Prince Of Rome your crowning glory this week

ESPONSIBLE gambling’ is currently mentioned in a bookmaking advert, it’s a total misnomer, in my book!

Betting is all about investment, not in every race but when opportunities present themselves, occasionally.

How is it possible to gamble responsibly?

Think about the wording and cynical undertones, then study ‘terms and conditions’ which nigh on preclude any chances for punters, in the long run.

This dedicated all-weather racing column, unlike any other, is all about a professional approach; guidance for readers who rely on my judgement, based on colossal experience and information over decades of negotiating minefields, traps, set by bookmakers who want you to be responsible, for keeping them in luxury!

As mentioned, so often, it’s impossible to win every day, accumulating profit monthly is my objective; certain days would represent ‘no bet’ if it were possible but no one would pick up this paper for the horse-racing context if we advised against wagering on a regular basis

The late, great, Alex Bird, once stated ‘I’m mortified at the thought of losing’ and he was being truthful, given the effort he put into making horse-racing pay.

During his years of energy and obsession he’d burn the midnight oil in a quest to relieve bookmakers of substantial money but, he had a different approach and boy did it pay off!

His whole modus operandi eventually became all about each-way doubles/trebles, based on race-times and computations carried out by his private handicapper; hence the fact you are reading a columnist who confines daily activity to what much of what he learned from involvement with

Bird, a tough, no-nonsense individual who wasn’t afraid of taking on the enemy at a time when bookmakers bet like men and weren’t glorified accountants.

Nowadays such opportunities are few; place odds have been marginalised/slashed, any sizeable ‘investor’ is scrutinised with an asterisk, for benefit of office staff working in bookmaking offices, where indeed ‘T & C’s’ completely rule what will happen if they encounter successful punters.

Following my selections is a ‘no-brainer’ but lay out an amount daily, within acceptable parameters, because it makes sense not to attract attention otherwise, like the letter delivered to my home once stated, ‘your account has become uneconomical’, will apply.

Alex Bird was an investor but ironically he gambled irresponsibly as it happened, as a substantial Lloyds Underwriter; after two successive ‘crashes’ occurred (in mid-oceans!) he suffered colossal financial turmoil and died of cancer aged 72! In the 1970’s we ruled the world!

Serial losers Thrave and Prince Of Rome have slipped to winnable marks for handicaps on Wolverhampton tapeta tonight when appropriately-named Never Dark attempts to retrieve last time lout losses (mine!) in the concluding Maiden Stakes over six furlongs.

Until next Friday there is no all-weather racing...!

Wolverhampton, 6.30 Prince Of Rome (e.w); 7.00 Thrave (e.w); 8.30 Never Dark (nape.w.