Sunday 31 January 2016

Trumped up

"Everyone, deep in their hearts, is waiting for the end of the world to come." - Haruki Murakami 

The election of POTUS gets properly underway tomorrow with the Iowa caucus. The last meaningful poll for this Republican caucus showed Trump in the lead on 28% (+6) with Cruz next on 23% (-2). The bookmakers generally bet 4/9 the Toupee, 7/4 Cruz, 10/1 bar.

For the Republican nomination Trump is now odds on with some firms.

If you took some 20/1 Trump for the nomination, as suggested on this blog last July, you are in a good position as you can lay him for a few quid at around 2.08 on betfair as I write. You will have to decide whether to do that or not. Betting recommendations on the blog closed on 1st November 2015 as you know! It's a timely point at which to consider your position though with everything kicking off tomorrow.



Wednesday 20 January 2016

Racing Post article 17 January 2016

WHY I’M A RACING FAN- MIKE QUIGLEY 
The retired betting industry veteran, 67, with his memories of the sport

"Irish racing is my real passion – and I’ve visited all 27 tracks"


A SCHOOL FRIEND introduced me to horseracing, after which my father, who had little interest in the sport, indulged me sufficiently to take my bets to the local bookmaker.

“That’s another gallon of petrol for the bookie’s car!” he’d say to me.
It wasn’t until university that I visited a racecourse: Newmarket, 1967, 2,000 Guineas day when Royal Palace won. From a betting perspective it wasn’t successful. I’d been sold a ‘marked’ racecard in the car park at three times its face value. None of the selections won.

After racing it was rather fortunate I’d no money left and couldn’t be coerced by card tricksters into finding the lady. Nevertheless, I was hooked.

Not knowing what to do with my physics degree but still harbouring the racing bug, I joined Ladbrokes as a trainee manager. Later I worked for William Hill, the Tote and Betfair before retiring in 2008. My most memorable racing days have been outside Britain, including four trips to the Breeders’ Cup, plus places like Sha Tin, Pardubice, Longchamp and Chantilly.

My real passion, though, is Irish racing. In 2004 I completed visits to all 27 Irish tracks when I went to Tralee. For nearly 20 years I’ve written about my Irish trips on my website, and most articles have appeared in the London Racing Club magazine.

We live in Ludlow now which has a picturesque track – but you’re just as likely to find me at Leopardstown or the Galway festival.
‘My most memorable racing days have been outside Britain, including four trips to the Breeders’ Cup’