Can you tell me about your background in Horse Racing and using the Betting Exchanges?

I have been betting on the horses for 20 years now and using the betting exchanges for the last two. The thing that interests me the most about horse racing is trends and I am greatly interested in systems. The way I got interested and into systems was through Clive Holt and his magnificent books from fineform publications. The fineform ratings where the first systems I ever used and the systems I use now evolved from there.

Would you describe yourself as a Betting Exchange Trader or a Punter?

Without question I consider myself to be a punter. I have tried trading with limited success but find it frustrating and very time consuming. I prefer to work out a selection, punt on it and then wait to see whether successful or not. I am mainly a backer as I feel you need a decent sized bank and a totally different mentality to be a layer. Laying seems easier but if you don’t have a set aside bank for your laying you will invariably fail.

Over the time you have been betting, would you say you have won more that you lost?

Until the last couple of years and finding Betfair I would have called myself a casual punter who would have had no idea whether I was up or down on betting. Good runs were at least equally cancelled out by bad ones. Since Betfair I have still lost but that’s by still falling into old habits of the dreaded word”chasing” and not sticking rigidly to systems I am using. This is the demon we will all face and it’s probably the one deciding factor which will decide on how you fare.

Do you use and Betting Bots and which ones would you advise using?

I have dabbled with Xbot which although a useful piece of kit I found to the stakes I was using wasn’t really practical. The best part of Xbot I found was the outstanding advice being giving daily from the X-Bot site. I have used Bet Angel, which I think is a very good Bot for one click trading. It is a must for anyone wanting to bet in running.

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

The most costly lesson I have learnt when trading is to make sure you close out when things turn against you but the main one is to ensure if trading pre race make sure you have closed your position before the off because the feeling of helplessness when a race goes in play and you still have full liability can be very painful to watch. Betting wise my most valuable lesson is to stick with what you know and the most important factor of all is that “there is always tomorrow”. Also you must have a BETTING BANK and a STAKING PLAN.

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

If you are a novice play to small stakes and build a bank. Mistakes will be made on the way but notice them and learn from then “NEVER CHASE”. Keep a betting record of all your activity and see if there any weaknesses that you can correct to enhance your possibilities of coming out at the end of the tunnel with a PROFIT made. Keep within your means, when you start moving out of your comfort zone your judgement becomes clouded.

Have you followed any Horse Racing Tipsters in the past and what did you think of them?

I followed Clive holt during the 80s and must say he was impressive but the cost of the phone calls at the time probably removed the chance of winning long term because of the stakes I was playing to.

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?

Again it’s the old adage “regroup, regroup, regroup” if you are having a bad run, go over what you have been doing and see if there is anything you could or should have done differently. Everyone has them, but its how you respond to your losing spells that will probably decide whether LONG TERM, you are a profitable gambler (i.e. winner) or just one of the also rans.

Open a new Betfair Account and get a Free £20 bet and bonuses