What would you do?

Shropshire is a beautiful county, of that there is no doubt. I took the kids out for a stomp yesterday afternoon. Wellies on, hoods up against the soft, grey blanket of mizzle rolling down from the Welsh Marches, strolling along the river. Flashes of electric blue as Kingfishers flit from branch to overhanging branch, brilliant against the dark water. Wild deer disturbed from their grazing, clambering up wooded banks, startled. Wild garlic growing among the nettles, free to pick. And best of all, not another person spotted in the two hours we were out.

Bollocks to it!

It's all very well this solitude, this scenery. But could I get my Live Scores app to work? No, I flaming well couldn't. Perhaps it wasn't a bad thing, but it meant I was completely in the dark as to how the footie was going.

As it happens, it was going very nicely, a last minute winner for Kidderminster meaning that it was one from one for The Football Analyst 7/22, a winning single for Skeeve, and part of a winning double too to add to the profits in what was an all-round top weekend for the non-league maestro. Big goal, and scored in the 91st minute at that.

The Sportsman landed their Over 2.5 goals bet, Strike Zone's one home bet won, and the Summer of Football found two winners from four to add to their two winners on Friday night (from two bets). One winner from two bets today too, so a good weekend for the new boys.

Finally, Football Elite, whose new policy of seeking draw cover paid off as both selections on Saturday drew.

The Form Analyst: Staked 1pt, +1.8pts.
Skeeve: Staked 15pts, +11.75pts.
Summer Of Football: Staked 7pts, +3.76pts.
The Sportsman: Staked 0.15pts, +0.085pts.
Strike Zone (homes): Staked 1pt, +1.02pts.
Football Elite: Staked 2pts, +/-.



That's the good news. Now the bad news that is racing.

The poor run on the horses that started at the back end of last month has very much carried on into the beginning of this. Nothing unusual of course, but putting on the bets over the weekend has created a real dilemma, and to be quite honest, I really don't know how I'm going to play it. Let me explain.

I resubscribed to 4PA last month, just prior to Bet365 restricting my account and Paddy Power tightening their restrictions. Yesterday, they tipped Fantasy Gladiator at Kempton (advised price: 14/1, which was "generally available"). I had Bestbetting odds comparison site open as the tip came through. The best price available was 10/1, so I waited until 8.30 when some of the bookies provide a window during which they push out the prices to what they were before being backed in (or at least mentioned as the Pricewise horses).

At 8.30, I was ready to get a half point each way and a half point on the win on Fantasy Gladiator. This is what I had to do to get this money on, a total outlay of just £45...

£2ew 16/1 Paddy Power
£7.50ew 16/1 Boylesports
£5.50ew 14/1 Hills
£10 12/1 Coral
£5 10/1 Betinternet

WTF!?!

So what do I do? I really don't want to be going to this level of hassle to get on the 4PA bets, but I have five months of subs remaining.

There is likely to be a 4PA bet in the Irish National tomorrow. Later this week, Aintree will start and that will surely be three busy days for the service.

What would you do?

4PA: Staked 2pts, -2pts.
On The Nose: Staked 6pts, -4.391pts.
Chasemaster: Staked 1.25pts, -0.469pts.
The Market Examiner: Staked 4pts, -4pts.
The Sportsman Racing: Staked 0.5pts, -0.5pts.
Winning Racing Tips: Staked 0.4pts, +0.02pts.


One last thing. I was in the coffee shop at the Assembly Rooms in Ludlow yesterday for 8.00. I left at just after midday. I drank five coffees, each costing £2.15. It was quite pleasant sitting there, I must admit. I don't get much chance these days to read the papers and I was able to do just that, nicely chilled. But...BT Openzone = £5 for 24 hours internet connection. Think I might do that next time. :)