UK Horse Racing Tips

Could this be the best £3.34 I have ever spent?

[Originally priced £14,99]

I say this in humour but also in fact as today the book arrived! I’m already loving Ron Pollard’s Odds & Sods betting industry related book. It was like an unboxing – unwrapping – as the book was pushed through the letterbox and the next thing I’m tearing off the black plastic wrapper to reveal the book.

I must thank Goldstone Books for an exemplary service.

The dust cover is brilliant with a cartoon style black ink depiction of Pollard as a caricature resplendent in his hat, trench coat and binoculars standing in front of the Houses of Parliament, specifically Big Ben. It looks like there are a few Ministers of Parliament huffing and puffing, no doubt reeling from the Tory leadership battle after the Christine Keeler affair. They must have seen Ron chalking-up the odds.

Ron Pollard’s book details his career which started working as a clerk for William Hill. However, he made a name for himself when employed by Ladbrokes and the prominent position of PR Director. Pollard captured the imagination of bookmaking by pricing up what could be said novel betting opportunities which found favour not only with punters but the press alike. Those who today will be looking for free bets uk, would love the zany take of Pollard’s pricing.

He realised there was more to betting than horse racing, greyhounds, football and golf.

Without question, he was a hit and known as ‘the most famous odds-maker in the world’ bringing national and international success to his business as a ‘merchant of chance’.

If you have ever wondered who was behind so many novel bets then look no further than Pollard:

Which party will win the next election?

Which novel will win the Booker Prize?

What are the odds of a white Christmas?

Or even finding the Loch Ness monster?

If you wanted a price for aliens taking over the Government then Pollard was your man.

As Ron Pollard said: ‘From bookmaker to book writer’. With stories from triumph and tribulation at the racecourse to the casino with anecdotes about politicians, royalty, sportspeople and celebrities we have insight by a man from very humble beginnings.

With 14 chapters and 195 pages about Odds And Sods I’m very much looking forward to hearing about these stories to be told. I first heard of Ron Pollard after reading Harry Findlay’s Gambling For Life: The Man Who Won Millions And Spent Every Penny, published by Trinity Mirror Sport Media 2017 (a very good read). He mentioned Pollard with reference to working at William Hill about bookmaking practices at the time.

To be fair, I had never heard about Ron Pollard although at the time of publication I was aged 21 and had an interest in horse racing and gambling so perhaps I just forgot about the man himself. Anyway, I am very much looking forward to reading this publication as I can tell it will be both entertaining and insightful.

In an article written by Bruce Webber the journalist said: ‘Mr. Pollard, a British odds-maker who recognised a human craving to gamble on anything and everything…’

Never a truer word said.

Ron Pollard passed away in 2015 at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and three children.

I didn’t even know what I was doing. I’d sat there looking at something and nothing as if a trance. I guess if I was observed by someone via remote camera it would be a trend they noticed all day long. Well, patches of being cognisant while others times some kind of zombie-like character who has drifted off the set of The Walking Dead. ‘There he is, again, looking in the fridge, dreaming about at a slab of luncheon meat sitting on a plate.’

To be fair I hadn’t heard of the term Junk Hours until watching a YouTube video from Brian Moncada, and his Adman Mastermind, which he held a Miami Florida. It was actually made in reference to runners who do, as they call them, junk miles. In essence, running miles with no particular reason or significance. It has been proven that the performance doesn’t improve running ‘junk miles’ it’s just something runners do. However, not only is it a waste of time and unproductive it can lead to unnecessary injury.

It’s worth noting it you have ever said: ‘I’m not sure what I was doing all day.’

Even very successful business people find they are victim to junk hours. They just morph into a half productive day which could be much better spent.

I have found myself doing the same when gambling. Not just gambling, but preparation for the day ahead. Thinking I should do this or that and find I’m daydreaming about something. One of the best ways to counter junk hours is to plan your day ahead. It is easy to consider that the here and now doesn’t need to be planned as if, somehow, next week is more important. Perhaps that how the junk hours work. I guess its more of a junk mind which needs some direction. When you consider that most of our life is about all these small ‘mundane’ things we need to realise that they actually equate to the majority of our life. Without realising it, we may be wasting 80% of our time because we hadn’t really thought too much about what we were doing. Just think if everything we did was so unproductive that it took two minutes rather than one. A small action would result in half of our day wasted. It’s a scary thought, this not thinking.

It’s interesting how some people have found it is even beneficial to plan their days off. You kind of think a day off should be about forgetting about the clock or planning like you have some kind of checklist. However, there is research to suggest that you have a much better day when you do actually plan it to the point of no return. From waking up and hour by hour thereafter. If it puts a smile on your face then why not give it a try.

There are lots of posts on the internet about junk miles questioning its validity. However, I can see it is relevant to my life (well, junk hours, as I don’t do any running these days). If we plan our day it could be possible to work half of the time and get as much done or even be more productive. We wouldn’t be saying: ‘I’ve been working 16 hours and then sleep 8 each night.’

‘Boy’ do I work hard?’

‘Actually, no. You’re the equivalent to a zombie extra on some b-list movie. You can’t remember gnawing on someone’s skull for five hours flat, but we have it all on film.’

We all know we are not productive when tired.

There I am in bed reading my favourite gambling book and very sleepy. I’ve had some nights where I’ve read that same sentence 50 times and still not got to the end. I close the book in exhaustion and went to sleep.

If that can happen when I’m in junk mode what’s happening the rest of the day?

I’m sure if someone videoed us in our working day and analysed it (a nice written report) we wouldn’t quite believe what our day’s work amounts to or looks like. For many, if not most, it wouldn’t amount to much. From my assessment of the junk hours I really can’t remember much at all.

Perhaps you don’t want to be a man with a plan but if that actually saves hours a day, it may be a good exercise.

Plan, plan and plan again.

You know, I really need to focus.

‘Fancy going for a run!’

It’s now the start of the Flat turf season for the two year olds. It’s a time of excitement but also tinged with trepidation. Perhaps that is a little too strong a word.

I am ready for the journey ahead.

This year seems even more important than most, which is saying something after 30+ years of work. To be a professional gambler takes in-depth knowledge and a grounded person. I didn’t just wake up one morning with the skills to beat the layers. It has been a journey of self-learning, testing my mettle, and appreciating mistakes. It would be foolish to consider the layers are easy prey. Bookmakers don’t make millions a year from being second best. As the saying goes: ‘Vegas wasn’t built on winners.’

When it comes to skill, I am prepared to look the best in the eyes and smile.

However, I don’t want to realize this time next year that I was foolish in my endeavours.

As with all investments, there are no guarantees. We live in a very competitive world. Just because we can’t see the competition, it doesn’t mean it’s not there. As Dave Nevison once said: ‘Bet like a man.’

We all have dreams. At least, we should do. But, let’s face it, few are going to help them come true. We are either building our dream or someone else’s. That’s why I have worked hard to be my best. All I can be, which is everything, is as good as I can be. When gambling it isn’t all about winners. It is about finding value. Betting with skill so that long-term you win. I could bet £1000 over ten bets at 1/10 to win £1000. One loss, I would break even. So often people bet on favourites because they give false hope. They are an illusion. You see the winners but are they ever enough to discount the losers which bite into your profit?

People are surprised when I say: ‘I rarely bet on a horse that isn’t double-figure odds.’ I can see in their face that it puzzles them. They cannot grasp how that can be but also appreciate that when I say something it has worth. Without question, it intrigues them. They always want to know more and appreciate how this works.

Perhaps it sounds like alchemy.

‘So you can turn lead into gold. Is that what you’re telling me?’

They never ask that question, although I’m sure they are thinking it. I say they, as I have a mailing list of about 1000 subscribers. I rarely send out any mailings. The strange thing is that people are interested in less than more. I guess it makes sense. When you try too hard to sell people can see it a mile off. I have nothing to sell. That gets the interest to a new level. However, I am doing the horses for myself. I work with my brother and one other person in the group who we kind of mentor. They are there for the ride.

The Flat turf season starts on the 23rd March and finishes in early November. Out of season, I have been updating my horse trainer statistics. There are at least 200 horse trainers in the UK. It pays to have an appreciation of all. Every trainer has their day. If they train long enough they will get a good horse, eventually. They deserve one.

So I have been honing my skills to be up to the task.

You may be reading this and thinking: ‘What does he know?’

You’d be surprised. Each and every mistake has been assessed to make improvement. Each question answered. But within that understanding a knowledge there will be more questions to come. Additional answers found. It takes time to cut and polish a diamond. You don’t just give it to someone who fancies a go.

To be a good gambler, you need to keep calm. You need to be confident in your knowledge and ability. You need to enjoy what you are doing and make it work for you. Too many people are stuck on this eternal conveyor belt, and they cannot get off. Quite often, they have actually created it themselves.

The answer to the question of gambling is having the skills to make a healthy profit and bet enough money to outweigh the cost of living.

That is where the bar is set.

I don’t worry about the layers. It is very much like an elite athlete. They have to perform to their best. That’s how they get world records.

In truth, the season is short. The start of the season is slow to gather pace. And that’s why every opportunity must be taken. However, you cannot afford to push too hard. Never try too hard. Never look for the next winners as if it can be thought into being. Just put in the time, use your skills and bet accordingly.

Simply do what you should do all season.

Work with professionalism.

When the winners come, enjoy them. Go do something exciting. Re-enforce the act of success.

The money is there to be won.

You don’t even need to be the best in the world.

Just be a little better than most.

I don’t like being negative so I’m in two minds to write this article. I’m a lover of horse racing and frequently visit Great Yarmouth Racecourse. I know what you are saying: ‘Well, I see your problem already! You’ve been following the wrong code of racing from the start. How can the Flat compare with the National Hunt?’ I’ve been to a couple of National hunt meetings: Huntingdon & Fakenham. To be honest, I enjoyed the experience. Sadly, I’ve seen a couple of horses fatally injured. Nothing worse that hearing the sigh of the crowd, followed by the cheering on the winner and five minutes later a jockey walking back with a saddle but no horse. That’s not my reason for not wanting to go to the Cheltenham Festival.

Living in Cambridgeshire, a Fen Boy, it would take three or four hours to get to Prestbury Park, Gloucestershire. I guess I could get the train from March changing at Birmingham New Street and some 2 hours and 6 minutes later I’m at Cheltenham Spa. Standard return costs £105.10 or First Class at £275.20.

I could have got a day out with the Ship Inn public house in my home town which would have been a much cheaper alternative. Paul, the landlord, is a lovely man and generous. My brother and I have been with the groovy gang to Fakenham (the first time called off when we arrived after torrential rain and waterlogging), the second time I couldn’t attend but my brother, Tony, and cousin, Danny, had a great day out and returned in profit.

Cheltenham tickets range from £37 – £86 (Club Enclosure) so a pretty expensive affair if you want to go all four days.

£7.50 for a pint of Guinness. Yes, it’s probably a quid extra compared to Great Yarmouth. In fact, the entry to Ladies’ Day on the coastal track is a pretty similar price (£31).

I know what you’re saying: ‘It’s horses for courses.’

To be fair you are getting closer to my reason why the impossible is happening before your eyes that I would rather go to Great Yarmouth than The Cheltenham Festival. ‘The sea air must have addled his mind! A candyfloss laden with drugs. Perhaps the Puppet Man had a word in my shell.’

In reality, I can’t give the reason of travel times as an excuse. It takes an hour less to get to Cheltenham.

The problem I have with Cheltenham is that it’s one hell of a busy place. In fact, 65,000 people attend each day. I’m not sure how busy and cramped that seems but watching on TV I kind of think about a goldfish in a bowl. A small round bowl, without the gravel or castle. As the weather turns, I’m thinking where will I go to get out of the rain. Do I need a wax jacket, flat cap and Dunlop Wellington boots? Should I take a packed lunch? And will I ever get to the bar for my pint? And after a few pints, how long do I have to wait for the toilets?

I remember years ago I went on a bus from our local The Lord Nelson pub to Royal Ascot. I think that was Ladies Day. Honestly, that was one of the worst days I ever had at the races. It rained all day. Drenched to the skin. Huddled under cover for a short time like sardines in a can. If I could have clicked my fingers, I’d have been transported home. Instead we had some old coach take us home. An endless journey, starring out of a rainy window. Communities looking at us thinking we had been rescued from a sinking ship.

I’ve never been so happy to return home.

The thought of travelling to the Cheltenham Festival to be stuck in a giant crowd isn’t a good feeling. A sea of umbrella’s (I’d be one of the poor souls who didn’t bring theirs), squelching feet. Honestly, one loser would push me over the edge. I’d be crying into my Guinness which would be topped up with rain.

I’m sure if dressed for any weather, a luxury hotel down the road and some VIP experience I’d be singing to the rafters about my day(s) at Prestbury Park.

Give me a lovely summer’s day at Great Yarmouth, ideally mid-week when there’s hardly a crowd.

Sometimes you have to be against the crowd.

On this occasion I am.