I had to laugh at the prices traded on Levantine in the 2:05 Newbury 29/12/07.
I had looked to oppose the favourite Helen's Vision as she was ludicrously priced after winning what I considered to be a pretty moderate affair. In that race she was given an easy lead and I felt certain she wouldn't be afforded that luxury today. The race was also won in a pretty slow time so for me theodds were cramped. As soon as she was taken on for the lead I could see that she was none too keen.
That was nothing out of the ordinary but the in running prices on Levantine most definitely were! Poor old Mike Cattermole had a 'mare as he announced Levantine was travelling well and "this was a fine training performance by Owner, Trainer and jockey M Lurcock"
As is normal in these circumstances the lemmings on Betfair followed the commentator's every word and Levantine's odds contracted accordingly. I was desperately trying to lay Levantine as Mike Cattermole had clearly identified the wrong horse and it was in fact Number 7 Khyber Kim. I just had to look at the jockey's style to see it was Mick Fitzgerald and not an amateur owner/jockey.
I then had to smile as Mike Cattermole made no apology and simply said "Kyhber Kim now takes over on the inside!" So where did Levantine go then? Did he disappear into a hole, did aliens abduct him? No, he actually fell two out!!
It's not an easy job but a simple apology during the finish would've been the least he could've done. That was left to the studio when they announced the result!
