NO LEAVES ON LINE TO SLOW THESE FLYERS

Simon Nott enjoys a West Country Weekend catching up with ring pals

- Simon Nott

The joke doing the rounds was that the Southwest Rail Solutions Novices' Hurdle would be delayed as there were leaves on the track boom! boom! Exeter on Haldon Gold Cup day is a joy and today was no exception as a healthy crowd gathered, the bookmakers were of course also out in force.

There was sad news to greet us on arrival up on Haldon Hill for the first leg of the weekend action. Veteran ex-bookmaker Chris Smith who bet for many years under the Dick Reynolds moniker, is sorely missed.

His sons, Andy, Mike and Pete, are still active in the betting ring. Chris hadn't been on course for some time but those who knew him will remember him fondly as one of the betting ring's real characters.

He would have enjoyed the big day and nothing was holding up the action on course. The novices hurdle went to the Jennie Candlish-trained, Jonjo O'Neill-ridden Skyjack Hijack which won unchallenged, with 13/8 favourite from Paul Nicholls' Captain Bellamy way back in second. Down in the ring, while there was a big crowd, they didn't really open their shoulders in the opener. The biggest bets were a couple of £700 - £400 the runner-up and £520 - £320 the winner.

Next up and the three-runner West Country Weekend Novices' Hurdle featured Paul Nicholls' Sorceleur at the head of the market, One bookmaker laid £300 - £1,000 but that was it as far as I could tell.

There was drama in the ring though, a bookmaker's member of staff was taken sick. Rather than pull down and let the medics do their work, the layer quickly grabbed an off duty veteran of the ring to hop up and take the bets in place of the stricken oppo. You mustn't let anything get in the way of business, old school! The speedy recruiter may well have wished he'd not bothered betting on the race when the Nicholls 1/4 hotpot did the business in workmanlike rather than impressive fashion.