Simon Nott gets in the Christmas spirit at Cheltenham

TALES FROM THE BETTING RING
Simon Nott
The wind was fresh as it whistled past the bookmakers on the rails. The layers were wrapped up well against the elements and prepared for the onslaught of the shrewd each-way types in the opening British Stallion Studs EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle.
The percentages may have been a boon for the boffins but the backers that don’t mess about were betting win only, and mostly on Lalor. Trained in South Molton, Devon, by Richard Woollacott, the gelding was backed from 3/1 in...