As they lay there exhausted and panting, Burlington became aware of a muffled banging noise. I lost.”"So who pays for that Mickey? You went to a lot of trouble to set this up – who carries the can?”"Bit of sport.”"That’s not how you felt towards Jimmy Gimmel, was it?”Rouf’s face darkened. Burlington climbed on to the running board of a huge people-wagon, and got a sight of Rouf climbing into a silver Mercedes. Burlington ran to the exit and yelled at the attendant to close the gate, and the Mercedes slithered to a halt as its escape was thwarted.Rouf stepped out of the car, smiling confidently “You’ve got nothing on me, Burlington. But there was Rouf, on his way out to the car park.The thousands of cars became one giant maze as Burlington tried to keep up with Rouf who, as he had done for most of his life, ducked and dived, to disguise his whereabouts. If Rouf had lost, somebody in his scam had let him down and that meant revenge.

Burlington hurried down the steps and burst out on to the concourse at the back of the stand. Hundreds of race-goers were heading for the winner’s enclosure to salute Drummer’s Beat. Drummer’s Beat was fighting back, jumping upsides Nice Work at the last. Now both jockeys were swinging their legs and pumping their arms to give their horses vital momentum on the run-in. Shaun Enin, though, was a blur of motion on Drummer’s Beat, and he drove the favourite home by a length, then stood up in the stirrups to salute the crowd.Burlington looked for the disappointed faces and finally glimpsed Rouf making his way out of the restaurant Burlington gave chase. Burlington gave it a brief look – Nice Work was leading Drummer’s Beat by about two lengths Rouf’s bet looked a cert. Burlington scanned the frenzied faces as the last two fences were taken.

Screams of excitement and the muffled roar of the crowd beyond the glass merged to create a massive wave of sound. Burlington guessed that someone with fifty grand to bet might be in Kempton’s glass-fronted restaurant, and he made his way up there.Inside the tiers of punters at their tables were beginning to get excited The race was into the final three furlongs. All eyes were on the race, but Burlington’s scoured only the crowd. Out on the track, the 15 horses were picking their way around the first circuit Drummer’s Beat was handy on the outside Clear of trouble. Nice Work tracked him a few lengths back.Burlington worked his way down to the running rail and looked back over the crowd. Although Rouf had been convicted, none of the proceeds of his robberies had been recovered He had obviously emerged from prison as a rich man.

“Fifty grand on Nice Work at 9-2.”The horses were lining up and a huge roar went up as they set off. Fifteen years for armed robbery, and Burlington was the man who’d collared him.Burlington tried to get across, but Rouf was swallowed up in the crowd “What did you take?” he screamed at the bookie. Burlington saw a finger point to the second favourite on the board, and huge wedge changed hands It was Rouf Mickey Rouf. “Must be serious!” Shaun didn’t join in the laughter.Burlington returned to the rails bookmakers, where some of the biggest bets were being struck He kept his ears on these and his eyes on the betting ring. Suddenly a face of a different sort emerged at one of the bookies stands. Have him handy and he’ll win.”"Yes, sir,” Enin said with a serious face “Sir?” Cockle asked with a laugh.

None of them looked away.Into the parade ring came the jockeys. Shaun Enin looked pale but confident as he strode across to greet his horse, the trainer and the owner of Drummer’s Beat, Lord Neves.”He’s in great nick, Shaun. Two bets of 10 grand.” “Small change for the rest.” “Just gone 9-4.”Burlington scoured the Faces in the crowd. The men with tightly rolled wads of big money in their podgy hands They knew him, knew he was watching.