Pulse(55)

But I could ring up and ask Bill Tucker.

I found the Tommy Berkley betting slip and called the number printed on it.

‘Hello,’ said an echoey voice.

‘Bill,’ I said, ‘it’s Dr Chris Rankin. I saw you on Friday at Cheltenham.’

‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘Sorry your free bet didn’t win.’

‘Thanks anyway,’ I said. ‘Have you got a minute?’

‘Fire away. I’m in the car on my way to Southwell races. There’ll only be two men and a dog there on a wet Monday after Cheltenham but . . . it’s a living. How can I help?’

‘Is there any way of finding out which horse a jockey rode, and in what race?’ I asked.

‘Which jockey?’

Did I tell him?

Why not?

‘One of Jason Conway, Mike Sheraton or Dick McGee.’

‘Ah, the terrible trio,’ Bill said with a laugh.

‘Why are they terrible?’

‘Because they’re always costing me money,’ Bill said, still laughing. ‘Especially that bloody Sheraton. Never know whether he’s on or off.’

‘What do you mean?’ I asked.

‘He can be damn good but he can also be dreadful. Depends on whether he’s trying or not.’

The age-old gripe by every bookmaker about every jockey. To be taken with a pinch of salt, and not backed up by the evidence.

‘So how do I get the horses and races?’ I asked.

‘Your best bet would be to use one of the websites. At The Races, Racing UK and Racing Post all have a results service. You can easily see the rides each jockey has had in the last few weeks. They’ll be listed when you click on their names. If you want to go back earlier, then check the results for a date and just look through until you find the jockey’s name. It’s quite easy but a bit time-consuming.’

Time was something I had plenty of at the moment.

‘Thanks,’ I said. ‘And you were right about needing to pay to see the full race on Racing UK. You can only get the finish for free.’

‘But that’s the important bit,’ he said with yet another laugh.

‘Not for what I’m looking for.’

‘And what is that?’

‘I’ll tell you if I find it.’

‘I’ll hold you to that,’ Bill said. ‘How long do you want access to the site for?’

‘Just today and maybe tomorrow. Depends on what I find.’

‘Use my login,’ he said. ‘I need to change the password anyway so I’ll do that on . . .’ He paused. ‘I’ll change it on Thursday. That’ll give you three days if you need it.’

‘Thanks,’ I said again.

‘My user name is tommyberkley, all one word, all lower case. Password is 6to4theField, all one word, the six and four as numbers with a capital F for Field.’

‘Got it,’ I said, writing it all down on a notepad.

‘But you have to let me know if you find what you’re looking for.’

‘It’s a deal,’ I said. ‘Many thanks.’

But did I even know what I was looking for? Not really, but searching might at least pass some of the endless hours of nothingness.

I logged on to the Racing UK website using Bill Tucker’s details and started by watching a rerun of the race at Cheltenham in November when Fabricated had finished third, the race on which the unnamed man had bet five pounds.

Jason Conway had indeed been riding Fabricated that day.

As I almost expected, Fabricated had jumped the first fence in front.

I stopped the video and sat staring into space.

Then I called Bill Tucker again.

‘Hello,’ he said. No echo this time.

‘Bill, it’s Chris Rankin again.’

‘Are you having problems logging on?’

‘No,’ I said. ‘That’s fine, thank you. But I have a question for you about betting.’

‘Fire away,’ he said with his now familiar laugh. ‘There’s not much I don’t know about that.’

‘Would you take a bet from me about which horse will jump the first fence in front during a race?’

There was a long pause from the other end.

‘Bill?’ I said. ‘You still there?’

‘Yep,’ he said. ‘Still here. I’m just thinking. Someone asked me that once before. You’ve just reminded me of it.’

‘Who?’ I asked.

‘Can’t remember.’

‘When was this?’

‘Some time ago. Last year maybe.’

‘Last November? At Cheltenham? Were you asked by the man in the photo I showed you?’

There was another pause.

‘Sorry,’ he said, ‘I really can’t remember. I know I said that I wouldn’t take the bet. I’m usually taking regular bets right up to the off, and sometimes even after that. Then I have to get my brolly down so as not to block the view for those in the grandstand. Hence, I never even watch them jump the first. It’s bad enough getting to watch them finish at some courses, those without big TVs. So I only take bets on official results, those called by the judge.’

‘No good, then, asking you for a fiver on there being a white Christmas?’