Above All Odds Tipster Interview

How long have you been interested in Horse Racing and can you tell me a little more about your background?

I have been involved in horse racing for forty years, having been expelled from school at thirteen years of age for preferring Aintree to algebra!

I started off as a schoolboy punter, climbing over the fence at Alexandra Park to gain entrance.  I passed a ‘settling’ exam and became a betting shop manager, en route to becoming a bookmaker, an odds compiler and journalist/author.

Can you tell me a little more about “The Art of Bookmaking” – The book you have on sale in the bookshops. – Do people get it free with membership?

It will be in the bookshops soon according to the publisher, but why not obtain it free via the Internet?

The publication deals with all aspects of percentages, instructing readers how to make their own ‘book’ relating to all sports, not only horse racing. 

The key point to make is that the book is free to everyone that visits the AboveAllOdds website.

Can you tell me a little more about Above All Odds?

The website was launched in April 2003. Since then it has provided our members with a lucrative revenue stream from their betting. Unlike other services we do not go for the Name, Rank and Number approach. When we give out a bet we post a review in the members area explaining why we think it will win. Too many ‘advisory’ services are more interested in counting subscriptions as opposed to getting on with the job in hand…making punters money! 

 
I was invited on board shortly before the Cheltenham Festival. It has been a pleasure working with the guys and I was pleased to offer my recently published book for free. If someone can even learn the smallest thing that can be applied to their betting then it will have made writing it worthwhile.

What type of bets do you give? Win, Lay, Place, Each way?

The service is primarily geared towards win & each way betting. Trading is the new buzz word but not everyone is ‘clued up’ about this area. The key to our selection process is identifying ‘value wagers’. If we price up a selection at 3/1 and it’s available at 6/4 then quite simply we will not recommend a wager on it.

Above All Odds has been around for a long time now, what is the secret to sustaining a good tipping service?

Not offering tips for the sake of it basically.  We would rather people wait for a tip, even if it takes a week, rather than offer a horse simply to be seen to fulfil an obligation.

We have also been lucky that we have a number of members that have been in for the long haul – and been rewarded. The hardest thing for any punter is signing up to a service, hitting 5/6 losers and then giving up. It is a tough game and as a result I will always recommend a punter should set up a betting bank and be disciplined enough not to chase losses.

Do you do any trading on Betfair?

Yes,  I enjoy being able to lay off a horse to ensure making a profit on the relevant beast.  Another point that people often miss, is that whilst you might really fancy a horse on the morning of a race and stake a bet accordingly, a thunderstorm can wreak havoc to your theory and by using Betfair, you can ‘cancel’ the bet via the ‘lay’ option.

What is the most costly lesson you have ever made when either betting or trading?

Every day is a learning day.  My costliest lesson probably still awaits me.

The most common lesson that we all fail to learn is not to change your mind, particularly when some ‘expert’ on the television has ridiculed the chances of a beast that you originally fancied.

What would you say to anyone who is just starting to bet or trade?

Stick to what YOU think (you’ll soon learn via your mistakes), and first and foremost learn ‘percentages’ and remember them ‘parrot fashion’.

Do you write for any other publications or offer any other services online?

Sportinglife.com, Racing Ahead, The Sportsman and Inside Edge.

Do you have any further information or help you could give someone who has been betting or trading for a while or is just starting out?

As I previously mentioned set aside a bankroll and be disciplined. Get to know your percentages as well, which you can do by logging on to AboveAllOdds and download the Art Of Bookmaking.  It will answer most questions if punters genuinely want to improve their knowledge.

Download the Free Ebook

See our other Interviews and Reviews:

Darren Power - Betting School
Paul Ruffy - Easy Money from Losing Horses
Ken Millard - The BOSS Football Software
Dave - Bet-Ie Dutching and Trading Software
Peter Webb - Bet Angel Professional
Mathematician Tipping Service