A different perspective.

Last night, I talked about how a third party can sometimes provide a different perspective on things that may be troubling you about your gambling. I don't know how anyone else feels, but there are times when I find serious gambling to be a pretty lonely business. If no man is an island, this game can make you feel pretty cut off at times; it can be the tide coming in and covering your route back to the mainland.

This situation in itself can lead quite understandably to self-absorption and introspection. What might in reality be a small matter may be blown out of proportion and sometimes it is possible for the investor's judgement to be affected, is it not? And it is at precisely this time, that an outsider's viewpoint or "angle" can be so beneficial.

Peter, of Chasemaster, yesterday provided me with a second example of where I may have lost a little objectivity to my perspective in as many days. He posted...

"Hi
Peter here from Chasemaster and I hope you don't mind me posting a comment on your interesting blog. I don't understand the problem with a 9/2 shot each way in a 5 runner race. The raw odds of a place are 2/5 (40%) and at 1/4 the odds returns a small profit on the place. Many services, mine included yesterday, have backed a 5/1 shot for a place in an 8 runner race without comment. The raw odds are 3/8 (37.5%) and the place only returns your stake."

Can't really argue with that, to be honest. But what I find interesting, is that I would never in a million years have had this thought process about backing a 9/2 shot each way in a five runner race. As I mentioned in my reply to Peter, for the last twenty-odd years I have been entrenched in my opinion that backing each way in a race with seven runners or less somehow contravenes one of the gambling commandments. The source of these commandments? I have some vague memory of a letter published in the back of the 'Raceform Update'.

Anyway, I have - quite rightly - been admonished, and possibly in the nicest way ever. Just another note about Chasemaster though. Reading over again what I said about the service in the February racing review the other night, I can see that what I wrote could be seen a little as damning with faint praise. This was certainly not my intention. I enjoy the service. It has a nice feel, if you know what I mean? Dealing with bets coming through at unexpected times keeps life interesting, and believe me, it doesn't happen at all often. And what is the alternative? For Peter and his colleagues to identify what they believe to be a good bet but then not send it through to their subscribers because of a self-imposed time restraint? I don't think so, do you?


In another comment left on the blog yesterday, Mark asked me for an opinion on the Secret Betting Club. I gave a very short, minimalist reply, as I believe this would make the subject of a good post in itself. Next week I think, on that one.


Today's Action

A better day today on the nags. Winning Racing Tips took most of the plaudits by finding one winner (Henry King - Taunton - 4/1) and a placed (Furrows - Ludlow - 14/1) from three selections. Not far behind in plaudits earned terms came On The Nose who found two winners from two selections (Isn't That Lucky - Ludlow - 4/1 and Henry King - Taunton - 4/1). PJA NH also found a winner (Isn't That Lucky - Ludlow - 4/1) amongst four tips and turned a small profit. Northern Monkey Punter and Chasemaster each put up one bet apiece and both were unplaced, and ProBandit didn't find the winner of the race they played in.

PJA NH: Staked 3.25pts, +0.625pts.
Northern Monkey Punter: Staked 0.5pts, -0.5pts.
On The Nose: Staked 1pt, +4pts.
Pro Bandit: Staked 0.75pts, -0.75pts.
Winning Racing Tips: Staked 1.6pts, +1.88pts.
Chasemaster: Staked 0.5pts, -0.5pts.
Financial profit on the horses of £135.30.

The only sports bet today was struck by The Sportsman and it proved to be a winner in tonight's Premier League Darts.

The Sportsman: Staked 0.1pt, +0.066pts.
Financial profit on the darts of £13.20.

Thursday 3rd March: Staked £271, +£148.62.
Week to date: Staked £1,081, +£108.02.
Month to date: Staked £951, +£87.02, roi 9.15%.

Goodnight!