Honest Ted, the 4BR Bookie has had to pay out his fair share of dosh over the last couple of Regional weekends, as although there were a few thrills and spills in the ‘each way’ stakes for qualification places for London, most of the actual titles went to the fancies runners.

North West

At the North West Handicap at Blackpool it was 2-1 favourite Fodens ridden by Garry Cutt who romped home to take the title, with 6-1 shot Fairey and 15-1 outsider Pemberton Old taking coming in behind to head for the big London ‘Classic’ later in the year.

Honest Ted’s only good news came with 4-1 second favourite Leyland, limping home in 8th.

Yorkshire

The crowds were out in Bradford the following week where Honest Ted could be seen buying drinks all round after 10-1 outsider Rothwell Temperance gave jockey David Roberts his debut Ebor victory after they sneaked up on the rails to beat fellow 10-1 shot Hepworth by a neck.

2-1 favourites Black Dyke has an off day to come 4th, whilst two fancied mounts in Brighouse & Rastrick and Grimethorpe will be enjoying a quiet weekend in the contesting pasture come October and the London Classic.

Wales

Unfortunately, his good luck was not to last as the punters headed for Swansea where the shortest of short priced 2-1 favourites Cory, regained their Welsh National crown ahead of second placed Tredegar at 5-1.

The only thing that stopped Ted jumping off the Severn Bridge was Northop picking up the final qualification spot as a rank 20-1 outsider from BTM.

West of England

In the West of England Stakes, Ted’s luck just about held as he picked up a few quid on those punters hoping to bet on the 13 year Championship Section curse ending if Mount Charles could have held onto their title.

Thankfully for Ted, it was 8-1 shot Camborne who came home first, with 7-1 favourites Flowers taking the second qualification place. The reigning champions could only manage 4th as rank 100 –1 outsiders, Lybrook very nearly did a Foinavon and came home 3rd.

Midlands

No such luck in the Midlands as Desford lived up to their billing as 4-1 favourites as they won a hard earned victory under Russell Gray.

20-1 outsiders Newstead gave Ted a bit of financial respite after they beat off more fancied runners to book their place at the Royal Albert Hall.

London & Southern Counties

Another favourite romped home at Stevenage, Where Redbridge won at a canter to fully justify their pre-race odds of 2-1, although Ted would have been happy to see 15-1 shot Zone One push out second favourites Aveley & Newham to book their finals starting stall place in October.

...there could well be a return to an old test piece ‘classic’ of yesteryear to persuade the punters to pay for their tickets at the Albert Hall racetrack4BR

Scotland

As expected it was a three way neck and neck run to the finishing tape in Dundee, where Scottish Co-op at 4-1, and Kirkintilloch and 5-1, beat the pre race favourite at the bookies, Whitburn, to the qualification places for London.

North of England

Finally, a tiny bit of respite for Ted in Darlington, where EYMS came in at 4-1 to pip 3-1 favourites Reg Vardy to take the winners cheque for £200.

National Finals betting:

Now that we know the runners, but not all the riders for the Nationals, the 4BR Bookie has come up with some early odds on who he thinks will romp home in the London Classic in October.

Limited big names

With a number of big names not making it through the preliminary rounds, it looks like the early money is going on the big name favourites as usual.

5-1 joint favourites: Black Dyke, Cory, Fodens
8-1: Desford, Carlton Main, Rothwell
10-1: Fairey, Hepworth, Tredegar, Scottish Co-op
12-1: Kirkintilloch, Redbridge

All the rest are 25-1 outsiders at the moment

Test Piece?

No early indications or rumours as yet, but some sources say that because of the lack of real big names in the field, apart from the big three of Cory, Black Dyke and Fodens, there could well be a return to an old test piece ‘classic’ of yesteryear to persuade the punters to pay for their tickets at the Albert Hall racetrack.

So what about, ‘Le Roi d’Ys’, ‘Epic Symphony’, ‘Benvenuto Cellini’ or ‘Freedom’?

Mind you there have been a few people wondering if a crowd pleaser such as ‘Extreme Makeover’ or ‘Revelation’ may also be used too?

But there are still more rumours that a big name composer such as Peter Graham will be asked to provide a new work with crowd pleasing ingredients.

With less than half the seats rumoured to have been sold last year, it may well be too much of a risk for the organisers to plumb for something too avant garde this year, so something familiar, or from a familiar source may well be on the stands of the qualifying bands in October.

2-1: An old classic
3-1: A modern crowd pleaser
10-1: A brand new composition