Summary of performance

Time for a review of progress since launch of this blog.

Football
Points out: 912
Points in: 922.5
% returns: 101%

Football matches this season (included in above)
Points out: 100
Points in: 120
%returns: 120%

Golf
Points out: 303
Points in: 225
%returns: 74%

Racing
Points out: 50
Points in: 76
%returns: 152%

Racing (at escorialracing.co.uk - this flat season - not included in blog figures)
Points out: 1483
Points in: 1530
%returns: 103%

Others
Points out: 61
Points in: 143
%returns: 234%

ALL
Points out: 1326
Points in: 1366.5
%returns: 103%


Summary.
Football suffered the horrors of the world cup. This wasn't so bad on here, but set me back a fair way personally. The football match betting showed a profit last season, and so far early on this season is going well. I'm hopeful the ratings stack up and stealing the best prices does the rest.

Golf continues to be a drain. My syndicate partner and I have scaled back, and so in reality the points I suggest here are not actually the same bet size as the racing and football. I should probably bring all that into line on here, but hey it's only a blog no-one reads!

Racing-wise this hasn't been my best of seasons, and considering racing forms a significant part of my earnings-target, that has been a constant worry all year. The grinding bets (as put up on escorial) are showing a profit, but it's the "get rich" bets that have been dragging my own fund down. These are the ones that usually provide the leap forward you need, but you have to expect long painful losing runs with them, with near-misses part of the furniture. So it's been this season. For example I've done 59 forecasts over the season, with only one winner to show for it.


Bet and fund sizes:
To briefly summarise my racing bets are up to a maximum of 12 points. 12 points equates to 2% of my racing fund.

Football match bets are fixed at 5pts - this equates to 1.25% of my football fund. It was going to be raised to 2% after last season, but after the World Cup I had to scale back. I'd like to get to 2.5% next season.

Golf bets are usually just 1 or 2pts. 2pt is equivalent to half per cent of fund, and needs to be fixed so low to account for the prices and inevitable losing runs (plus the fact I'm losing!)

Other bets are variable. I have a "trading fund" and am willing to invest 20% of that fund on the right trade or 20% of the fund per event. The fund is a fifth the size of my racing fund and half the size of my football fund.


Bets in-running:
We still have to collect a nice amount on Ryan Moore as champion jockey. And Hayley should make it to 25 winners eventually. Our football league champions bets aren't looking quite so hot!


Future news:
Escorial is going subscription only at the end of October. I'm not entirely sure where this leaves me. I'm not sure how I feel about putting my thoughts up for free on a board that people pay for! I do hope it's a big success though - Ron sure deserves it for all the effort he's put into it. We'll see.