Honest Ted may not enjoy quite as good a week as his recent trip to Aintree at the Europeans and Spring Festival.

Outsider win

After celebrating his luck after the Grand National last weekend (a bit like a London band winning at the Albert Hall he said), Honest Ted the 4BR Bookie has been totting up the odds for the next couple of big Group 1 contests.

European

The European will see punters putting on their hard earned Euros, Francs, Pounds and Krone as 11 of the best bands battle it out for glory on the Ostende racetrack.

4BR has been informed that the fences are pretty high with the test piece ‘From Ancient Times’ and a lot may well depend on how many bands are in with a chance after the first circuit performances on the Friday.

The own choice selections have been made, with a couple of bands pinning their hopes on some new colours from the respected training stables of Peter Graham and Hermann Pallhuber4BR

Selections

The own choice selections have been made, with a couple of bands pinning their hopes on some new colours from the respected training stables of Peter Graham and Hermann Pallhuber. Honest Ted though still thinks it could be a battle between the usual suspects, with the reigning champions favourites at present to hold onto their crown.

European Betting:

4-1 favourites: Cory (Wales)
6-1: Grimethorpe (England); Eikanger Bjorsvik (Norway)
8-1: Brass Band Oberosterreich (Austria)
12-1 : Trezie Etoiles (Switzerland)
20-1: Festival Brass (Belgium); Whitburn (Scotland); Tredegar (Wales)
40-1: Brass Band Rijnmond (Netherlands); Lyngby-Taabaek (Denmark); Brass Band Aeolus (France)

Grand Shield

Meanwhile, closer to home the early money has been going on the fancied runners for the Spring Festival trio of races at Blackpool.

The Grand Shield Handicap is perhaps the closest to call for many a year with a host of bands showing decent form at the moment and all desperate to get the nod in the final furlong to head for the Birmingham Classic in September.

Fancied octet

Not surprisingly, it’s the octet of London qualifiers that are attracting the most money at the moment.

Regional champions, Rothwell Temperance, Redbridge and EYMS are good odds, whilst Flowers, Reg Vardy, Newstead Brass and Pemberton Old all have their backers too. Then there is Tredegar who will have a week’s rest after their attempt at winning the Prix de l’Arc de Ostende.

Surprise?

There is always a surprise or two at Blackpool of course, so what about Wingates, Virtuosi GUS, Wire Brass or Mount Charles for a few bob each way?

Grand Shield betting:

7-1 joint favourites: Rothwell Temperance, Redbridge
10-1: Tredegar, Reg Vardy, EYMS, Pemberton Old
12-1: Wingates, Newstead Brass, Virtuosi GUS, Wire Brass, Mount Charles
15 –1: Aveley & Newham, Sovereign Brass
20-1: Rest of the field

Senior Cup:

Interesting one this – plenty of decent nags under starters orders for those all important top four places, but no clear favourite emerging as yet.

The Regionals threw up a few runners with decent form, but no Red Rum for the housewives to put their few quid on.

It may well be that it could be a free for all run to the tape then…

Senior Cup betting:

6-1: SWT Woodfalls, Kingdom Brass, Skelmanthorpe
8-1: Marsden (Ossett Brewery); Powerfuel Hatfield
10-1: Fishburn, Dalmellington, United Co-op Crewe
20-1: Rest of the field

Senior Trophy:

It seems there could be a few bands here who will fancy their chances more than most, and some crafty money has already been placed on eachway bets on the likes of Camborne, Northop, NASUWT Riverside, United Norwest Co-op Milnrow, Newbridge and Glossop Old.

After that it could be worth a punt on just about anyone else…

Senior Trophy betting:

4-1 favourites: Camborne
6-1: United Co-op Milnrow, Northop
7-1: Glossop Old, NASUWT Riverside
10-1: Newbidge, Wantage, Friary Guildford, Felling
20-1: Rest of the field

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.

Betting:

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.

Betting:

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