“If I got a pounds 1,000 bet, I’d fall off me stool.”
Spend an entertaining half an hour in the company of Ron Bolton and you will form the distinct impression that the balance of power has changed. THERE was a time when on-course bookmakers should have been registered with the Royal Mint not the Bookmakers Association. Those were the good days, the days of the true punter, of Groucho, The Chest and a cash economy; pounds 100 bought a licence to print money, not set up a pitch, and pacemakers had nothing to do with racing and everything to do with steadying the fluttering hearts of the bookmakers. It’s not really the place for horses who are a bit highly strung.”The other reason is more pragmatic. Though Jeffell – unusually, a British- bred horse with a high profile in an Irish stable – was one of last season’s leading novices on the other side of the water, Moore acknowledges that yesterday’s form is probably not up to championship standard.It was his first Victor Chandler win, his Feroda having been touched off by Meiklour eight years ago.

Moore added: “We were unlucky that day, and this has made up for it. We did think we’d a great chance if the occasion didn’t get to him”Moore and O’Dwyer will be back in England next month to do battle with another of the old enemy when Graphic Equaliser tackles the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury. And the bookmakers may not wish to know that all is well with the hurdler. Moore has a 16-1 voucher about Graphic Equaliser, the 100-30 favourite for the race “He’s absolutely fine”, said Moore, “not a bother on him. He’s bombproof, and if they all had his temperament training would be easy.”Strong opposition to Graphic Equaliser failed to emerge from the concluding Teal & Green Handicap Hurdle, which was won from the front by Nipper Reed. The Rod Simpson trained runner had two and a half lengths to spare from second-placed Cadougold, who is now a top-priced 16-1 for the Newbury handicap.

The Toby Balding-trained Bellator finished in sixth place but remains a 9-1 third favourite for the Gold Trophy with the sponsors.. Since then, though, he was not disgraced in chasing home Dorans Pride at Leopardstown. Moore put his Ascot flop down to the gelding’s rather fragile temperament, which cause him to break ranks in the pre-race parade.”He’s sensitive”, said the trainer, “It was his first race of the season then, and he got a bit geed up That’s one reason why I wouldn’t be in favour of Cheltenham. Jeffell passed the post a length and a quarter in front of Celibate – confirming their form at Punchestown last year – and Or Royal was a good 10 lengths ahead of the fourth to finish, Lord Dorcet. Mulligan’s jumping again proved inadequate as he crashed out at the open ditch.Jeffell, as behoves any well-backed horse, was given a rousing reception by his connections — including the traditional wearing of the Moore trilby for the benefit of photographers.The horse’s performance was in sharp contrast to that on his last visit to England, when he was pulled up on the same course in November. But it was apparent that O’Dwyer had a ton of horse under him as he sat still and tight at each obstacle.