Just when you think you’ve got this game cracked . . . – From The Dragon’s Mouth: 17

Just when you think you’ve got this game cracked . . .

After a few good weeks, and with the sun shining, things were going well at DragonBet.

So, with a spring in our stride last Friday we went to Chepstow for a seven-race card. The half term fixture and pleasant weather brought out a healthy crowd.

It’s hard not to enjoy the job on days like that. It certainly beats office work, anyway.

To add to the enjoyment there were seven races and not one favourite came in. Two odds-on chances were beaten and we even got the course specialist (and previous cause of a lot of financial pain) Rhubarb turned over at odds of 13/8.

The action wasn’t heavy but there were a few £500s and £300 bets landed and I’m happy to say they stayed in the satchel.

Although Chepstow wasn’t the only show in town, as over at Epsom it was Oaks Day.

On site, we pushed every horse in the race and the business was pretty frantic.

Savethelastdance started the race the 5/6 jolly but she wasn’t the standout loser in our book.

Soul Sister, ridden by Frankie Dettori, was where we held the money and it definitely didn’t stay in the cyber satchel this time.

A couple of £1,000 bets and running on doubles with the jockey’s other winner, Emily Upjohn, left us well down on the Epsom Downs.

I keep thinking it’ll be a huge shame for racing when Frankie retires at the end of the season. He’ll leave a gigantic hole in the sport.

But I’m consoling myself that from a bookie’s perspective, he’ll be leaving less of a hole in our finances.

We’re already bracing ourselves for some frightening liabilities with accumulator bets placed around his rides at Royal Ascot.

It’ll be fascinating watching the markets that week, especially if he comes out firing and us bookies have to start running for cover.

As a habit, we don’t hedge bets but we’re considering some contingencies for this already.

Saturday, saw the Derby with the re-arranged start time due to the FA Cup. Again, we pushed every horse in the race but the business was a little underwhelming (I’ve since had it confirmed this was the case across the whole industry).

I can’t help but think the 1.30pm off time was a major factor. Personally, I’d love to see the race return to its Wednesday window and stand on its own two feet, but that’s unlikely.

The good news is that those Animal Rising odd balls didn’t mange to disrupt the race.

The bad news (for me, anyway) is that we did our conkers in on it. Augustine Rodin was by far and away the most popular of all the selections and once again highlighted what a master trainer Aidan O’Brien is.

They say it’s character building, this game, and that’s certainly one way of putting it.

This weekend we’ll be back at Chepstow, hoping to pick up where we left off last week.

We’re sponsoring a race and there’s an ABBA tribute band. What more could you want?

Well, Money, Money, Money is the plan!

Come and say hello if you’re there and pob lwc whatever you’re backing.