This topic was mentioned to me a couple of months back and it deserves a thread here since Im surprised no one has really mentioned it in the media or had any digs at bookies.
All of us like to look at ante post betting, whether to have a bet ourselves or just to see where the market stands. Lately though, for the past 18 months or so, I have notice an increasing trend by bookmakers to make a mockery of such markets.
There are a couple of point which Im unhappy about with ante post these days. The victory of St Nicholas Abbey saw most firms cut his price for the 2000G and the Derby yet, none of his rivals odds legthen. How can that be the case?? It seems they are increasingly happy to cut a price and not lengthen anything.
2nd - There seems to be no 'middle' these days. The jolly is normally the jolly, 2nd fav is around 5, 3rd or 4th in, about 10s, than the rest are 16s than 25s. There are hardly any 33s, certainly no 40s, 50s you are having a giraffe.....100-1, must be 3 legged. In reality, a lot of these 16-1 shot should be 25-1, the 33-1 should be bigger.
The ante post price of Champion Hurdle is an example......
Binocular 7-2, Solwhit 4-1, Hurracine Fly 11-2, Celestial Halo 8-1. Zaynar 8-1, Punjabi 12-1, Dunguib and Starluck 25-1 Rest bar........
That book is something you will probably get on the day. You get these PR people these days,with their ante post prices yet in reality, it seems like all of them dont want to lay any of those bets.
The 2000G book is even outrageous imo
SNA 7-2, Canford CLiffs 12-1, Steinback 12-1, Arcano 10-1, Awzaan 10-1, Elusive Pimpernel 16-1, Kingsfort 14-1, Cape Blanco 20-1,Fencing Master 20-1. A standard 33-1 for the rest even though it might have just won an egg and spoon race. Also, come March time, bookies will cut a couple of them due to some 'shrewd' money, that is their reason anyway.
There is actually no 'big price' on ante post these days it seems, every horse seems to get a generic price, 25-1, 33-1 if a novice race in midweek, if its a graded race 16-1 if not impressive, if its impressive something like 8-1.
The bookies these days strikes me anyway, to not want to lay a bet ante post. If they keep on 'strangling' the prices ante post, they will start their own downfall since they will not lay bets whatsoever and not take any money unless they are total wagons. Are the bookies just happy to take money from wagon punters?? If that is the case, in the short term it might help their profit margin, in the long term though, they are just writing their own will arent they??? since everyone will start moving to the exchanges. Admittedly it would be a long time away but thats what will happen. Its about time the bookies change their attitude and become better themselves isnt it and have more confidence in their prices. There are no excuses for them to just cut prices and not push anything else....Im sure Im not the only one who is fed up of hearing 16s, 25s etc. Furthermore, if one do want to get on at 25-1, the price normally changes straight after the bet has been placed espeically when its not 25 offered on the machine.
Im just FED up these days of bookmakers taking the mickey and no one mentioning it. About time someone in the media question some of the prices they get given from each companies or more sensible prices should be given.
What do everyone else think??? Many others on here will have better memories of old ante post books. Im sure ante post books have a different look to it now. I ahd a look at the ante post market for the Hennessey the other day and the horse I liked was 16s or so, I thought might as well wait for the day because there is no point, the price wont change that much unless someone moves it and there is added security its a runner.
All of us like to look at ante post betting, whether to have a bet ourselves or just to see where the market stands. Lately though, for the past 18 months or so, I have notice an increasing trend by bookmakers to make a mockery of such markets.
There are a couple of point which Im unhappy about with ante post these days. The victory of St Nicholas Abbey saw most firms cut his price for the 2000G and the Derby yet, none of his rivals odds legthen. How can that be the case?? It seems they are increasingly happy to cut a price and not lengthen anything.
2nd - There seems to be no 'middle' these days. The jolly is normally the jolly, 2nd fav is around 5, 3rd or 4th in, about 10s, than the rest are 16s than 25s. There are hardly any 33s, certainly no 40s, 50s you are having a giraffe.....100-1, must be 3 legged. In reality, a lot of these 16-1 shot should be 25-1, the 33-1 should be bigger.
The ante post price of Champion Hurdle is an example......
Binocular 7-2, Solwhit 4-1, Hurracine Fly 11-2, Celestial Halo 8-1. Zaynar 8-1, Punjabi 12-1, Dunguib and Starluck 25-1 Rest bar........
That book is something you will probably get on the day. You get these PR people these days,with their ante post prices yet in reality, it seems like all of them dont want to lay any of those bets.
The 2000G book is even outrageous imo
SNA 7-2, Canford CLiffs 12-1, Steinback 12-1, Arcano 10-1, Awzaan 10-1, Elusive Pimpernel 16-1, Kingsfort 14-1, Cape Blanco 20-1,Fencing Master 20-1. A standard 33-1 for the rest even though it might have just won an egg and spoon race. Also, come March time, bookies will cut a couple of them due to some 'shrewd' money, that is their reason anyway.
There is actually no 'big price' on ante post these days it seems, every horse seems to get a generic price, 25-1, 33-1 if a novice race in midweek, if its a graded race 16-1 if not impressive, if its impressive something like 8-1.
The bookies these days strikes me anyway, to not want to lay a bet ante post. If they keep on 'strangling' the prices ante post, they will start their own downfall since they will not lay bets whatsoever and not take any money unless they are total wagons. Are the bookies just happy to take money from wagon punters?? If that is the case, in the short term it might help their profit margin, in the long term though, they are just writing their own will arent they??? since everyone will start moving to the exchanges. Admittedly it would be a long time away but thats what will happen. Its about time the bookies change their attitude and become better themselves isnt it and have more confidence in their prices. There are no excuses for them to just cut prices and not push anything else....Im sure Im not the only one who is fed up of hearing 16s, 25s etc. Furthermore, if one do want to get on at 25-1, the price normally changes straight after the bet has been placed espeically when its not 25 offered on the machine.
Im just FED up these days of bookmakers taking the mickey and no one mentioning it. About time someone in the media question some of the prices they get given from each companies or more sensible prices should be given.
What do everyone else think??? Many others on here will have better memories of old ante post books. Im sure ante post books have a different look to it now. I ahd a look at the ante post market for the Hennessey the other day and the horse I liked was 16s or so, I thought might as well wait for the day because there is no point, the price wont change that much unless someone moves it and there is added security its a runner.
