Re: Betting Chat : Tue Oct 11, 2011 7:45 pm  

Now, the bloke who I was apprenticed to, was a good friend of Nobby. So, 6 of us used to sit at the same table in the changing rooms. Every 1st break was the same. Daily Star was split into 4 parts, with Nobby taking the racing pages. Now, if Nobby had no desire to do any manuel work, he had even less desire to go through the formbook. Just looked at the a-z and occassionally murmur, " that will win" in his slow, lethargic accent. He simply based his bets around his mums name ( Chummy), job ( Welder) or cricket. Everyday was groundhog.

One monday morning, Nobby never came into work. Either on holiday or the sick ( wish was the favourite of the 2). Never showed up all week, nobody thought anything about it. Sometime the following week, the Foreman came into the changing rooms asking for him. He was'nt sick or on holiday, management could'nt get in touch with him. In the end, police went to his house, got no answer and eventually broke in. No sign of any crime, so did some door-to-door. Only thing they could find out was he got back from the pub 1 night the previous week. Did a background check, bank records the lot, no money had been taken out in the last 2 weeks. he just disappeared. He even appeared on local tv and newspapers for information, but nothing came to light. Police took interviews at work, flights out of Manchester were checked, but nothing. Simply vanished.

Re: Betting Chat : Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:09 pm  

With hindsight, it was quite exciting tbh, everyone coming up with different theories as to his demise, some sinister, some funny. But over the next few weeks and months, we thought less about him. Had the threat of redundancies, strike action and 4 day week to worry about. These were eventually ironed out and everyday returned to groundhog day.

Now, I go out on sunday nights, so monday is hangover day. But, i sooned sobered up this monday morning.
" Hello, How are you?" Was I still drunk? Hallucinating? No Nobby was back. There were quite a few tears of happiness, we thought he was dead, and now he was here. Some wanted to hug him, others wanted to hit him for just disappearing. All that lack of studying the formbook had finally paid off. Only got a lucky 63 up, all 6 horses came in. Took the bookie a week to come up with the money. Picked up his winnings, went out on the razzle, got up the next day and thought "stuff work", so went down to London to see a lady friend. Stayed for a week, then decided to go home to see his mum, whom he had not seen in over 20 years. Only planned on going for 2 weeks, ended up staying over 6 months!!

Got an absolute rollocking off the management and police. Whilst everyone was looking for Nobby soandso, nobody was looking for Ezekiel ( his real name, Nobby was a family nickname that he kept when he came over here). He never told anyone how much he actually won, he never told anyone anything really. He gave 1 of the lads abit of info about his bet, he worked it out to about £5k.

So it goes to show, that you can read the formbook inside out, but you can't beat the old lucky pin.

Re: Betting Chat : Tue Oct 11, 2011 9:42 pm  

The Eddie Callaghan Mafia vs The Martin Keighley Family

A bit of background info into the two. Eddie was the jockey I admired most, he was a conditional at Jeffersons but you could tell he was going to places the way he rode. When Lorcan Wyer retired from Jeffersons, Eddie was hoping to be offered the stable jockeys job. He had ridden plenty of winners as a conditional but his claim was up now and it was that next stage where owners stop hiring you because you cant calim 7lb, 5lb, 3lb whatever. Graham Lee was moving up in the world at a similar time at Jeffersons yard and he got a lot of rides which Eddie should have been on. Im not been biased, but the way Eddie handled a horse, he knew the score. Graham Lee always worried me, especially on a chaser as he just couldnt seem to handle them. I know he has gone on and done well in the game over the years but I never had him on the top of my Xmas card list.

At the same time of Eddie been conditional at Jeffersons, a young lad called Martin Keighley was making his name at David Nicholsons yard too. Nicholson had loads of conditionals at the time, think Choc Thornton was around at the same time and a guy called R Massey who was held in high regard. I went to school with Martin Keighleys younger brother, but obviously we didnt get into the betting side of things till our latter 6th form years. But basically I was formed into going against the Keighley clan by my mate. Dont get me wrong, I didnt turn round to his brother and just say I dont like you anymore, it was just I wasnt supposed to be associated with them as my mate always said, aah they talk rubbish, never give us a winner etc...

It became a bit of a turf war in our town between my mate and Keighleys dad. Always comparing what they heard against each other, how much they had on. If one had £100 on, the other had to have £200 on etc... It was a massive battle, and one which looking back was funny. I wasnt a massive punter, I put enough on dont get me wrong, but couldnt live with these two. Saturdays for me was judgement day, Id either be loaded after a good day or skint after a bad day. But everything came to fruition on December 7th 1996. We had been to Malton a few weeks before and Ed had told us about Red Brook. I saw it once in the yard, a monster. An unraced monster. An unraced monster which was going places. The plan was to go for the Gold Cup around 1999 with this one, they already had the plan set out. Forget hurdles, it cleared them like shelling peas. Chasing was this ones game, but it had to go through the correct routes, bumpers then novice hurdles etc... But whatever it did was a bonus as it continued to grow.

Red Brook made its debut on that Saturday at Towcester and low and behold, who is the favourite in the race, Mr Martin Keighleys The Crooked Oak. My mate spoke with Eddie at the track a few hours before the race, it was all systems go. He had arrived with no problems and you could tell he was here for business. My mate picked me up, we parked in town and marched to the local Hills to hammer Red Brook. In we walked, and who is in there at the same time, but The Keighley Family (der der der der, click fingers, der der der der). So the tribal war began. I had £40 each way on Red Brook at 12/1. My mate told me he had £50 each way on in the morning with one of the independents who priced up all the races. He was here for business. Keighleys scoured the paper and saw Eds name on an unraced Jefferson horse, they knew we were here for that. We knew they were here for their sons horse. "Fancy yours ?" asked my mate. "Yep, should win doing handstands" came the reply. "Eds is a machine so be carefull", "Were not bothered about your mate today". I think The Crooked Oak came in from 3/1 to 11/4, there was a loud cheer, "The moneys pouring on now pal" came the cry from Keighleys. "How much you had on?" asked my mate. "Enough" came the reply. I dont know how much was enough, but I know they liked a very good bet.

The race began and The Crooked Oak was up there for the majority of the race, until about 4f out and you could tell the distress signals were out. Keighley was getting serious, as they came round the top bend they knew the game was up. We stood there in silence until Ed produced Red Brook up the top bend, he cantered by them all. "GO ON EDDIE BOY" came a massive cry from my mate. The shop walls shook with the velocity. I joined in, as did a few others that had joined in with us. Red Brook trotted up by 4 lengths. I picked up around £600 and gave my mate £100 to give to Eddie as a thanks, he did the same. The Keighleys crept out of the shop in silence. The car stayed in the car park all night as we stayed up there and had a really good drink and enjoyed the result. Red Brook went on to win another bumper at Towcester the next month at 5/1. It should have gone to Cheltenham, I think it would have won, but they played safe and didnt want to ruin the horse so quickly. They put it away and it came back winning a novice hurdle at Towcester again in a bog. Came back with a career threatening injury and was retired. Never to be seen again.

I began to rebuild the friendship with the younget Keighley during the usual weekend nights out in town. Where all the youngsters went. His dad and my mate wernt there, so he told me bits and pieces about what was fancied and I did likewise, but on the provisio it was kept quiet. Then it all changed at the Grand National meeting 1998. My mate got the jockey badges, so off we went, Owners & Trainers again on Grand National day. We could get in everywhere with our badges, so stood near to the BBC cameras under the pavillion for most of the day. I backed Pridwell to beat Istabraq at 7/1 that day so was already much in profit, then we stumbled accross the Keighleys. This time though, the mood changed and we had a few beers together etc... and my mate and Keighleys dad were having a laugh and a joke as I chatted with the younger Keighley. I knew they were there for a reason, and M Keighley was on the fav in the bumper on a horse called Kings Road for Nigel Twisting B**tard (my nickname for him). Keighley had left Nicholsons as he was struggling for rides, had gone to Twistings instead but was going up against Jamie Goldstein at the time. I heard but dont quote me that Twisting was getting looked after by Jamies dad Ray who had a tipping line at the time, but wasnt sure what looked after actually meant. Maybe a few quid here and there who knows. Either way Keighleys dad wasnt happy about the situation and wanted whats best for his son. They told us that Keighley would win the bumper and that they fancied Earth Summit in the National. I couldnt have Earth Summit, I was in love with Suny Bay and I had to stay loyal to the grey. I should have done the forecast but Earth Summit beat Suny Bay who had lumped 12 stones round there, which was a feat. The Keighleys were on a high.

Then came the bumper. The word was Martin was going to kick for home 3 furlongs and play catch me if you can. They reckoned Kings Road would stay more than 2m in time, so had no worries about it lasting out the trip. I had £50 on, my mate had £100, both at 7/2. Keighleys wouldnt let on how much they had on, but Im sure I heard £500 quoted somewhere, but could be wrong. The race basically unfolded as expected but it was 4f out when Keighley booted for home. Was this too soon ? Thankfully it wasnt, and he stayed on well to win easily in the end. A great end to the afternoon. We went back to the winners enclosure and said thanks to them. Keighleys dad pushed himself towards Twistings and told him it was a great ride and that he should get more chances. Twisting nodded but you could tell something wasnt right. We said our farewells and we departed. A lot of burning bridges were distinguished that day and the respect from both camps came to fruition. We formed an alliance which we hoped would make us millionaires, but in all fairness, we drifted apart not long after, possibly due to the fact that Keighley just didnt get the opportunities anymore and the younger one made his money following Schumacher in the GP's than his brother. I think Jamie Goldstein was to blame for all that.

And to end the story, as we walked out of Aintree, a stunning blonde came out from nowhere. She was small, blonde, fantastic figure, in fact your dream girl. My mate copped an eyefull and wanted to be straight in there, I followed. Then we had to make a detour as her husband / partner came up from behind her and joined her. Turned out to be the trainer Micky Hammond, and the blonde was the Sky Sports News presenter / Attheraces presenter Alex Hammond. I just shook my head in disbelief how he had pulled her. Maybe he had the gift of the gab like my mate or had a big bankroll. As we exited the course, a slim woman walked in front of us. Very posh, but great figure. We said hello as we walked past her, "had a good day" I asked. "Yes thankyou" in a posh mannered reply. She smiled at me as we walked on. It was Venetia Williams, the trainer and I was in love.

Re: Betting Chat : Wed Oct 12, 2011 10:57 am  

Punchestown 15:50 Akiem 9/1 EW 4 Places

Decent flat horse running to 100 in 5 Group races in France and Germany, went to Jonjo O'Neill at the end of 2009 running poor in three races over hurdles, then not seen until August this year for Tom Hogan running ok in a 3 runner QR Race which was won by The Real Article, Akiem then made a return to hurdles last month coming 4th to Frawley (last seen coming 3rd to Cue Card in the Champion Bumper) that was its best run over hurdles by some way with a RPR of 112 its got an OR of 97 for this handicap and I don't think its too much to think it could improve for that run having it being first run over hurdles in 20 months plus only its second run in that time.

Re: Betting Chat : Wed Oct 12, 2011 11:00 am  

Live Wired wrote:

If anything, Immortal Verse could actually improve for the faster ground. Her sire (Pivotal) won a group1 and 2 on good/firm. No real thoughts on that race, but will lay Frankel anyway.

Why would you lay The Freak?

I will be backing in the winning distance markets and maybe either Immortal Verse or Excelebration in the W/O market if I can split the two

Re: Betting Chat : Wed Oct 12, 2011 11:21 am  

3:15 N - Midsummer Sun
3:45 N - ESHTIBAAK (Nap)
4:20 N - Wrotham Heath

Good luck

Re: Betting Chat : Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:38 pm  

Desert Romance .3.45.notts e/w 50/1 big price, was in the cesarewitch last time out but on the wrong side, and slowly coming down in the weights

Re: Betting Chat : Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:25 pm  

Wire_85 wrote:

Why would you lay The Freak?

I will be backing in the winning distance markets and maybe either Immortal Verse or Excelebration in the W/O market if I can split the two

Up against 6 other group 1 winners, dont think the straight course will suit him as much as a turning course, been on the go since april, but not run since the Sussex. Owner has put Bullet Train in there to act as a pacemaker, but I can't understand why he has Cityscape running aswell. He's got decent group 1 form to his name. People seem to be under the impression he needs soft ground, but his sire ( Selkirk), was perfectly at home on a faster surface. Think he's about 25s for the race, which looks ew material to me.

Richie;

Do you still keep in touch with Stan and Voaksey?

Re: Betting Chat : Wed Oct 12, 2011 3:55 pm  

Roonaldo6 wrote:

The Eddie Callaghan Mafia vs The Martin Keighley Family

A bit of background info into the two. Eddie was the jockey I admired most, he was a conditional at Jeffersons but you could tell he was going to places the way he rode. When Lorcan Wyer retired from Jeffersons, Eddie was hoping to be offered the stable jockeys job. He had ridden plenty of winners as a conditional but his claim was up now and it was that next stage where owners stop hiring you because you cant calim 7lb, 5lb, 3lb whatever. Graham Lee was moving up in the world at a similar time at Jeffersons yard and he got a lot of rides which Eddie should have been on. Im not been biased, but the way Eddie handled a horse, he knew the score. Graham Lee always worried me, especially on a chaser as he just couldnt seem to handle them. I know he has gone on and done well in the game over the years but I never had him on the top of my Xmas card list.

At the same time of Eddie been conditional at Jeffersons, a young lad called Martin Keighley was making his name at David Nicholsons yard too. Nicholson had loads of conditionals at the time, think Choc Thornton was around at the same time and a guy called R Massey who was held in high regard. I went to school with Martin Keighleys younger brother, but obviously we didnt get into the betting side of things till our latter 6th form years. But basically I was formed into going against the Keighley clan by my mate. Dont get me wrong, I didnt turn round to his brother and just say I dont like you anymore, it was just I wasnt supposed to be associated with them as my mate always said, aah they talk rubbish, never give us a winner etc...

It became a bit of a turf war in our town between my mate and Keighleys dad. Always comparing what they heard against each other, how much they had on. If one had £100 on, the other had to have £200 on etc... It was a massive battle, and one which looking back was funny. I wasnt a massive punter, I put enough on dont get me wrong, but couldnt live with these two. Saturdays for me was judgement day, Id either be loaded after a good day or skint after a bad day. But everything came to fruition on December 7th 1996. We had been to Malton a few weeks before and Ed had told us about Red Brook. I saw it once in the yard, a monster. An unraced monster. An unraced monster which was going places. The plan was to go for the Gold Cup around 1999 with this one, they already had the plan set out. Forget hurdles, it cleared them like shelling peas. Chasing was this ones game, but it had to go through the correct routes, bumpers then novice hurdles etc... But whatever it did was a bonus as it continued to grow.

Red Brook made its debut on that Saturday at Towcester and low and behold, who is the favourite in the race, Mr Martin Keighleys The Crooked Oak. My mate spoke with Eddie at the track a few hours before the race, it was all systems go. He had arrived with no problems and you could tell he was here for business. My mate picked me up, we parked in town and marched to the local Hills to hammer Red Brook. In we walked, and who is in there at the same time, but The Keighley Family (der der der der, click fingers, der der der der). So the tribal war began. I had £40 each way on Red Brook at 12/1. My mate told me he had £50 each way on in the morning with one of the independents who priced up all the races. He was here for business. Keighleys scoured the paper and saw Eds name on an unraced Jefferson horse, they knew we were here for that. We knew they were here for their sons horse. "Fancy yours ?" asked my mate. "Yep, should win doing handstands" came the reply. "Eds is a machine so be carefull", "Were not bothered about your mate today". I think The Crooked Oak came in from 3/1 to 11/4, there was a loud cheer, "The moneys pouring on now pal" came the cry from Keighleys. "How much you had on?" asked my mate. "Enough" came the reply. I dont know how much was enough, but I know they liked a very good bet.

The race began and The Crooked Oak was up there for the majority of the race, until about 4f out and you could tell the distress signals were out. Keighley was getting serious, as they came round the top bend they knew the game was up. We stood there in silence until Ed produced Red Brook up the top bend, he cantered by them all. "GO ON EDDIE BOY" came a massive cry from my mate. The shop walls shook with the velocity. I joined in, as did a few others that had joined in with us. Red Brook trotted up by 4 lengths. I picked up around £600 and gave my mate £100 to give to Eddie as a thanks, he did the same. The Keighleys crept out of the shop in silence. The car stayed in the car park all night as we stayed up there and had a really good drink and enjoyed the result. Red Brook went on to win another bumper at Towcester the next month at 5/1. It should have gone to Cheltenham, I think it would have won, but they played safe and didnt want to ruin the horse so quickly. They put it away and it came back winning a novice hurdle at Towcester again in a bog. Came back with a career threatening injury and was retired. Never to be seen again.

I began to rebuild the friendship with the younget Keighley during the usual weekend nights out in town. Where all the youngsters went. His dad and my mate wernt there, so he told me bits and pieces about what was fancied and I did likewise, but on the provisio it was kept quiet. Then it all changed at the Grand National meeting 1998. My mate got the jockey badges, so off we went, Owners & Trainers again on Grand National day. We could get in everywhere with our badges, so stood near to the BBC cameras under the pavillion for most of the day. I backed Pridwell to beat Istabraq at 7/1 that day so was already much in profit, then we stumbled accross the Keighleys. This time though, the mood changed and we had a few beers together etc... and my mate and Keighleys dad were having a laugh and a joke as I chatted with the younger Keighley. I knew they were there for a reason, and M Keighley was on the fav in the bumper on a horse called Kings Road for Nigel Twisting B**tard (my nickname for him). Keighley had left Nicholsons as he was struggling for rides, had gone to Twistings instead but was going up against Jamie Goldstein at the time. I heard but dont quote me that Twisting was getting looked after by Jamies dad Ray who had a tipping line at the time, but wasnt sure what looked after actually meant. Maybe a few quid here and there who knows. Either way Keighleys dad wasnt happy about the situation and wanted whats best for his son. They told us that Keighley would win the bumper and that they fancied Earth Summit in the National. I couldnt have Earth Summit, I was in love with Suny Bay and I had to stay loyal to the grey. I should have done the forecast but Earth Summit beat Suny Bay who had lumped 12 stones round there, which was a feat. The Keighleys were on a high.

Then came the bumper. The word was Martin was going to kick for home 3 furlongs and play catch me if you can. They reckoned Kings Road would stay more than 2m in time, so had no worries about it lasting out the trip. I had £50 on, my mate had £100, both at 7/2. Keighleys wouldnt let on how much they had on, but Im sure I heard £500 quoted somewhere, but could be wrong. The race basically unfolded as expected but it was 4f out when Keighley booted for home. Was this too soon ? Thankfully it wasnt, and he stayed on well to win easily in the end. A great end to the afternoon. We went back to the winners enclosure and said thanks to them. Keighleys dad pushed himself towards Twistings and told him it was a great ride and that he should get more chances. Twisting nodded but you could tell something wasnt right. We said our farewells and we departed. A lot of burning bridges were distinguished that day and the respect from both camps came to fruition. We formed an alliance which we hoped would make us millionaires, but in all fairness, we drifted apart not long after, possibly due to the fact that Keighley just didnt get the opportunities anymore and the younger one made his money following Schumacher in the GP's than his brother. I think Jamie Goldstein was to blame for all that.

And to end the story, as we walked out of Aintree, a stunning blonde came out from nowhere. She was small, blonde, fantastic figure, in fact your dream girl. My mate copped an eyefull and wanted to be straight in there, I followed. Then we had to make a detour as her husband / partner came up from behind her and joined her. Turned out to be the trainer Micky Hammond, and the blonde was the Sky Sports News presenter / Attheraces presenter Alex Hammond. I just shook my head in disbelief how he had pulled her. Maybe he had the gift of the gab like my mate or had a big bankroll. As we exited the course, a slim woman walked in front of us. Very posh, but great figure. We said hello as we walked past her, "had a good day" I asked. "Yes thankyou" in a posh mannered reply. She smiled at me as we walked on. It was Venetia Williams, the trainer and I was in love.

hope you didnt get too loved up with venetia...shes a lesbian!

Re: Betting Chat : Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:04 pm  

brearley84 wrote:

hope you didnt get too loved up with venetia...shes a lesbian!

Well I never. You learn something new every day.

I suppose I could have watched instead !