How would you like to trade a market where you get large regular price swings every 10 minutes in the afternoon, seven days a week. A
market where all prices are set purely by supply and demand, few transaction costs, no middle men and you only pay commission if you win? Where you can freely act as a market maker and where you have direct market access and where you can create a spread for others to take?

Betfair has revolutionised the betting market and created an open platform for exchanging risk on sports events. This market is now viewed much more like a traditional financial risk market than an old fashioned betting market. Smart users have realised that there are huge opportunities on Betfair because they can buy and sell risk in much the same way they would in a normal financial market but without the burden of cost or the restricted access that is usually associated with traditional financial markets.

Click here to learn more

That's interesting, I was thinking of going to Haydock tomorrow (I live in the Stockport area), mainly to see Penzance (I'm a member of the Elite Racing Club and own between 3 and 4 hairs in his tail) and the big race of course.
But I think I've changed my mind - I suffer with the cold too much and it can be bitter at a racecourse, particularly towards the end.
Plus the fact that I have several possible punts tomorrow that I'd be better sorting out in front of the machine. And you do see a lot more on TV of course, though if it's BBC it will be with the sound off (can't stand Pitman, Carson and Scudamore).
Haydock is a lovely course though and in super weather it is a joy to be there.

Had mixed fortunes in the snooker the other night - not used to this 6-frame lark and it has some odd facets to it. Did OK in the Davis match mainly because I was following him. Couldn't believe my first green bet - backed him at 2.36 in the first frame and could cover and profit after the first red at 2! Covered most of my bets but didn't make much as I was cautiously only using smallish stakes.

The O'Sullivan match was quite different and I lost a fair bit trying to recover from a losing position - towards the end I was due to lose on all 3 lines (though not on O'S of course because he couldn't win anyway) and the way the play went right at the end anything could have happened. Impressed with the Chinaman though and I'd never heard of him before!

Forgot to mention - betfair are offering tickets for Haydock tomorrow 2 for the price of 1. I've had an e-mail.

Schiff

My tickets are waiting on the gate at Haydock, purchased via the "betfair million" offer :-) 7.50 each to get into Tatts for a real quality days racing - just hope the weather doesnt spoil things (its f/c to be -4 overnight at Haydock) either via cancellation or just being too damned cold (FYI - im only up the road in Sale and both Harlosh and Bakko are both local to me)

Can you see anything turning over Kicking King in the chase? (especially now Celestial Gold has been withdrawn). Fancy Penzance to beat Faazel in the hurdle (any news from your ownership ?) Also tempted by Bleu Superbe to have a fighting chance against Bannow Strand though id want at least 5-1

I think Ollie Magern is in cracking form and will make a race of it - but I'm no expert so don't follow me, thinking I am!

Alan King is just a little bit cagey about Penzance. He's pleased with his work but says he is looking forward to getting this first run out of the way (which sounds to me like a tiny question mark). He is apparently straight enough to run a big race, though whatever he does he will be better for it (another tiny question mark!).
But I'll be backing it anyway out of love and affection - that day when he won the Triumph at the festival remains a super memory.

With such a small field I don't know whether the question of what cuts out the running is important. Maybe the RP will give some clues this evening. (Just had a look - it's no problem apparently. They think Faasel will reverse form with Penzance but they don't explain their case).

Best of luck whatever you do anyway.

In the Derby v Wolves match this evening I'm starting off with over 2.5g at 2.22!
There have been 53 goals in Derby's 18 home games this season (25-28).

Better put this right before someone tells me! Last line above delete 'home'.

Evening Schiff...No positions yet but will pounce when I see something decent, probably later on in the game.

Good call schiff on the over/unders. But with with 4mins to ft, I bet the ticker was racing :~)

edit: Oh er. 5mins of extra time :~)

I don't know if you watched the game, sealed, but the first half was so full of missed chances and the goals bearing a charmed life that I actually had a bit more on at 5.6. And then just forgot it for 25 minutes. Ceefax told me no goals had been scored and the odds were so poor to cover myself - I think 26 was being offered at one time - that I just decided to let it ride. I doubt if I'd ever make a trader but I'm not bad at gambling!
Watched the last 20 minutes, thought about reducing my exposure a bit at 4.6 when it was 0-1, decided not to and watched the rest of the game in bemused fascination. So I had two bets, let them ride and they both won. But not much skill involved.

Morning all

Haydock is on so off there in a bit - already nicely in profit on Kicking King :-)

For anyone trading the horses, Southwell starts at 11am today and there is a veritable feast of sport to trade to day - have a good day all

Top equal in the Racing Post Ratings for the big handicap hurdle at Haydock were My Way de Solzen, Tees Components & St Matthew! Tricast paid 855.36.

I follow Sue Smith's jumpers but not the hurdlers unfortunately - though St Matthew won for me over the bigger obstacles a few weeks back.

Looks like Betfair is down!

bloody useless

Not a good moment to break I'm too many events here. I should know better than to use it on a Saturday.

Some quality stuff out there as well at the moment, possibly the worst moment to break down!

Its struggling, 14:44:36 most recent failure.

Tell me about it Scrip, a pain!

I have open positions on the football, so I have to hope it comes back before many goals are scored really.

I have tried testing API and non API sites but it all appears to be down.

I don't know if anybody noticed but they recently changed their terms and conditions so they can kick out excess traffic hoggers. I sense some action coming on, on Monday.

http://www.betfair.com/lite/

Still down for maintainance from 17th November apparantly!

Phones busy!

Oh well, I may get lucky.