Episode 1: The Betting Diary

My Betting Diary – By Mark Lawson (Premium member)

Tuesday 11th November

7:10am: Having looked at the cards last night, nothing really caught my eye. I wake up to a message from DC saying a bet is incoming. After making a cup of tea, feeding the cats, and being generally distracted by life for half an hour, I remember DC was sending a tip across — see the tip (3:11 Huntingdon – Kingston Sunflower). I open Oddschecker and find the 3/1 has gone, with 9/4 the best price, below DC’s minimum advised 5/2. I decide to leave it for now. The BOG firms I can still bet with open at 8/9am so I’ll keep an eye on it during the morning.

9:25am: A 10-minute work break to check prices again. KS remains 9/4 so I leave it. I read Ian R’s piece for DC and pick out 10 interesting horses across 10 different races. I jot down their prices. A few have been backed — not sure if that’s due to non-runners or money, so I’ll revisit later.

10am: Telegram message from the owner of the only other tipping service I’m subscribed to. He’s Irish and good on the cross-channel scene, a useful angle, but he’s also had a tough few weeks with the seasonal change — as have we with DC. It’s normal. I never used to bet much in October / early November — same with April — due to seasonal shifts. (Similar story in football before the first September international break, and after March — strange results.) Anyway, message says to keep the faith, much in the same tone DC uses. There may be a bet or two today, but he’s treading carefully due to the time of year.

11:45am: Other tips come through — a 2pt double at evens (BOG), and two at Hereford: one 0.5pt each-way, one 0.5pt win. I get good prices, and the EW one was on my watchlist, so I add my own stake and make it 1pt EW. Also, DC’s KS has drifted to 5/2 with a BOG firm, so I’ve taken that — 1pt at the minimum advised price, with BOG.

1pm: Revisited the horses from IR’s column and decided to back two:
— Presenting A Queen (2:10 Hereford) 11/4, 0.5pt
— Renoir (3:55 Hereford) 7/2, 0.75pt

A mate messages to say that the horse I put in my tracker as Pipe’s “new Grands Crus” is running Saturday at Cheltenham — and has been smashed in, and I’d not noticed! 8/1 into 7/2 on Jurancon. I’ll leave it now and lick my wounds. Onto this afternoon’s racing, mixed in with the day job.

7pm: Catching up. DC has posted bets for tomorrow: 4 points. The first selection is now below the minimum advised odds (8/1 min, 15/2 now). I get on the other three and will monitor the fourth.
Today’s results: DC’s horse won (boom — I got 5/2!). The other tipster’s even-money double landed for 2pts profit.
So: 3.5pts profit from winners, but I lost 3.75pts on my own bets (2.25pts from those alone).
If I’d left it to the professionals, I’d be 2pts up. One to reflect on.

9:30pm: 18 horses on my tracker for tomorrow across 11 races. I’ve noted prices and done some cross-referencing.
A yard I’ve had my eye on — Greenall & Guerriero — have several runners tomorrow. I think they have well-handicapped horses, and three catch my eye. I stake 3pts total (0.5pt EW each):
— Kahavari (1pm Bangor) – tried to get 10/1 but it cut to 8s just as I clicked. Annoying — could’ve taken 8s with 4 places elsewhere.
— Diamond Jim (2:30 Bangor) – took 12/1
— Peckforton Hills (3:20 Ayr) – took 9/1

Also had a small 0.5pt Trixie across the three. May regret it — will hopefully wake up to all three being smashed.

Wednesday 12th November

7:30am: Woke to DC’s rallying message — ears prick up when he points out Friday’s Cheltenham declarations are out today. Call me childish but Cheltenham still gives me a buzz.
His first pick is still short of the advised price, but hasn’t shortened further — maybe I’ll get the minimum soon.
My three from last night:
— Kahavari now 9/1 (still annoyed about yesterday!)
— Peckforton Hills 10/1
— Diamond Jim into 13/2 — one winner covers the lot if they land.
Nothing else appeals. Busy morning — revisit later.

12:10pm: Quick market check. Other tipster has also tipped Diamond Jim. I don’t double stakes at the shorter price but good to be aligned.
He’s also put up In The Age at Bangor — but the price has gone.
I also circle Jack’s Parrot from G&G — ground has come for him, price shortened.
Do I:
— follow the pro even though price gone?
— trust my instinct for 0.5pt?
— watch?
15 minutes to decide.
Elsewhere: Hold The Taught now 17/2 — took 0.5pt EW.
DC’s bets shortening.
Thinking about a Lucky 15 — but why? Discipline, I tell myself.
Let’s see what happens with Jack’s Parrot…

12:38pm: Dodged two bullets there. Discipline wins. The other G&G three run this afternoon — hope my gut was right.
Now, what to do about President Scottie… and some actual work…

7:15pm:
Got on all DC’s Cheltenham bets at or better than advised odds.
Listening to racing pods while reviewing replays.
G&G horses:
— First would’ve been placed at worst, unseated 3 out. Profit gone. Unknown how much.
— Second finished well in second
— Third well beaten
So: 3.5pts staked → 1.25pts returned.
Plus I got suckered into President Scottie for 1pt.
Personal bets: -3.25pts
DC returned 3.5pts from 4pts staked — small loss.
Other tipster -1.5pts.
Total: -5.25pts.
Quiz night — no time to study tomorrow’s racing. Train ride will do.

Thursday 13th November

7:10am: On the train from Derby to Bournemouth. Already the best 0.75pt stake of the day is on the first-class upgrade. No financial win — but a life win.
Poor racing today. Will read Ian’s column and update trackers. No real desire to bet unless something jumps out.

7:30pm: Halfway home. Other pro had 4 horses for 6pts, returned 6.875pts — small profit.
Reading Mark Howard’s One Jump Ahead update.
Jurancon — who I missed the price on — also entered next week at Haydock, off 10st7. If he wins this weekend, gets 5lb penalty and goes for the same double as Grands Crus did. Pipe hints the race is in mind. That’s good enough for me: 1pt at 20/1.
Also 0.5pt on Starzand for the Albert Bartlett at 66/1.
More to read, including Pipe’s full stable tour…

10:30pm: Home and fed.
Spotted Kingbel Du Lion at 50/1 for the Haydock Stayers Handicap — worth 0.5pt.
Also added Feel Gut at 50/1 for the Triumph. Looks interesting.
Now bed. Hopefully rain doesn’t ruin the weekend racing.

Friday 14th November

8am: Lie-in. Work looks busy. Someone has put a meeting at 2pm on Cheltenham day. Madness.
Cheltenham ground good to soft but rain coming — could turn messy.
Need to check trackers, Ian R’s column, etc. No urge to bet beyond DC’s.

11am: Other pro sends 3 Dundalk bets (3.5pts total) — I get them on.
Also 1pt on a Snowden horse and 1.5pts on one for Fergal.
Meeting time — will check later.

1:20pm: Meeting finished early — nap lands at 13/2 (got 7/1 boost for part of it). Great start.
Boom DC — BOOM.

6pm: Southwell no good. Mr Coffey places — small profit. Dundalk down to two bets.

9pm: One winner, one loser → 3pts returned. Pro ends +0.5pts on night.
DC’s day: 18.125pts returned from 8pts staked (with Liberty Hunter). Huge.
My wasted 2.5pts at Southwell → personal day = +7.625pts.
Tomorrow: DC bets all on at advised prices. Like that he’s on Jurancon too…

Saturday 15th November

7:40am: Cheltenham on, but ground will be testing. BOG opens 8am — will watch prices.
My 2pt bets holding — might cash out and re-bet BOG.

9am: Re-staked at BOG, no loss.
Murphy bumper horse has been backed.
Snowden has two at Wetherby:
— Fav in 3:10 should win — 2.5pt bet at odds-against.
Also 1pt EW in the 1:25.
Listened to DC’s market moves piece — interesting.
Will check away cards too.

7:15pm: Rollercoaster.
DC’s bets down on early prices — I scraped a 0.5pt profit thanks to cashing out and BOG drift.
Other tipster: staked 5pts, returned 7.75pts.
Personal:
— 4pts on two main bets returned 5.75pts
— 15.25pts staked elsewhere returned 15.5pts
Across everything: 0.5pts up.
Close calls, unlucky rides — could’ve been +10pts.
Stick with the process.

10pm: Studied for tomorrow.
Joseph has two running — backed in due to Pricewise? Not sure it’s their real day. Leaving it for now.

Sunday 16th November

8:30am: DC morning message. Tea in hand. Market check.

9:45am: Tracker horse at Navan drifted 3s → 5s. Tempting each-way bet but I leave it.
Place a few bets:
— Just Forty 1pt EW (12:57 Fontwell)
— Torneo 0.5pt EW (2:20 Cheltenham)
— Alexi 1pt, Fiercely Proud 0.25pt EW, King William Rufus 0.25pt EW (3:30 Cheltenham)
Don’t mind dutching in big field, 5-place races.
Irish tipster says bets coming. Happy to wait.

12:10pm: DC adds 1pt on Torneo — I top up at 11/2.
Irish guy sends 3pt bet at 9/2 in 3:17 Fontwell. Here we go.

7:15pm:
What a painful near-miss day.
DC -6pts — no returns.
First horse fell at last when winning — 7pts down but horse/jockey fine.
Torneo — moral winner, came too late. Another 7pts gone.
Irish lad’s horse unseated when leading. Another 9.25pts gone.
Got Greatwood winner — 5.5pts returned, plus a place.
Staked 18pts → returned 9.25pts.
Feels like 23pts escaped.
DC’s bet for tomorrow is on. Also 2pts on Exeter fav at 5/4 (now evens).
Tough day. Time to reset.

Monday 17th November

7am: Yesterday was rough, but did I do much wrong? Probably not. Two tipsters had moral winners. My own bets staked 9pts, returned 9.25pts.
We move on.
Today looks like one to watch. Irish racing strong card.
Watching the Hendo/JP runner in the 3pm — now 2/1. Possible play.
The JP/Skelton runner in the first is 5/6 — may drift, might re-back BOG.
DC’s Captain Guinness well backed — I’m on at 14s, now 7s.

12:15pm: Irish lad sends 0.75pt in the 12:25 — on.
I forgive one run — Sign Again at Plumpton looks too big at 20/1. 0.375pt EW.
Might do a fun Lucky 15 later.
Skelton horse now 4/6.
Captain Guinness now 9/2 in places — I’ll be paid at 9.1/1 after R4. Nice position.

7:45pm: Skelton horse dotted up at 1/2 — 4.5pts returned.
Captain Guinness disappointing — maybe that’s him done.
Great racing at Exeter — Lulamba very impressive.
Yellow Clay poor — maybe something wrong.
Irish lad’s bet no good. My Plumpton EW fell.
Got suckered into a double — thankfully low stakes.
Total staked today 5.25pts → 4.5pts returned.
Another small losing day.

Bad luck all week. But no reason to doubt the process or the people.

Next week, maybe we get the neck win.
No horses or jockeys hurt — small mercy.

Over and out.

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