Unfettered Wagering and A Word for Paul Nolan

Just a short few lines today, dear friends, as I have a busy day ahead of me.

Hopefully this afternoon, I will be acquiring a fresh set of bookmaker accounts and will finally be able to bet freely again.

Something very few of the tipsters and system peddlers will ever tell you (except as a back story showcasing their "incredible tipping talent") is that as a professional bettor one of the biggest problems you will encounter is "getting on" to any meaningful sums at best price. Show even a modicum of profitablilty and bookmakers will back away from you quicker than from a turd on a wedding cake. I fight a constant battle to be able to place my bets.

Over the last few years I have exhausted the betting facilities of all my family and most of my friends. Some of the bookmakers don't outright close your accounts. You find your bet size being severely restricted, being offered far less attractive odds and general tomfoolery designed to take away your edge.

It is a real problem if you bet in the way I do. Most of my betting is done in the morning and I have to get the best early prices to make it profitable. Betfair doesn't have the liquidity that I require that early in the day and quite often is not best price anyway. It can make life very difficult indeed.

As a result I alweays get pretty excited and fired up every time I find a new outlet for my wagers. And I have found one that should come to fruition today!

Moving on...

I watched a really enjoyable episode of Storyville on BBC 4 the other night. Entitled Race Horses, it chronicles a year in the life of three horses racing out of the County Wexford yard of Paul Nolan. He, and his brother James, allowed unhindered access to the yard for the programme enabling the viewer to get a real taste of what life is like for the horses and staff there (and I guess what it is like in most yards). Nolan comes out of it very well appearing to be a a very likeable, down to earth character who loves his horses. We are introduced to a number of real characters in the yard and the whole thing made a fantastic hour or so's viewing. It is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and I would highly recommend it.

That's pretty much it for today and all that remains is for me to wish you the best of luck with your wagering in the Gold Cup later today. Thank the lord we will be returning to sanity next week.

Everybody, be lucky

P.S. Don't really want to do much talking about "The Festival" except to point out that, in my opinion, the shortened run-in has had a huge effect on the outcome of some very big races.

P.P.S. I think Shinrock Paddy could go very well in the Novice Hurdle today at a price!