Thursday 4th January 2007

Today was the first day of this New Year that I have been able to concentrate fully on my job of Sports Trading. No parties, no visitors, sky fully working, my twins at nursery school, Au pair back at work to look after Zoe, and a reasonable afternoon of racing.

I ended up trading in 13 races and started with the 12:40 at Fontwell where I had a very small profitable trade on the favourite and winner Benetwood. My next race was the 12:55 at Thurles and here I had a big lay on Lace your Boots of £523 @ 4.50 when making the second of his three mistakes over the fences. I then backed him for £100 @ 5.50, £100 @ 5.40, £75 @ 5.03 and a further £52 @ 4.10, before he made his final mistake an unseated his jockey, to leave me with a very good profit of £195.

I then had a small, profitable trade in the 13:00 at Lingfield before my only losing trade of the day at Thurles in the 13:25 where I had backed Our Ben for £45 @ 1.20, when well in the lead, and just before the final fence, when he fell and cost me my £45.

In the 13:30 at Lingfield I laid Climate Change for £50 @ 3.40 when weakening out of contention between the last two hurdles to give me a profit of £50. I then had another five small winning trades.

Next up was the 15:40 at Fontwell where I laid the favourite, Owlesbury Dream for £387 at about a furlong out when being caught by the eventual, and easy, winner Princess Flame to give me another very good profit of £387. I followed this up with my final trade in the next race, the 15:50, at Wolverhampton, where I laid Shrewd Dude for £153 @ 4.80 whilst being overtaken by the Favourite Global Traffic to round my good day off with a further £153 profit. In total I finished the day with a profit of £757.

With no football on tv tonight my attention was caught by the trading on the new Glasgow Rangers Manager. After the very early departure of Paul Le Guen, the shortest serving manager for the club. The bookies favourite for the position at present is Walter Smith.  I like Walter a lot as most Rangers and now Scotland supporters do. My own personal opinion, for what it is worth, is that Walter will not be taking over the reigns again. I can not see him wanting to, or being allowed to, leave his Scotland job when he has done such a good job for the SFA. There is a lot of talk about Ally McCoist being involved, but I think he realises he is doing very well where he is with several part time jobs in the media and with the SFA.  I would like to see Terry Butcher come back to the club, but that will probably not happen either. Anyway I have laid Walter Smith for £300 with the view of backing him when the price gets up to 3.00. Wish me luck.

Comments

[Matt]

Hello,I'm French

Why are you not write your bets before races?

[Ray]

Hi Matt,
It is not possible to detail my bets before I have done them as I never take a view before the start of the race. All my trades are in-running and I therefore watch the race and see what is happening, then I either lay a horse that appears to be struggling or back a horse that looks like it will win. I hope that helps you.
Ray

[Rob]

Hi Ray
Good to see you starting the year well, I've just had my second year with 5 figure profits, which is good enough for me.....although I wouldn't mind getting better.....how did you do in the last twelve months ?

Also a little off the subject of betting, how many children have you got, a bit personal I know, but you do mention them and I was just curious (as it seems like a lot);-)? Perhaps thats why you have to do so well at the sports trading :-)
GL Rob

[Ray]

Hi Rob,
I am pleased you have had two good years, let's hope this one is even better. I had a very good year and hope to improve upon that this year.
I have six children from two marriages, they are Jennifer(23), Josephine(22), Oliver(21), Zoe(6) and the twins Amie & Leo(3).
Good Luck.
Ray

[les]

hi ray
enjoy your blog it's brill just one question on in running.do you use any one click software and if so which one
thanks les

[Richard]

Ray, great to read your blog. How do you get around the picture delays associated with in-running trades?

[Ray]

Hi Les,
Thanks for your comments. I have been trialling the STW over the last few days, but yesterday and for the whole of last year I used no software other than the Betdaq main site. When using Betdaq you need far fewer clicks to submit a bet. If you take a price on offer you only need two clicks and if you set up a lay or back you then only need one click to submit the bet. Good Luck.
Ray

[Ray]

Hi Richard,
Thanks for your comments. I just use ATR and ATRxtra when available or RUK, unless the race is on terrestrial TV. I then normally set up a trade and wait for what I believe the right moment to hit the submit button. Good Luck.
Ray

[humble]

A great day for you ray well done its days like those that makes it all worthwhile fantastic

[Ray]

Hi Humble,
Thanks, a day like that was due and much appreciated. Good Luck.
Ray

[Rob]

Thanks Ray
Lets hope we can all fashion a sizeable profit this year....I think we are well on the way now we have this blog as a channel of ideas.

Not looking good with the early goal in the Yeovil game, but I still fancy unders ;-)

The children, must keep you very busy, I have enough trouble with one 4 year old :-O

GL Rob

[Ray]

Hi Rob,
I hope the blog does help. Luckily I missed the start of the match tonight but I have got on the unders @ 2.56 and looking to start laying @ 2.32. The kids are brilliant even if I am a little old to have 3 so young. Good Luck tonight.
Ray

[Rob]

Hi Ray
So much for the unders :-O
Not sure what I'll do for the remainder of this game, although off for a takeaway in a min.....will probably trade the goals markets late on, maybe lay at short odds for a late goal aswell for a bonus.....as these games usually settle then finish on a high.

GL Rob

[Rob]

Hi Ray
Oh well not bad, made £88 on the game, trading down the under 4.5, tried my breadbutter laying no next goal at 1.02 with 50 secs left, but nothing, but it was a free bet really and I have found it a very profitable tactic with the number of Injury time goals!!Backed it back on the whistle at 1.01...

I love late goals ;-(

Hope you did well, 'speak' to you tomorrow
GL Rob

[Ray]

Hi Rob,
I lost £56 on the game which I consider a result as this game is the type that will always catch my system out with all those early goals. GL
Ray