subject: Diary Of A Spread Bettor Week 28 [print this page] Thursday 26th November Thursday 26th November
Why do I lower my stakes when my confidence has gone? I made 130 selling goals in last nights Chelsea game, but it should have been more. I was going to sell 150 or 200 but bottled it late on annoying
Nothing much else to report to you on the punting front. I normally like to get stuck into some of the NFL action but I missed the start of the Green Bay v Detroit game as I had to go and pick up one of the dogs from the vet. Daisy, our seven-year-old pug (like the dog from Men in Black) had some teeth removed. Well, if the tooth be told (see what Ive done there) she had the whole lot (bar three) removed. Her breath has got gradually worse over the last few years, but we didnt realise that was because her teeth were rotting. I had presumed it was because she literally eats shit!
I picked her up just after 6pm and she was feeling very sorry for herself. However, not as sorry as I was when I got the bill 287.50! I wanted the vet to put them all back in! She got given some special soft food to eat (stuff you can eat without chewing) that would last until the weekend which took the bill over the 300 mark.
Friday 27th November
I made a handful of schoolboy errors. The first was not putting Daisys soft food out of our Labrador Stanleys reach overnight. I can report that his teeth are in cracking working order as he managed to open and munch his way through all four cans.
The second error came in Newburys 2.40pm contest. I thought that Nicky Hendersons Punchestowns was a terrific sell on the index at around 38 on his chasing debut. My 15 sell looked doomed almost from the very first fence and he virtually didnt touch a twig throughout. He cost me 180 and looks set for big things.
On the subject of big things, my third error was not to think of the consequences that four tins of sensitive soft dog food can have on a Labradors digestive system. I had to clear up the said consequence just before buying 10 of Henry King at 20 on the index in Newburys last. He was travelling really strongly when he crashed out at the second last. A very expensive 24 hours and I blame Daisy!
Saturday 28th November
All eyes were on Denman. Could he cement his place amongst racing all time greats by landing the Hennessy Gold Cup of top weight. I just couldnt see it and thought that the horse was a terrific sell at 22 on the index. He had looked a shadow of his former self last season and I thought he was highly unlikely to complete. I fancied Irish raider Chelsea Harbour to outrun his almost insulting odds of 100/1 and bought 10 of him at 3.
Well, after two fences I knew Id lost 30 on Chelsea Harbour as he was out the back sulking in his first time blinkers. However, I was confident that 220 was on its way to me as Denman was struggling to get to the front. Yet, as soon as I started to count those chickens, he got into his stride and repeated his stunning 2007 performance. He was simply breathtaking and reduced his trainer Paul Nicholls to tears. In fact, he nearly reduced me to tears, but for hugely contrasting reasons.
Thank God for Australia! I bought 20 of Australian supremacy at 8 at half-time in their game against Wales in the rugby and won 260 back when they ran out 33-12 winners. I was still a loser on the day, but Id got back a little of what Id lost earlier.
Sunday 29th November
We went to a terrible local Christmas Fair in the morning and got back in time to see England tear through the South African batting line-up. I bought 5 of supremacy at 35 when the damage had already been done, but still made a tidy 35 point profit when they sealed an emphatic seven wicket victory.
I left the Everton v Liverpool game alone, and instead opted to sell goals in the Arsenal game. I half looked at buying Drogba goal minutes at 20, but opted to leave it. It was one of the most infuriating decisions I have ever made in my life as I let a 100 + point profit slip though the net. Instead, I lost 80 on a poor sell of goals.
Monday 30th November
A very busy day on the work front and I ended up driving to London it took forever. The evening was spent at the Centaur Academy launch party and then the EGaming Review Awards Dinner. Former 1991 Wimbledon Champion Michael Stich was at the former and was a lot taller than I expected he would have been a hard man to lob (although he also looked like he may have been blown away in a strong wind!).
I fancied Blackpool game against Preston to be a low scoring game and was about to sell when Clarke scored a 1st minute goal. I should have then sold at 3.2, but I lost my bottle. The game eventually finished 1-1, so I should have stuck to my instincts.
Tuesday 1st December
I was informed by my six-year-old that there are twenty-four more sleeps until Christmas before the alarm clock had even gone off. The first doors of the advent calendars were all open before 6.30am and the day began early (which wasnt great as the previous one had ended only a few hours before).
The pick of the action was Man Utds Carling Cup tie with Spurs and when Gibson gave them a 16th minute lead, I opted to sell shirt supremacy for 5 at 32. The youngster had 28 on his back and I fancied Spurs to strike back straight away. Sadly they didnt and Gibson scored again meaning United suddenly lead the shirt market by 56. The game finished 2-0 and I lost 24 times my stake who is Gibson anyway? I presume its not the same bloke that used to bowl very fast for the West Indies!
Wednesday 2nd December
Dad, guess how many sleeps there are left until Christmas were the first words I heard again this morning. Its going to be a long December!
More Carling Cup action and Ive decided to sell 150 of Man City/Arsenal at 0.6. I fancy the Gunners youth team to teach the senior side a lesson! Also stepped in and backed Twist Magic at 7/2 to land the Tingle Creek this weekend.
By the way, there are only 23 more sleeps til Christmas!
