ROCKING THE MONEY BAGS

Simon Nott reveals his recent experiences from trips to Brighton and Ascot

- Simon Nott

Brighton isn't somewhere that I have spent much time racing in fact I've been there more for my other passion, gigs in excellent underground venues, than I have pursuing the sport of kings.

Anyone shares the love of the rougher side of rock'n'roll should know The Albert, near Brighton station, is an excellent venue which hosts that sort of music from time to time.

The lack of tales from Brighton Races in my repertoire has been slightly rectified over the last three years where Star Sports have sponsored the three-day festival.

It holds some fondness for me already, last year was the last week's racing before I had to go under the knife for an operation, I had to stop for a puff on my puffer going halfway up the stands last year, I'm glad to say that's now all behind me. The previous year, given my then-unknown condition, I probably had a lucky escape. I was determined to walk from my hotel down near the seafront to the racecourse but had to really dig into my reserves on the first day. I was pretty knackered when I got up there, so much so that the lady on the desk was fanning me with a racecard and another hurriedly handed me a bottle of water!

This year we stayed in an Air B&B rather than a hotel was nice enough but over some shops, three floors up and a bit spooky. It had evidently been a bit livelier over Pride week which preceded this year's festival of racing those sequins and glitter are evidently buggers to hoover up from between aged, varnished and uncarpeted floorboards. Anyway, onto the racing!