Looking at the currents markets which wagers do you regret not striking??? For me there are 2 standouts: (i) Bournemouth to be relegated from the Premier League. You could have got 50/1 a fortnight ago but now they are in freefall and as low as 7’s. You get the impression with them as well that once they start plummeting they won’t stop for several seasons and I’ve never bought into the whole Eddie ‘Don’t mention Burnley’ Howe is some sort of genius. Please keep him a million miles away from The Arsenal, incidentally. (ii) Bristol de Mai to win the CGC at 66/1. Still kicking myself at not taking this re a horse I love and have long championed. He’s won Grade 1’s in each of the last 2 seasons and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility he will make it 3 terms on the bounce in 2016/17. Looked awesome at Haydock Park last time out. Now just 14/1 for Festival glory. Not saying with conviction that either will happen in 2017 but, I tell you what team, I’d love to be holding vouchers right now at the larger mentioned prices. Are you similarly regretting not getting on something, right now, at fancy odds?!?
I tipped up Bristol de Mai for the CGC on the old ante post thread months ago but didn't have the courage of my convictions to back him. Mind you, I also put up Black Hercules in the same post I wish I'd had more on Thistlecrack ante post for the World Hurdle last season, but I am very strict about managing my stakes on long range ante post bets so it was "only" €20 e/w at 20/1. Probably the most annoying was a horse called Flashman. I am an avid reader of the Flashman series of books, and a few years ago there was a horse called Flashman running in one of the big 2YO races at Royal Ascot. I didn't have a cent on it and it won at 100/1
Me and my friend were gonna have 100 e/w (each) on Costa to be top PL scorer at start of season at 16/1. We avoided it because of the uncertainty at the start of the season with transfer rumours, back injury etc. Few others caught up with him now but with every goal he puts in, we just think, what if?!
Worst bet I didn't have was on one of Mick Channon's (Golden Silca I think) in a big field 2yold race at Newmarket. The thing was 20/1 as it had no form to speak of, but given the trainers record in those sort of races that seemed a bit generous. I was about to pick up the phone and ring William Hills (no internet betting) when the phone rang. It was my then girlfriend, who asked what I was doing. When I replied "watching the racing from Newmarket on Ch4", she proceeded to give me a lecture on the evils of gambling. She actually talked me out what probably was a bit of a mug punt. Then they were off. This thing missed the break, but it wasn't long before it's vibrant orange colours could be seen cutting through the field like a knife through butter. Just as it was breaking free of the field and starting to go clear a furlong from home, the bird rang back to apologise for giving me a hard time.
I may have written this before, apologies if so. 1973 .. I was working for Rumbelows if you remember them, and on the morning of 2000 guineas day I had to leave the store to go with the driver, assisting with a large TV to be delivered (big ones WERE big back then!) We carried the TV into a living room, where the man of the house was sitting behind stacks of form books and newspapers. TV connected, we were about to go when he dropped a couple of shillings into my hand and said - "a better tip is Mons Fils in the 2000 guineas - currently 66-1" We got back to the store and I hurried to the bookies 2 shops along, to find it was now only 50-1. So stupidly, I decided to go to the next betting shop 500 yards up the road, to find a better price, only to listen to the by-now-started race in horror as Mons Fils galloped into the history books, with none of my loot on it. There is a moral here I'm sure, something about greed - but it was a long time ago now, and I'm over the bitterness. Almost
Silly boy. Should have put half your stake on at 50/1 and then run up the road in search of better odds
I gave everyone Last Suspect for the GN at 66/1; won at 50/1. But strangely didn't regret not backing it as I was too busy rejoicing at the fact I had told everyone a winner. I remember on the day of the race having lunch with some builders in our mobile home and I was looking (again) at the race and started laughing. When asked I said that I had just found a cert for the GN and couldn't believe the low weight it had or the jockey booking and then fell about laughing when I saw the price. Happy days. Wish it was that simple now. The only one I really regret was Mon Mome. As in all years I pick about 4 or 5 horse short list and he was on it. For some reason he was one of those I eliminated - won 100/1 . Now that one I did kick myself. I backed Ben Nevis and Rubstic for the 1979 GN and Ben Nevis won it the following year - didn't back it then but can't claim to have fancied it at any stage. With hindsight I regret not having some fancy bets on Heis's 5 horses that day when 4 of them won at really good odds. Could have been a life changing bet.
