A little bit of control returned to my betting today, not without a scare though. I laid Nadal to win 3-2 and he dropped the first set. I quite like set betting on tennis and I thought 11.5 was a good price as I dont expect anyone, apart from Fed, to take 2 sets from Nadal. My current strategy, which changes daily is to attempt to increase my bank by 5% each trade. My balance this morning was £537 so I rounded up to £600 and set a notional target of £30 (5% of £600). I'll see how it goes.
I've fielded quite afew comments from readers of this blog and from forumites that I am playing loose at the moment, and you're right. My plan is that once I hit the magical £1000 target (if!) then I will adopt a more focussed, strategic and cautious approach but for now...
My initial deposit of £100 on June the 1st is, as I write, just over £600 so I've had value for that initial investment, I'm still going and I'm still ahead of target despite my awful run.
Anyway, back to today....I got home from work and my missus was watching the tennis so I sought a trade, couldnt find one but did manage to snaffle up £7 of free money hanging around on the lay side of the televised tennis match.
I added a further £30 this evening laying Russia HT/FT so a better, more disciplined day and my balance is heading upwards again.
Thanks to all those that have taken the time to leave comments on here - please keep them coming - its nice to know that the 10-15 minutes I dedicate to my blog each evening (under the guise that I'm working) is appreciated by a few like-minded souls.
Good luck with your own challenges, please let me know how you're doing...
Night all.
Thursday 26 June 2008
Wednesday 25 June 2008
Shocker
Well I have had a crazy few days on all fronts, so much so I havent found the time to update my blog, apologies.
I've completely lost it. I lost £100 on the horses last night and then compounded losses with a lay of Essex in the Twenty20 and placed an order to lock in a guaranteed profit that failed to get matched by 0.01 and had I not been cooking my tea I would have matched manually and saved myself from a £96.50 loss. All in all though a bad night and I went to bed last night with a balance of £550. But things got worse...
I could not understand the price on Eng to bt NZ, I expected <1.5 and thought 1.63 was a steel so loaded £250 on Eng. I attended a job interview and had to drive a few hours to get there so listened to Englands inept display on the way there and on the way back. I managed to cut out of my position to limit my loss to £112.
On arrival home I fielded a call from the interviewer to tell me I'd got the job but my thoughts centred on my lay of Turkey to qualify for the final at 5.4 for my entire bank. If Turkey qualified I'd be writing this with £2 in my account but thanks to Lahms late, undeserved winner my balance is £537.10 and I have alot of work to do to restore parity.
I've really let myself down this week and I am very pissed off with myself.
My take on the cricket run-out incident is that when Collingwood was offered the choice to send the NZ bat back to the pavillion he should have said no. Had he won as a result it would have been a hollow victory and his conduct today will last longer than any legacy he will leave as Eng captain. IMO anyway!
I've completely lost it. I lost £100 on the horses last night and then compounded losses with a lay of Essex in the Twenty20 and placed an order to lock in a guaranteed profit that failed to get matched by 0.01 and had I not been cooking my tea I would have matched manually and saved myself from a £96.50 loss. All in all though a bad night and I went to bed last night with a balance of £550. But things got worse...
I could not understand the price on Eng to bt NZ, I expected <1.5 and thought 1.63 was a steel so loaded £250 on Eng. I attended a job interview and had to drive a few hours to get there so listened to Englands inept display on the way there and on the way back. I managed to cut out of my position to limit my loss to £112.
On arrival home I fielded a call from the interviewer to tell me I'd got the job but my thoughts centred on my lay of Turkey to qualify for the final at 5.4 for my entire bank. If Turkey qualified I'd be writing this with £2 in my account but thanks to Lahms late, undeserved winner my balance is £537.10 and I have alot of work to do to restore parity.
I've really let myself down this week and I am very pissed off with myself.
My take on the cricket run-out incident is that when Collingwood was offered the choice to send the NZ bat back to the pavillion he should have said no. Had he won as a result it would have been a hollow victory and his conduct today will last longer than any legacy he will leave as Eng captain. IMO anyway!
Monday 23 June 2008
Bad to Worse (then a bit better)
Tough day yesterday, not only did I have to endure sunday lunch at the mother-in-laws I also had to follow the progress (capitulation) of Kaymer in the BMW International on the PC in her spare room upstairs under cover that I was 'working'.
Kaymer gave a way a 6 shot lead...then won in a play-off and as I drove home I was breathing a huge sigh of relief and weighing up the evening match between Spain/Italy and talked myself into a lay of the 0-0 @ 9 for a £200 liability. I then watched 90 minutes of painful football and no goals!
Into extra time and still steaming I backed no next goal for 1.82 but I was still down >£120 on the day and my balance now £622.53.
So pissed off with last nights lay that I couldnt even bring myself to update this blog so apologies regular readers.
I was somewhat disconsolate when I updated my progress/regress on the Betfair forum last night and I'd like to thank those that have offered genuinely decent advice to slow down before I blow my hard earned bank chasing weekend losses.
Got home from work this evening and my missus was at her mums and I had a free evening to watch the cricket and racing on Sky. With so many opportunities on offer I couldnt resist 2 bets - and they both won:
£50 on Dazzling Dust to be placed @ 1.93 (I expected 1.6)
£20 lay of 3m 2f chaser Yes Sir @ 15 in a 1m 4f mdn at Chepstow (drifted to 30)
So, I've won £63.24 this evening and my balance has taken a well needed boost to £685.77.
Perhaps, more significantly I resisted the temptation to back handicap 'good thing' Spin at Windsor. I've said for a while i wont be getting involved in handicaps and for once, i stuck to my guns. I really do feel that non-handicaps are the way forward and I particularly like the shape of backing horses to be placed in races of 8-12 runners featuring strong favs. Dazzling Dust was 10-11 to be placed with the front 3 in the betting clear and 23 bar, that's the kinds of bets I'm going to be sniffing out in the future not backing short priced favs in handicaps.
Anyway, a little pride restored. The clatter of the front door tells me my missus is on her way upstairs so best switch the channel from ATR and sign off.
Thanks for reading, night all.
Kaymer gave a way a 6 shot lead...then won in a play-off and as I drove home I was breathing a huge sigh of relief and weighing up the evening match between Spain/Italy and talked myself into a lay of the 0-0 @ 9 for a £200 liability. I then watched 90 minutes of painful football and no goals!
Into extra time and still steaming I backed no next goal for 1.82 but I was still down >£120 on the day and my balance now £622.53.
So pissed off with last nights lay that I couldnt even bring myself to update this blog so apologies regular readers.
I was somewhat disconsolate when I updated my progress/regress on the Betfair forum last night and I'd like to thank those that have offered genuinely decent advice to slow down before I blow my hard earned bank chasing weekend losses.
Got home from work this evening and my missus was at her mums and I had a free evening to watch the cricket and racing on Sky. With so many opportunities on offer I couldnt resist 2 bets - and they both won:
£50 on Dazzling Dust to be placed @ 1.93 (I expected 1.6)
£20 lay of 3m 2f chaser Yes Sir @ 15 in a 1m 4f mdn at Chepstow (drifted to 30)
So, I've won £63.24 this evening and my balance has taken a well needed boost to £685.77.
Perhaps, more significantly I resisted the temptation to back handicap 'good thing' Spin at Windsor. I've said for a while i wont be getting involved in handicaps and for once, i stuck to my guns. I really do feel that non-handicaps are the way forward and I particularly like the shape of backing horses to be placed in races of 8-12 runners featuring strong favs. Dazzling Dust was 10-11 to be placed with the front 3 in the betting clear and 23 bar, that's the kinds of bets I'm going to be sniffing out in the future not backing short priced favs in handicaps.
Anyway, a little pride restored. The clatter of the front door tells me my missus is on her way upstairs so best switch the channel from ATR and sign off.
Thanks for reading, night all.
Saturday 21 June 2008
Losing it
As I write I have £50 on Holland to qualify @ 1.64 following their late equaliser - they looked the better side towards the end of the 2nd half, deserved the equaliser and I expected them to be <1.5. Anyway the result will determine whether I finish the day up or down.
I've lost control today, rather than bore you with my bets let's just say I've lost the patience and discipline that has got my bank >£800. My lowlights today are cutting out of winning positions on rugby and cricket - signs that my confidence is waiving. Had I let both bets run I would have won, but ended up losing on both.
Worst bet of the day has to be £50 on Meydan City, unraced in a maiden at Newmarket backed purely because of his price tag $11.5m. Yes $11.5m and guess what he lost. To back an unraced 2yo at odds on is madness and I deserved to lose. Idiot.
My 2 fancies of the day both drifted to twice their morning price (Muftarres at Redcar and Fithofforth at Lingfield), naturally I backed them at the low price and both won easily.
I ploughed over a ton on Tunisia to bt Burundi as I'd never heard of Burundi, I thought it was a fish, and Tunisia are a decent outfit under Roger Lemerre. They won, but only just, at 1.17.
As I write Russia seem to be dictating play and look the stronger side and if they win I will be about £25 down on the day to compound yesterday's late losses.
Another piss poor day, I could really do with a touch of Dutch magic...win or lose though I will still be >£700 and still on schedule but I'm struggling big style and feel as though I'm in danger of blowing the good work I've done to date.
For any fellow challenge followers Kaymer wont relinquish a 6 shot lead tomorrow and is available to back at 1.2.
Fuck it, Russia just scored.
I've lost control today, rather than bore you with my bets let's just say I've lost the patience and discipline that has got my bank >£800. My lowlights today are cutting out of winning positions on rugby and cricket - signs that my confidence is waiving. Had I let both bets run I would have won, but ended up losing on both.
Worst bet of the day has to be £50 on Meydan City, unraced in a maiden at Newmarket backed purely because of his price tag $11.5m. Yes $11.5m and guess what he lost. To back an unraced 2yo at odds on is madness and I deserved to lose. Idiot.
My 2 fancies of the day both drifted to twice their morning price (Muftarres at Redcar and Fithofforth at Lingfield), naturally I backed them at the low price and both won easily.
I ploughed over a ton on Tunisia to bt Burundi as I'd never heard of Burundi, I thought it was a fish, and Tunisia are a decent outfit under Roger Lemerre. They won, but only just, at 1.17.
As I write Russia seem to be dictating play and look the stronger side and if they win I will be about £25 down on the day to compound yesterday's late losses.
Another piss poor day, I could really do with a touch of Dutch magic...win or lose though I will still be >£700 and still on schedule but I'm struggling big style and feel as though I'm in danger of blowing the good work I've done to date.
For any fellow challenge followers Kaymer wont relinquish a 6 shot lead tomorrow and is available to back at 1.2.
Fuck it, Russia just scored.
Friday 20 June 2008
1.01 gubbed
Weird day. Conduit was placed and I had £50 @ 1.88 to place. I followed that up with £25 on Yorks to bt Lancs in the latter stages of the Twenty20 @ 1.85. So, a good day and my balance up to £839.30. Then...
I really fancied Croatia tonight and laid Turkey @ 5.1 to win £25. At half time with the game still goaless I bailed out and put £25 on Croatia to win instead. Yes, I lost out on a profit and took a £25 loss but I was happy with my thought process as at 0-0 with 45 mins to go anything can happen and I feel as though I did the right thing. Furthermore, I can just about accept my decision to back Croatia because they were much the better side and I fancied them to win and to have a £25 liability instead of a £100 going into the 2nd half I felt comfortable.
Then, at full time I backed Croatia again £50 @ 1.58. So, as I write I am down on the day (about £13) when I should be about £100 up and I am feeling pretty pissed off right now. I'm not going to blame Turkey's equaliser with the last kick of the match (I was updating my blog at they scored), that's the way it goes but I cant accept my poor discipline this evening.
I must exercise caution tomorrow as it is so tempting to chase today's losses which is the undoing of so many failed bettors (myself included).
Big test ahead.
My balance this evening after 43 bets is £764.30.
I really fancied Croatia tonight and laid Turkey @ 5.1 to win £25. At half time with the game still goaless I bailed out and put £25 on Croatia to win instead. Yes, I lost out on a profit and took a £25 loss but I was happy with my thought process as at 0-0 with 45 mins to go anything can happen and I feel as though I did the right thing. Furthermore, I can just about accept my decision to back Croatia because they were much the better side and I fancied them to win and to have a £25 liability instead of a £100 going into the 2nd half I felt comfortable.
Then, at full time I backed Croatia again £50 @ 1.58. So, as I write I am down on the day (about £13) when I should be about £100 up and I am feeling pretty pissed off right now. I'm not going to blame Turkey's equaliser with the last kick of the match (I was updating my blog at they scored), that's the way it goes but I cant accept my poor discipline this evening.
I must exercise caution tomorrow as it is so tempting to chase today's losses which is the undoing of so many failed bettors (myself included).
Big test ahead.
My balance this evening after 43 bets is £764.30.
Thursday 19 June 2008
Better day
Balance £684.06
I am now operating with a notional bank of £184.06 as I have transferred £500 to my Aussie wallet. Basically, that means my maximum liability will be £184.06 and not £684.06. I've set my next target at £1,000 when I may consider banking a further £500 - if I get there..
After blogging last night I laid Bahamas to bt Jamaica @ 11.5. The reggae boyz beat Bahamas 7-0 at the weekend in Jamaica and the return leg was also being played in Jamaica and whoever laid my £16.64 must be mad - Jamaica ran out easy 6-0 winners and it should have been 16 by all accounts.
One bet at Ascot today, Geordieland to be placed £25 @ 2.58, another £37.56 and I topped that up further this evening with a £50 back of Somerset @ 1.32 when in control against Worcester and then I lay of Portugal at half time (when 2-1 behind) @ 5.8 to win £23.77.
All in all a good day and my balance this evening is £777.25. After 39 bets my schedule tells me I should be at £302 so I am way ahead of schedule and feeling confident.
This challenge is definately teaching me a lesson in patience and discipline. Normally I do not operate any kind of plan but now I have a target and a schedule and if I continue to progress as I have been then why cant I get to 100k? I am at stage 72 of my 244 bet plan - more than 25% of the way there in terms of number of bets but less than 1% in terms of cash.
I'm feeling good about things tonight and I've just seen Conduit runs at Ascot tomorrow which makes me feel even better. Conduit ran an amazing race, albeit in less exalted company, last time out and he could be a cut above these. He's available to be placed as i write at 1.9 ish. Get on.
I am now operating with a notional bank of £184.06 as I have transferred £500 to my Aussie wallet. Basically, that means my maximum liability will be £184.06 and not £684.06. I've set my next target at £1,000 when I may consider banking a further £500 - if I get there..
After blogging last night I laid Bahamas to bt Jamaica @ 11.5. The reggae boyz beat Bahamas 7-0 at the weekend in Jamaica and the return leg was also being played in Jamaica and whoever laid my £16.64 must be mad - Jamaica ran out easy 6-0 winners and it should have been 16 by all accounts.
One bet at Ascot today, Geordieland to be placed £25 @ 2.58, another £37.56 and I topped that up further this evening with a £50 back of Somerset @ 1.32 when in control against Worcester and then I lay of Portugal at half time (when 2-1 behind) @ 5.8 to win £23.77.
All in all a good day and my balance this evening is £777.25. After 39 bets my schedule tells me I should be at £302 so I am way ahead of schedule and feeling confident.
This challenge is definately teaching me a lesson in patience and discipline. Normally I do not operate any kind of plan but now I have a target and a schedule and if I continue to progress as I have been then why cant I get to 100k? I am at stage 72 of my 244 bet plan - more than 25% of the way there in terms of number of bets but less than 1% in terms of cash.
I'm feeling good about things tonight and I've just seen Conduit runs at Ascot tomorrow which makes me feel even better. Conduit ran an amazing race, albeit in less exalted company, last time out and he could be a cut above these. He's available to be placed as i write at 1.9 ish. Get on.
Wednesday 18 June 2008
Twat
As blogged last night I fancied End to bt NZ and loaded £100 on at 1.54 early doors, sensibly I laid back when it was clear the match was going to be shortened so I was patting myself on the back when I watched Eng struggle to a modest 162 from their 26 overs. Infact, mid way through England's innings I thought NZ looked a great price in running at 1.5 and promptly backed NZ. Now, with NZ in a win position and with 8 wickets in hand the umpires call the game off! Ridiculous.
To be honest it's not been my day. Caught up in the Bankable hype and fervour I backed him £25 at just shy 2-1. I backed a horse in a 30 runner handicap and less than 2-1. I have absolutely no excuse other than the old me surfaced earlier today. The Bankable bet just about encapsulates everything bad about my betting over the past 20 years and it was an idiotic bet. Note to oneself this evening, dont be such a twat in future.
Readers of this blog will know I've been considering siphoning off some of my bank and after much deliberation I have taken the advice of a poster on the Betfair forum today. I've transferred £500 to my Betfair Australian wallet so I am now playing with the excess, about £168. I am still ahead on the 244 bets to 100k challenge so I guess I have time to keep changing my strategy as long as I stay on track.
As I speak that £168 is about to increase by £16 or so 'cause I laid Sweden @ 11.5 after going 1-0 down v Russia. Russia looked very good tonight and will give Holland a game I reckon.
It's been an odd day but despite today's highs/lows I've only taken a step back of about £9 so although my 33 bet winning sequence has been broken I am still on track and live to fight another day.
To be honest it's not been my day. Caught up in the Bankable hype and fervour I backed him £25 at just shy 2-1. I backed a horse in a 30 runner handicap and less than 2-1. I have absolutely no excuse other than the old me surfaced earlier today. The Bankable bet just about encapsulates everything bad about my betting over the past 20 years and it was an idiotic bet. Note to oneself this evening, dont be such a twat in future.
Readers of this blog will know I've been considering siphoning off some of my bank and after much deliberation I have taken the advice of a poster on the Betfair forum today. I've transferred £500 to my Betfair Australian wallet so I am now playing with the excess, about £168. I am still ahead on the 244 bets to 100k challenge so I guess I have time to keep changing my strategy as long as I stay on track.
As I speak that £168 is about to increase by £16 or so 'cause I laid Sweden @ 11.5 after going 1-0 down v Russia. Russia looked very good tonight and will give Holland a game I reckon.
It's been an odd day but despite today's highs/lows I've only taken a step back of about £9 so although my 33 bet winning sequence has been broken I am still on track and live to fight another day.
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