My first diary entry, just an idea I had. Is there any interest in a diary of a Devon based racing man? Who, knows but here goes, I'm about to find out.
I'm Simon Nott, I live in Witheridge in Devon, and married to Melanie and dad to Betsy and Monty. I am a freelance journalist that specialises in horse racing, mainly but not entirely focusing on betting. I'm the founding interviewer of the Star Sports #BettingPeople series of interviews, I also write blogs direct from the betting ring in the UK for Star Sports and Ireland for AK Bets and a monthly column in Racing Ahead magazine. I also have the privilege of helping trainer Nigel Hawke and Thorne Farm Racing with their social media and a regular job talking to guests in Hospitality boxes at Exeter Racecourse
Apart from racing, my other passion and subject of my writing is music. I like everything from Hillbilly to Punk and write for Vive Le Rock and UK Rock n Roll magazines. If you take a peek through the 'Green Door' you'll find out more about that side of my 'career'.
Right, on to what's happened recently to bring a first blog up to speed. I was at Exeter on the 11th, Nigel Hawke had two of his syndicate horses running. Professor Calculus and Ballymagroarty Boy. The former was in a race where there'd been some controversy, Aces Full had been the subject of a gamble, backed from 14/1 into 9/4 favourite. In a rather unprecedented move, the gelding was withdrawn at the request of the BHA. Sadly, Professor Calculus wasn't able to capitalise on that defection, he fell at the seventh when still in front. It wasn't to be Nigel's syndicate's day, the ultra consistent Ballymagroarty Boy was beaten a short-head in a photo two races later.
I was over at Nigel's yard on Saturday where I recorded a little video with Nigel talking to Ruby his daughter, and up and coming young jockeys Molly Legg and Margot Scudamore with all the negativity going around it was a nice positive little chat. The future is bight with young people like this in it. You can watch the whole video HERE More info on Nigel Hawke's yard and syndicate can be found here. Thorne Farm Racing
I had a bit of a surprise when I found out that I was pictured in a caption for a Racing Post column online, The Racing Grapevine. I'm not sure that they know it's me, they must have just briefed a photographer to source a picture of a racing bloke shouting his mouth off I fit the bill. I'm quite chuffed though.
For those that don't know it, Witheridge is a lovely little village on the very border with North and Mid Devon, the bin men from each jurisdiction turn around at the top of the road. It's got a pub The Mitre a football club, a couple of shops, one incorporating a post office and nice French restaurant La Petite Bouchee and a café Two Moors Gallery It's very popular with walkers are being bang on the Two Moors route and has pretty much all you need, a bit like Trumpton in the nicest possible way for those of a certain age.
For those of us of that certain age, I found out something amazing, well amazing to me, recently. That Sky logo at the top of your remote control, it's not just a logo it's an on/off switch for both TV and Sky box. Try it!
I haven't been in Devon much the last couple of weeks, thanks to the Grand National and Cheltenham. I was writing a betting ring report for the Star Sports website each day. It's always a nice meeting to be at, this year was no exception though we could have done without the shenanigans with people trying to disrupt the race. That was followed by another protest against the use of oil at the snooker. I'm not sure what the connection is there. I have noticed some journalists of a certain political leaning praising the protests and the inconvenience, they caused. It would be interesting to see if someone hitting the delete forever button ( is there such a thing ) on their laptops after having just put the final full stop on their latest 5000 word piece as a protest would be quite so well received.
It's a long old trek back to Devon from Aintree but I had a nice clear run. I was flagging a bit by the time I got to Gloucester services so stopped to grab a on the hoof coffee. I spotted they had a Scotch Egg left so grabbed that too. It was only when I was heading back down the M5 and took a bite that I realised it was somewhat hotter than a vindaloo. Well, it kept me awake all the way home, that coffee wasn't man enough to shift the spice. Mind you, I ate the lot, I was too hungry to waste it.
Coming up, this week I'll be writing betting ring reports from the Punchestown Festival for AK Bets, it'll be my first time there so I'm looking forward to that. They'll be hosted on this website under Racing. As with any of my blogs, if you enjoy them, you'll be doing me a big favour if you share them. Thank you very much in advance. For more info on opening an account with AK Bets click the link https://akbets.bet/
There was sad news at Cheltenham, a bookmaker I have known for all my racing life, Richard Tovey died of a suspected heart attack aged just 58. The same age as me, a very sobering way to end this first blog. My deepest sympathy to Richard's family. It puts a lot of things in perspective, one life, live it.
Simon Nott
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