Tanya Stevenson
Tanya’s Blog - Andy Bennett awarded Betting Shop Manager of the Year
Andy Bennett, take a bow, for he is the Betting Shop Manager of the Year. As a judge I have always said this is one of my annual highlights and 2011 didn’t disappoint. What a hectic month, what a hectic last few days but oh how rewarding. After popping into Aintree on Friday and a magical Haydock on Saturday. Can’t believe I had four big fancies, Eyre Square, Sa Suffit, Kauto Star and I’msingingtheblues yet tipped up the first two on the Morning Line and not the last two. That’s how fate goes sometimes. Can’t remember on being in such a busy and uplifting Haydock betting ring. After being like a desolate landscape on the Friday where those betting on course did well to turnover four figures all day. One bookmaker took just over £90 on one race! It blossomed into a hive of activity as thousands poured in to add to an almighty occasion and atmosphere. It took 45 mins to get out of the car park but that allowed you to absorb and digest and enjoy the Kauto Star success.
There was no rest as I went straight from Haydock to London to prepare for judging of Betting Shop Manager Of The Year. That began in earnest at 1pm on Sunday it had been a gruelling, rigorous process right up until that stage and now was for the fun part. Each Manager bring to an interview a work colleague of their choice, nerves aplenty with much laughter amongst the serious process of the interview a winner emerges. This year though the deliberation after the eight winners was the longest ever and it even went into “Deadlock”. In reality all eight are winners but a champion has to be found and Andy who represents Scotbet will show to all why he shone through.
Nicky Henderson’s seven-timer sent ripples of fear and shock through the room during the awards as the heads of each respective betting company reached for the mobile and calculator facility to count the cost of the master of Seven Barrows achievement.
Before the actual ceremony yesterday I took the opportunity to go up to Knightsbridge and be the tourist walking into Harrods and Harvey Nichols, however I soon had to be back on parade for the awards. Not or never to sit still after the awards I caught the train home to drop off my luggage spent a grand total of 7 mins at home before returning on the next train to London for a Hennessy Preview at the home of the sponsors. What a great attendance, full of press and media, and Racing UK cameras, Alex Steedman was doing the interviews so watch out for that today and over the next few days. At this point there are two horses that spring to mind for the big race, Wayward Prince and Sarando. Everything was then wrapped up by 8 and it was back on the train home.
Today is a restful day at work in the office doing all the prep work for the weekend. John McCririck is back I saw him yesterday so that is something else to look forward to this weekend.
It’s raining and as you may or may not know I’m located on Lingfield’s doorstep so I expect soft to become more prominent in the going description if the rain continues. The form Nicky Henderson is in it is impossible to oppose HEATHER ROYAL in the 12.50 making it 8 from 8 for the trainer.
WIDE RECEIVER is my other selection on a dank day. Charlie Longsdon’s runner should complete a hat-trick over the very tricky Lingfield fences. He has won his last two Wetherby races with such authority I feel the handicapper has still some way to go to catch up with him.
POINTERS
Jim Best’s last three runners have won, he has one runner at Lingfield today
It’s well documented that Nicky Henderson’s last seven runners have all won
Emma Lavelle has had five winners from her last 14 runners
Barry Geraghty has had four winners from his last five runners
The first and second favourite has won all five runnings of Lingfield’s 1.20
