The Grand National weekend may reach its crescendo come 5.15pm on Saturday as the 40 entrants anxiously bunch together for the start of the famous steeplechase, but along the course rails and near the grandstands a different kind of controlled chaos has been in flow since Thursday morning.
“It's a dog eat dog world when you go into the betting ring,” said Barry Pinnington, 58, an on course bookmaker for the last 30 years. While he’s been positioned next to The Chair on many occasions over the years - the most fearsome fence on the course - it is the leaps of faith within the ring that are often the most daring throughout the three day event.
“There's a lot more aggressive on course bookmakers coming into the game who like to have a go and take on the punters,” Barry, born and raised in Chester, told the ECHO, “it does make it a lot more competitive.” His own ‘increase your stash with the tash’ motto and 'Pinno' branding is just one charm among the many fluttering around the ring in a bid to win the crowds over.
