THE BETDAQ PUNTER returns with his usual mix of looking back on his betting week on BETDAQ and looking forward to this weekend.
He has bets this weekend in the football and of course the Cheltenham Festival next week.
He has three bets at the Cheltenham Festival and will cover the final day of the meeting, Gold Cup day, in his column next week.
Now, how did the last seven days fare?
Friday
Although there is a week and a bit to to go I am already thinking about the Festival, the pinnacle of jumps racing the world over. Apparently, all I have to do is open my wallet widely enough and subscribe to one of the numerous tipster services who know all the winners in advance, and riches beyond my wildest dreams will head my way – why do I find that so hard to believe lol? Fact is at this time of year I reduce my other bets to save for Cheltenham punting on BETDAQ and feel I have it all sorted out – though it never quite works out that way and I really ought to be a layer not a backer sometimes. Friday racing wasn’t worth a jot in all honesty so I read a whole lot of trainer interviews all over the place and settled for my weekly bet on the French football. This week we had Montpelier v Nantes which although not a certainly saw a big enough gap between home and away on the odds (2.1 and 4.15 on BETDAQ respectively) that a home win was my poison of choice. Being a chicken I made a mistake this time, of sorts, as after the home team went 1-0 up in the 75th minute, I laid the bet back at a shorter price (1.4) to lock in a profit, though once they scored a second goal I realised I should have been a bit braver!
Saturday
Football and pool all on the same day! I drove up to Blackpool to watch the best 8 ball pool players in the world in the IPA organised British Open where it was free entry for fans which is pretty good value for money even in my book. Naturally it was all pretty quiet but I still had BETDAQ open on my I-pad (sound turned down), and managed to get a few football bets on – thank goodness! 1.4 on BETDAQ for Manchester United really looked like a steal to me so in I went (yes, more than I should have), and sat back watching the text (how sad is that?), and beginning to panic when the Red Devils had failed to score by as it came up to the half time whistle. I admit I know precious little about Kagawa (I had to look up how to spell it), but he opened the scoring in the 45th minute and it was all one way traffic after that as he made it a hat-trick before Rooney made it 4-0 final score and job done. I would love to say that was my only bet but it wasn’t and I lost a bit on Newcastle away to Swansea, but that was it for the day as I drew stumps and kept a very easy profit – for a change.
Sunday
Never a good day for horse racing so I did a bit more reading (this is getting serious!), and had a few quid on the grudge Tottenham v Arsenal game – though sadly I snapped up most, if not all, of the 3.6 about the draw on BETDAQ. My thought process (worthless) was that the game was too important and they would cancel each other out but we all know it went Spurs way so my cash went with it – though it wasn’t much more than a fun bet so I can keep on smiling. I did look at the cricket (South Africa v Pakistan) but to be honest, I forgot to get my bet on which was lucky as South Africa were humbled at home, certainly not the way I thought it would pan out.
Monday
Eight days to Cheltenham (and yes I am counting), and time to see how the top trainers are performing ahead of the four days of racing heaven from Prestbury Park. Round one went to Paul Nicholls who seems to have his horses peaking at the right time when Whisky Yankee took the Ffos Las opener at BETDAQ odds of 3.35. A good start to the day for me and his only other runner also scored at 2.3 on BETDAQ, this time Wilton Milan at Southwell, so a good day to be a Nicholls fan! With no runners for Nicky Henderson or David Pipe that was that for the day for me though I should also point out that Jonjo O’Neill had three runners (one winner at BETDAQ odds of 4.2), while Donald McCain had the one runner who was pulled up at massive odds.
Tuesday
The biggest football game of then season so far saw Manchester United take on Real Madrid but then I suspect you know the result after the acres of column inches that have ensued ever since? To cut a long story short I saw the home win as the obvious conclusion at the end of 90 minutes (how wrong can you be) and snapped up some 2.95 on BETDAQ, though with hindsight the layers made Madrid favourites and were a lot smarter than me. I wont blame the referee but suffice to say you win some you lose some – lots of profit from United Saturday, and a smaller loss when they failed to live up to expectations here.
Wednesday
Horse racing in the day and then football in the evening – sheer bliss! Heronry was my idea of the banker today for the potent Nicky Henderson/A P McCoy combo down at Fontwell and so it proved as the five year old landed the odds for me and other favourite backers at 2.1 on BETDAQ (better than SP). That was my main bet but I had heard via various internet message boards that the Charlie Longsdon trained Beowulf was fancied in then bumper. Previously unraced, I missed the boat on any fancy early prices, but nicked a bit of 3.4 as he was backed down to 2.7 or so at the off but he failed to read the script and trailed in a well beaten third – can’t win them all I suppose. As for the football, not everyone will think odds on shots are value but 1.5 about Juventus to beat Celtic at home was a give away. Carrying a 0-3 lead from then first leg was my only concern I suppose (would they ease off?), but they still ran out comfortable winners on the night and I banked a few more pounds toward my Cheltenham kitty.
Thursday
My Cheltenham decisions have been made and are below for your perusal, right or wrong of course. A lot more reading and note making went in to this year (the beauty of the internet I suppose?), but sometime it has to stop and that time is now. Trainer Harry Fry had a couple of winners at Wincanton which must be a positive sign for Rock On Ruby in the Champion Hurdle, but other than that, not a lot to report. Another attempt at my handicap system seemed a laugh (favourites in handicaps to small stakes adjusting the bet each time after a loser), though NINE losers in a row made it squeaky bum time and I am only glad I was messing about to silly little stakes.
Conclusions:
Bet of the week – Manchester United to beat Norwich even at odds of 1.4 – a banker in all but name and a decent bet landed on BETDAQ thank you very much.
Disaster of the week – Manchester United losing to Real Madrid and at such a generous price as well!
Something for the weekend:
We will have a little football but horse racing next week is where the best bets seem to stand out. I am never happy backing Everton in case I jinx them but with Wigan manager Roberto Martinez looking likely to rest players to attempt to avoid relegation even the 1.5 looks like good value to me as David Moyes looks to end the Toffees trophy drought. My only other football bet will be on free scoring Watford who can be backed at 1.99 to see off Blackpool who are in free fall of late and heading down the table.
On to the racing at Cheltenham and I can cover Tuesday to Thursday here though do not panic, I won’t be trying to find the winner of every race! So we are clear, my thoughts are based on a series of trainer interviews I have been reading – so don’t blame me totally if they all go wrong. The obvious one on Tuesday seems to be Simonsig but he is odds on (1.71) and with Overturn a serious rival I can let him run unbacked. My Tent Or Yours will do for starters at about 2.96 on BETDAQ for Nicky Henderson in the opener on Tuesday while Our Mick (6.2) is well thought of by the McCain yard and well worth consideration in the next at 2.40pm.
Wednesday is never quite as exciting but Buddy Bolero is the best bet for the Pipe yard in the 1.30pm (BETDAQ odds of 8.2) and needs to be supported while I will also throw some money at Pont Alexandre who many see as the Irish banker in the 2.05pm (Yes, Sprinter Sacre is the good thing here but at what price?).
If I have any money left by Thursday then do not miss Riverside Theatre (7.6 on BETDAQ) in the Ryanair Chase – he seems to have been saved for this and won the race last year, leaving Peddlers Cross as my last bet in the World Hurdle – though more out of hope than anything else to be honest.
This week’s suggested bets (all prices with BETDAQ and correct at the time of writing):
Weekend Football
2pts Win Everton to beat Wigan Saturday at 1.5 2pts Win Watford to beat Blackpool Saturday at 1.99
Horse racing
1pt Win My Tent Or Yours Cheltenham Tuesday Half point Win Our Mick Cheltenham Tuesday
1pt Win Pont Alexandre Cheltenham Wednesday Half point Win Buddy Bolero Cheltenham Wednesday
Half point Win Riverside Theatre Cheltenham Thursday Half point Win Peddlers Cross Cheltenham Thursday
Did you know that as well as checking the realtime prices on BETDAQ below – you can also log into your account and place your bets directly into BETDAQ from BETDAQ TIPS.
