The last you heard I had just backed two winners from two on a greedy Monday afternoon mission…

I then managed to go two whole days without having a bet, which is probably some kind of record for me, and given my luck last week it was also  the most profitable two days punting I managed to do.

Thursday…
Of course this abstinence was never going to last and after two days of keeping my powder dry it was time to, erm, get it wet again. First up was £20 on Googoobarabajagal which is about as easy to spell as it is to pronounce. It took me longer to write the slip out than it did to realise that he isn’t the most genuine of horses, giving the race away close home and filling the customary spot of any horse I back, second.
As if to prove a point I left £20ew on Prince Du Beury for the handicap hurdle later on the card and he too threw the race away to give me another second for my collection. I really wish I didn’t back so many seconds.
With my current night time viewing consisting of watching the jungle antics of some not so well known celebrities I was tempted to back Get Me Out of Here in the 3.15 but I decided doing these type of coincidence bets is for suckers. Obviously even suckers have better luck than me as it romped home at 4/1.
My final bet of the day was £20ew on David Pipe’s Gaspara in the handicap hurdle at Taunton. I thought she’d appreciate the drop in class along with her drop in the official ratings and thought she was a certainty for the frame. She didn’t, she didn’t and she wasn’t. At least though it broke my run of seconds. The moral of the post: be careful what you wish for!

Friday….
A couple of decent races at Newbury was enough to tempt me into the bookies during a quick lunch break. 3 x £20ew singles and a £2ew Patent on Bobs Dream, Ainama and Song of Songs. A 3rd, a 4th (paid first 3) and a fifth (paid first 4). Sometimes I really wish I could back more seconds.

On my way home from work I popped into Corals for a ‘fun’ coincidence bet that I noticed was running. £10 ew on The Two G’s in Wolverhamptons 8.20 purely because my brother and I named our betting shops Gee Gee’s Turf Accountants. That proved about as much fun as a trip to the dentist for root canal work and just goes to prove that those kind of bets are for suckers.

On to Saturday…
As I wrote in my post on Saturday this was a historic day for me a few years ago and one that paid for the families best ever trip to Las Vegas. 12 days of luxury and successful punting. My betting during that holiday even gained the attention of the casino pit-boss who proceeded to comp us all free food and drink for our holiday, show tickets to see the magician Lance Burton and 3 nights free accommodation later that year. It was only the Circus Circus but it made me feel like a high roller and it’s the one and only time I’ve come back from Vegas winning. Happy days…

But it’s no use living on one’s memories and there was work to be done to try and repeat the feat. I’d studied the form the night before and come up with my 5 horses. I put exactly the same bet on as I did 3 years ago in exactly the same Betfred shop as I placed my winning wager. Everything was set for a good day.

Who ever first said ‘lightning never strikes twice’ is a smart arse and……. no one likes a smart arse!

What a terrible set of results. Big Bucks was very impressive, Pasco ran well but wasn’t quite good enough, Binocular was simply awful while Killyglen was dissappointing and Horner Wells didn’t seem to appreciate the soft ground. I also had £20ew on Kornati Kid at 33/1 to round off a miserable day.

There was only one thing for it, £60 on Conduit in the Japan Cup. Darn.

There was only two things for it, try my luck on Pokerstars. I entered the $50 rebuy and by the time the tournament entered the final stages I had built up a nice pile of chips. Just 5 places off the money disaster struck when I lost all my chips running my pair of kings into a pair of aces. How did it feel? About the same as having £50ew on a 33/1 shot each way in a big field handicap hurdle and seeing it make a complete horlicks of the last flight before finishing an unlucky 5th. Double darn….

There was only three things for it….go to bed.

Sunday….
My confidence was at rock bottom but I had a horse to get me out of trouble, Washington Irving. Last year Graham Wylie bought him out of Aidan O’Brien’s stable for £300,000 which is a sizeable chunk of cash to pay for a horse to run over hurdles. He was a bit disappointing on the flat although he had managed to finish 5th in New Approach’s Derby. This switch to hurdling in a poor race looked the perfect introduction and I was tempted to have an even £400 to get my money back. Of course I bottled it and settled for an even £100. Never in any doubt it bolted up and was probably the easiest winner this National Hunt season. It was nice to have backed a winner but I was annoyed with myself for not holding my nerve. Oh and Mr Wylie won £3082 for his troubles, only another £296,918 to get his money back. With the Supreme Novices Hurdle being worth £68k to the winner he’s certainly got his work cut out making that investment pay. He must have an understanding wife. I wish I had £300,000 to buy a horse with (and an understanding wife!)….

Monday….
For the third Monday in a row I had a bet, which tells you a lot about me as a punter. £50 on Pipe Banner in the 3.20 Fakenham. It duly obliged and gave Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty 4 winners on the card and confirmed him as the most in-form trainer in the country. I wish I was the most in-form punter in the country….

I’ll be back next week for the latest gripping installment of My Punting Woes…..

Good luck,
Gavin.

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