14 Jul 2023 17:44:47    Chester R1 17:45 Exacta   
1st Place: 6,8,9 2nd Place: 6,8,9  6 2.00  12.00

Bet settled    242.60

- and - How could I let the TRIFECTA 'run loose' ...

14 Jul 2023 17:45:08    Chester R1 17:45 Trifecta        1st Place: 6,8,9 2nd Place: 6,8,9 3rd Place: 6,8,9  6 1.00 6.00   

Bet settled    1383.50

1st - 2nd and 3rd  - Short-Head, Neck

If the Short-Head 2nd had Won - It would have been another £444 Win on the Single - and, presumably, even bigger Forecast and Trifecta Dividends.

But - Let's not get greedy - and just thank ...

A long memory - tenacity -and perseverance ....

- which go a long way in this game. Happy
Pause Switch to Standard View After years of trying - I finally got it
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Report sparrow July 14, 2023 8:57 PM BST
But you have always said how much you dislike Chester comparing it to a greyhound track.
Report Hayden July 14, 2023 9:01 PM BST
Great story onlooker , well done   Happy
Report onlooker July 14, 2023 9:01 PM BST
That is why I only bet on ONE race a year, there. 

- and, surely - all the above is 'playing the place' 'at it's own game' ...
Report sparrow July 14, 2023 9:06 PM BST
Fair enough, onlooker.
Report shoodacoodadidnt July 14, 2023 9:09 PM BST
lovely story - congratulations
Report wisewords July 14, 2023 9:14 PM BST
nice story, well done
Report Regbutler July 14, 2023 9:15 PM BST
Congratulations onlooker
Report acey deucy July 14, 2023 10:44 PM BST
Well done onlooker.
Report acey deucy July 14, 2023 10:44 PM BST
Well done onlooker.
Report Gaze733 July 15, 2023 8:19 AM BST
have a seat at the aftertimers arms
Report ladycarla July 15, 2023 8:29 AM BST
That is rich LaughLaugh WD Onlooker.
Report tictacman1 July 15, 2023 8:43 AM BST
Well done onlooker
Report Brian July 15, 2023 8:45 AM BST
Well done Onlooker. Patience is a virtueGrin
Report paulo47 July 15, 2023 9:23 AM BST
Brilliant , was that ' Wakes Week ' , was near Warrington for a few years and sort of remember town holidays .
Report workrider July 15, 2023 10:29 AM BST
Powerful stuff Onlooker and a huge well done fully deserved...Lovely story as well...
Report longbridge July 15, 2023 12:12 PM BST
WD onlooker
Report barstool July 15, 2023 12:57 PM BST
A bit unlucky with Mabre, would have won only for ducking right to avoid a bump from another horse on the run in.

Had an interest myself as the jockeys great grandfather lives near by and is a very good friend of mine. Always worth a second look when riding for David Evans.

Well done all the same.
Report sparrow July 15, 2023 1:04 PM BST
That jockey Lewis looks very useful with his 7lb claim.
Report barstool July 15, 2023 1:08 PM BST
Agree sparrow, he was a very good pony rider, had spells with Teal and Hills but not given the rides. Using his whip much better now and has got a lot stronger this season. Will have some decent priced winners for sure.
Report sparrow July 15, 2023 1:12 PM BST
I did wonder where he had been recently after a promising start so fair play to David Evans.
Report barstool July 15, 2023 1:26 PM BST
Hopefully go well in the first there today.
Report Rico-Dangleflaps July 15, 2023 1:30 PM BST
gaze says he had the same numbas and wd on the aftertime.
Report sparrow July 15, 2023 1:36 PM BST
barstool 15 Jul 23 13:26 
Hopefully go well in the first there today.







Ground conditions might be a worry though.
Report stewarts rise July 15, 2023 1:44 PM BST
Well done Onlooker, as they say, if at 1st you don't succeed try, try and try again, can't beat getting a tricast up.Grin
Report sparrow July 15, 2023 2:17 PM BST
Got the place somehow, barstool.
Report barstool July 15, 2023 2:19 PM BST
Thankfully, could have done with a better start.
Report roadrunner46 July 15, 2023 2:28 PM BST
Riveting aftertime, keep up the good work
Report roadrunner46 July 15, 2023 2:28 PM BST
Riveting aftertime, keep up the good work
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