I’ve been to Cheltenham. Once. Not during the madness. It was a sunny autumn weekend. Cheltenham was at its Regency best. Its terraces gleamed. Its town hall buzzed with festivities. I didn’t see a horse in sight. I think my hotel bordered the race course. I was far more interested in the fact the hotel was right beside the British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). I could spy on the spies!

Not a horse in sight.

I was going through my arty period so I wasn’t that interested in horses. The fact I still hadn’t a full-time job also coloured my lack of interest in horses.

Fast forward ten years and i’m on a salary. I’m in a sports mad working environment. I throw in the odd few euros to the sweepstakes. And then I have my PC...

Yes, there is no need to enter the weird world of the betting shop. With a few clicks of the mouse I can place doubles, trebles or on the nose winning bets. It wasn’t Cheltenham that started me off. Spain’s win in South Africa made me enough cash to allow it sit in my online account until the next time I needed it.

It is not real money in my mind.

This brings us to this year. It didn’t get off to a good start. I forgot my password. (As you can see, I place a wager daily). So when I finally got into my account, the princely sum of €4.50 was waiting for me. The world was my oyster. Three 50c bets.

Yesterday, the good news was one of my gambles actually WON. By the end of the day I still had €4.50 in my account. I refused to add anything more.

But now the second day of Cheltenham is nearly over and my first massive investment of 75c crashed and burned.
I’m such a high roller.

Enjoy the races.