seems a straight up sort of guy

salt of the earth

"dropped a lot in weights..big drop in class..was all there to see.."      Yeah had won off 70 now 59 and still only a 4 year old.

On-course bookmaker John Hutchinson, who trades as BDC Racing, said: "People were backing the horse with every bookmaker between 6-1 and 7-1 and couldn't get enough on. I laid a £6,000 to £1,000 bet and another bet to win £3,000, so I thought I'd better go to the paddock to look at the horse. When I came back we'd laid another £5,000 to £2,000.


wtf is the point of looking at a low grade h'capper that's run 19 times.  Expecting to see the appearance of a Frankel ?

There Is No Doubt was a fun one. Young Pipe was dipping the daughter of a new trainer at the time as I understand it, and his missus rode her horses. I think it had recently been 'moved' from Pipe's to this young lass, and had its name changed, so nobody laying bets knew it was effectively a Pipe first timer in a weakish Exeter bumper. I may be mixing the stories in my head, but I also seem to recall the owners were not happy as everyone else at Pipe's lumped on first, before they got the nod. 33s to 5-2, a lot bigger on bf obviously (at that time, 28/1/33/1 outsiders often traded 100+ on here). Another twist was that one of Pipe's big owners had the paper fav, and he lumped on the 'ringer'. No wonder There Is No Doubt's owners were a bit salty

they aren't all young (4 )  recently transfered from another stable running over different trips and wearing headgear.  You can read 'em to a fair extent.  TC and Candlish ones usually need a few runs after arriving whereas Mick Appleby was good first time.  But yeah the money is the clincher.

went to paddock to see if it had 3 legs,o he could try to nick another few grand out of it

do you watch SD in the ring ? ( you tube )  Loads of 'em  lay four figure bets including friend of the channel John Hutchinson.

There Is No Doubt, whose victory at Exeter 10 days ago has caused a few eyebrows to be raised at the Jockey Club, followed up with a facile success at Towcester today.

The three-year-old (7-2) made all in the European Breeders Fund ‘Junior’ Standard Open NH Flat Race to beat favourite Giovanna by a long-looking nine lengths.

The ex-French gelding is trained by permit holder Helen Bridges, whose horses are ridden by her daughter Lucy, the long-term partner of Martin Pipe’s son, David.

Backers of There Is No Doubt landed a spectacular gamble at the Devon track when he was backed down from an opening 28-1 on-course to 5-2 favourite at the off.

It transpired the horse had been sold by Pipe to Mrs Bridges a few weeks earlier, and its name had subsequently been changed via Weatherbys.

Although no rules are thought to have been broken, the champion trainer is set to be interviewed by Jockey Club security staff, as is Dorset-based Mrs Bridges, who remains nonplussed by recent press attention.

“It was an incredible win (at Exeter) and I’ll never ever forget being accosted by reporters at the other end over what had happened. I hadn’t a clue,” she told At The Races.

“Martin chose this horse for me but I could have sent him back if I’d wanted to.”

Asked how the publicity had affected her, she added: “At one point I never wanted to see another horse or another racecourse.

“But life has to go on – it is a storm in a teacup.”

As I palpably stated, I could be mixing the stories (the ownership bit). The was absolutely a significant controversy around Pipe heavily backing a horse before the owners. I seem to recall they took it to court or some such. I might try and find some info on it later, but we are talking over twenty years ago, unsurprisingly these stories can merge in your memory.

These affordability checks good news for on course bookies ?