4BR has just dug our way out of the snow to make it down town to our bookies ‘Honest Ted — the Punter’s Friend', to find out what odds he will be giving on the latest comings and goings in the banding world…

Happy

He was quite a happy man when we spoke as he hadn’t had to pay out too much after the Yeovil contest, as 4-1 favourites Tredegar were beaten by a short head by reigning champions Flowers for the title.

Flowers had been an outside bet before the starting tape went up, but they put all their problems behind them to claim a hat trick of wins and save our bookie from further Welsh crowing after the result from Murrayfield.

Meanwhile he was less pleased with his Norwegian branch in Bergen after they had to pay out a shed full of Krone as 3-1 favourites Eikanger retained their title in style4BR

Less pleased

Meanwhile he was less pleased with his Norwegian branch in Bergen after they had to pay out a shed full of Krone as 3-1 favourites Eikanger retained their title in style.

Grimethorpe

As for the new principal cornet seat at Grimethorpe, it was the 12-1 shot Robert Westacott from the Hepworth stable that beat off the challenge of the likes of Philip McCann, Martin Winter and Raf Van Looveren.

New betting

Now the betting opens on who will replace him at Hepworth, whilst there is a new book being opened on the ongoing Leyland top seat too.

On the conducting front it was David King who came up on the rails as a 20-1 shot to take over at Brighouse.

Regionals

What this means for the Regionals is anyone’s guess, but there has been some movement in the market place.

This is what the betting looks like on the major handicap races over the next couple of months.

Hepworth’s new principal cornet:

No clear favourites at the moment, but a few rumours are flying around. Two names that seem to be heard most are JJ Lees, the fomer top man at the now defunct Pennine Brass and Peter Shaw, the former top man at the equally defunct Stockport Brass.

But what about a few bob on Roger Webster taking the job at Bradford as a one off. There is even a few bob on Nick Walkley from Fariey too.

Bets on!

5–1 favourite: JJ Lees
7–1: Peter Shaw
25-1: Nick Walkley, Ben Godfrey
50-1: Roger Webster, Russell Gray, Philip McCann.

Leyland new principal cornet:

A much more dificult one this, but many of the same names are in the mix according to our sources. Peter Shaw again is being mentioned for the Leyland post, as are Russell Gray, Philip McCann and what about Professor David King, coming back to help out a fellow Aussie?

Intriguing eh?

6–1 favourite: Peter Shaw
10-1: Russell Gray
20-1: David King

Grand Slam betting:

As for one UK band being able to win the most major titles this year?

Regional, Masters, English National, European, Open, Nationals and Brass in Concert in one season?

Well, Cory are the favourites by the shortest of margins from Black Dyke and Fodens. Grimethorpe have their backers as always, but after that it could be anyone, with a bit of dosh coming in for Brighouse & Rastrick.

4-1 favourites: Cory
5-1: Black Dyke
6-1: Fodens
8-1: Brighouse & Rastrick, Grimethorpe
12- 1: Leyland

Regional Championship betting:

Yorkshire:

With the news from Hepworth and Grimethorpe, it means that there have been a few changes in the odds.

Hepworth drift out a little in the betting as they prepare to search for a new principal, whilst Grimethorpe’s odds also move out a point or two as they try to get all their new parts to work together.

Brighouse pick up a place to come in as second favourites, what with renewed confidence as they prepare for life under their new Australian trainer.

Dyke though are still the band to beat despite a tired outing in the RNCM Festival of Brass concert handicap stakes.

2-1 favourites: Black Dyke
3-1: Brighouse & Rastrick
4-1: Grimethorpe
10-1: Hepworth (Cookson Homes); Rothwell Temperance
12-1: Carlton Main, Hammonds Saltaire

North West:

Fodens performance at Manchester where they destroyed the rest of the field like a latter day Shergar has meant that you can’t get better than 2-1 on them to win at Blackpool.

Leyland and Fairey move out a touch in the betting. Leyland now need a new top jockey and Fairey need a few more run outs on the training paddock to rid themselves of the odd Devon Lock moment that nearly killed them off at Manchester.

The beneficiaires are Wingates, who move in a point or two after Butlins and Pemberton Old Wigan make an appearance after their fine win at Preston.

2-1 favourites: Fodens
4-1: Leyland
6-1: Fairey
10-1: Wingates
15-1: Pemerton Old JJB Wigan

Scotland:

No real movement at all in the betting north of the border over the last few weeks as the Scots are still in contesting hibernation.

Rumours suggest though that Kirkintilloch could be the band to watch out for, so they have just come in a point or two.

3-1 favourites: Whitburn
4-1: Scottish Co-op
5-1: Kirkintilloch
25-1: Unison Kinneil & Kingdom Brass

Wales:

Cory remain the firmest of favourites to regain their title in Wales, after Tredegar didn’t play to form in Yeovil. They move out a point, whilst BTM remain as third favourites after they finished behind their rivals.

Burry Port couldn’t quite suggest they are more than real outsiders though after Yeovil.

2-1 favourites: Cory
5-1: Tredegar
6-1: BTM
18-1: Burry Port

Midlands:

With only Sovereign having an outing in the past week or so there has been little change to the betting in the Midlands branch in Dudley.

Desford remain as favourites with GUS keeping in touch. Sovereign move out a few places though after their Preston performance.

4–1 favourites: Desford
6-1: Virtuosi GUS
10-1: Sovereign Brass
15-1: Thoresby Colliery

West of England:

A real bit of movement in the West after Flowers unexpected win at Yeovil. Where many thought the band was struggling their performance under their old trainer Phil Harper was a huge fillip and now they are favourites.

Mount Charles lose the that tag and have been overtaken by Woodfalls and Camborne. St Keverne and Bournmouth change places too.

7-1 favourites: Flowers
8-1: SWT Woodfalls, Camborne
10-1: Mount Charles
15–1: Bournemouth Concert
20–1: St Keverne

London & Southern Counties:

As expected the odds on Redbridge continue to fall and now they are close to being unbackable. Aveley’s 4th place at Yeovil closes them up a point, but other than that there is no change, although Kidlington get a few quid on them after coming 7th at Yeovil.

2–1 favourite: Redbridge Brass
7-1: Aveley & Newham
15–1: Zone One Brass
20-1: Kidlington

North East:

No real shocks in the betting in the North East, although Reg Vardy’s odds have remained the same.

EYMS have picked up a few new backers, but Fishburn lose a point or two.

3–1 favourites: Reg Vardy
4–1: EYMS
10–1: Fishburn
15–1: Felling & Tavistock Chester-le-Street Riverside

Roundabout Stakes:

As for the roundabout stakes – rumours have been flying around as usual with quite a few quid being placed on the usual suspects.

So which conductor will be conducting a new band from the one they direct as their first choice at the Regionals by the end of the 2009 season?

7–1: Russell Gray, Andrew Duncan, Morgan Griffiths, Allan Ramsay
12–1: Phil Harper, Frank Renton, Melvin White, Jeremy Wise
25–1: Alan Morrison, Steven Mead, Phil Chalk, Gareth Pritchard
40–1: Jason Katsikaris, Nigel Seaman, Jeremy Wise
50–1: Allan Withington, John Berryman
75–1: Ian Porthouse, Selmer Simonsen
150–1: Garry Cutt, Nigel Taken
500–1: Robert Childs, Nicholas Childs, Frans Violet, David Roberts