Killarney Betting Ring with AK Bets 19/07/24

The AK team were determined to show me the best that Killarney town has to offer last night and it was lively, a curry followed by a few pints of Guinness but not enough to ruin the night of course. The atmosphere was absolutely amazing and topped off a brilliant day at the races. We arrived at the racecourse bright eyed, bushy tailed and early. It was overcast but warm, perfect weather for racing. Ladies’ day promise to be an even busier day than yesterday. At this point I have to say that Dave O’Reilly has had several messages from people concerned about his health. While it is true that he did have a scare we might have overegged the pudding somewhat, fear not he is in fine fettle and even finer attire.

The opening race, The Killarney Grand 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle saw Robbie’s Rock open at a shade of odds-on 5/6. Similarly to yesterday, there was very little of interest betting wise, though out in the ring I  was paid a surprise visit by Icy, aka Gearoid Norris here on a day out, it was nice to see him in person again. Meanwhile back on the pitch, the two Dave’s were calling the punters in but they weren’t having much success, then right in the hole a punter bet an even monkey the jolly. That late lump was very fortunate because Inspire Hope the 7/2 second-in won the race and the book copped €500, it was really all about that last bet so the firm got off to a good start and got a few quid over the beaten favourite in the right and proper manner.

The was an early bet of significance in the second heat, the Europe Hotel & Resort Mare’s Maiden Hurdle. It wasn’t so much the size of the bet on Chancer Jack, €100 each way at 10/1 but the source, a respected racecourse bookmaker. Betting remained quite light but the crowd was noticeably younger today which probably accounted for the smaller stakes. The bets might have been smaller but they were plentiful, at the off the book held over €2000 with the €100 each-way the biggest single wager taken. The two at the top of the market were Wudya and Folly Beach, the punters wanted to be on the former but the latter was friendless. The market confidence in Wudya was matched out on the turf by a positive ride making virtually all to win, returning 11/4. Folly Beach on the other hand, well, watch the replay. The winner lost €200 in the win book but once the places and forecast bets were taken into account the firm did €5, not bad over a short one.

The third race on the card, The Lee Strand Handicap Hurdle became interesting early on with a bet of £900 - £400 on Black Bamboo. That was followed by plenty of smaller business punctuated by a bet of €700 - €100 each-way Zeeband, then as the horses went to post a £3000 - £500 the same horse. The last stirling bet was from a punter considered a bit warm but people generally don’t get bluffed on course if the price is on the board. The team were right say he was a bit warm because that’s how it turned out, he was. Jumping the last Ceroc was in front and an excellent winner, but at the post, getting up to win in the last strides it was Zeeband. The day just went tits up. The saving grace, and there always is one, is that they did little wrong with the price, the winner returned 6/1.

Having lost €4500 on the previous race the chase was on to get some back. The next was a chase too, of the valuable handicap variety and marked the end of the excellent spectacle of the hurdle in front of the stands that we’d enjoyed for the first three races. Extrapolation opened the 7/4 favourite for the race but early money was for Dancing On My Own at 4/1 and Gaelic Art at 16/1. The biggest bets on those two were €200 on each but once again business was very steady. At the off the book was a strange one, the favourite winning and plenty of losers elsewhere, it’s just the way the punters bet them, not by design.

Remember I mentioned the €200 bet on Gaelic Art at 16/1? Well that proved to be inspired money. Not only was it the top priced laid before being backed into 12/1 but the gelding won the race from the front with some ease. These Irish betting rings can be perilous places that can certainly put you in your place. The book lost nearly €900 over what would have been a decent result for most of the layers. I dread to think what the next worst phrase after tits up is, but the day was heading that way.

Next up The Lee Strand Novice Chase had six runners of which Bowmore opened 7/4 favourite and promptly attracted a bet of £700 - £400. While the team cracked on calling in the punters, racing’s keenest non punting racegoer Mike Parcej came over to say hello. He’d been here all week and had evidently enjoyed Killarney as much as I had, it’s always a pleasure to see him. Meanwhile the Dave’s had been tapping away taking the punter’s bets, there were plenty of them too, going to post the book held nearly €4500 with the solitary £400 bet the only one of note, those Dave’s are grafters filling the hod as well as dedicated silver tongued cavaliers. During the running of the race, we started to get spots of rain, which was unexpected, what wasn’t unexpected, at least by some shrewdies, was Solitary Man’s 3/1 victory in the race. The AK team kept the winner on side and were rewarded with a €1200 cop in the race which clawed a bit back.

The rain didn’t amount to much and stopped before it had really got going, which was handy. The penultimate was a competitive handicap chase and looked quite tricky to solve. One punter fancied having a go though and bet €2800 - €200 each-way Electric Dreamer. He was quickly followed by another, maybe not quite so ambitiously who had €250 each-way on Meehall at 9/2 both wagers kicking the race off nicely. The next bet of note wasn’t huge either but as I’ve said before, often the source is more significant than the volume and this €1000 - €120 Definateadare was trade which is to be respected. Once again the guys were grafting filling the bag having taken €3400 by the off with two bad losers, Electric Dream and Definateadare for €2000 and €1000 respectively.

There was OK and downright bad news after Kilashee won the race at 11/2. First of all, the OK news, she wasn't one of the bad losers, taking the book, but the bad news was that the absolute place bogie Electric Dreamer was runner-up losing a monkey on that side of the book. Of course, if she’d won it would have been much worse, so there’s that bright side again.

The concluding Christy Lucey Transport Mares (Pro/Am) Flat Race looked an interesting heat. We’d spotted jockey Patrick Mullins jogging around the course earlier which we thought might be a tip in itself to the chances of Willie’s Ellen Kelly in the race. But, she wasn’t favourite, opening at a shade of odds-on at 5/6 was Savante which obviously meant she was well expected to follow up from her easy win last time out. The AK team followed the market and went 7/4 Ellen Kelly then promptly laid a bet of €3500 - €2000, which was another hint about Willie’s but too bloody late, they were in it.

While the betting was in full flow I decided to emulate it with a trip to the Gents, Celebrant Dave and I had a long trip to Dublin ahead of us after all. I was in and out in no time but spare a thought for the girls, the queue for the Ladies was so big it doubled back on itself. On my return little had changed, though a couple of outsiders had been backed enough to make them losers Willie’s was the bogie in the bumper and for plenty.

Here’s a tip, if you ever see Patrick Mullins jogging between races and he’s got a ride in the last, take note. The rest of the field didn’t see where Ellen Kelly went, she won unchallenged, the book lost €3000 which was gutting. Added to what they were already doing made the day a losing one for €7000 and a losing meeting after heading into the last race in front.

What a way to end the week. It’s going to be a long drive back to Dublin. Thanks Killarney and AK Bets, it’s been amazing, it’s just a shame about the results.

I’ll be back with AK’s team in September. Thanks for reading.

Simon Nott

AK Bets - AK Bet were founded by a professional punter Anthony Kaminskas who started his bookmaking business by buying pitches on Irish racecourses where he now has a big presence in betting rings all over the Emerald Isle. AK Bets now offer an on-line and app service. Being a smart punter that has taken on and beaten other bookmakers on sports as well as horseracing , he's gathered a top team around him and is confident in the prices that they post. If you are a golf, football, darts, snooker etc punter AK Bets will take you on offering big prices and big limits. Click below for an exclusive sign up deal.