Arbitrage

It's a lovely sensible word isn't it. Not the most fun that can be had in 9 letters I'd imagine but a good name for a nice slow ground devouring long distance staying chaser maybe? I'll get to that later....

Because of "Arbitrage" and purveyors of its super sensible and robotic like qualities then those who perhaps prefer a form book chance and even the old gut instinct are paying the price when it comes to having a wee wager themselves.

In the papers this week a certain punter called Jack Pedder appeared, not his real name and I'd be surprised if he existed at all - a character created in order to highlight an issue is probably far more likely.

Jack complained at not being able to get his bets on anymore having been a winning punter between 2006 and 2012, restrictions in his staking had simply "got so ridiculous" he "knocked it on the head".

It was claimed Jack had operated under 30 different names ( 31 if you count Mr J Pedder ) and with probably 500 accounts in action was ready to "chop off the nose" of any bookmaker willing to stray out of line with the masses. What's more, Jack did not have any knowledge of horses just a system which calculated likely return on investment using the Betfair markets to gauge true probability.

The game has changed with online betting. The exchanges do a far better job than the now ( I'm guessing ) relatively defunct odds compilers job whilst broadband bedroom warriors like Jack hover over multiple bet and lay buttons in search of a nifty here and a snide trade there making sure the out of liners step into place pronto. This is the state of play, the way of the land and if I was a bookie I'd be pretty careful not to be the J Pedder's layer of choice for his 30 aliases.

I don't like the idea of Jack and his kind as much as I don't like seeing punters have genuine wagers knocked back when just trying to back a judgement, good or bad as that may turn out to be.

I suspect there are many in the middle - judgement and fair game punters - who still need to leverage the accounts of friends and family to have a decent bet. I also suspect that as many of these punters lose as win in the long run.

Remember [and I am perhaps just about old enough] when you could form a relationship with the bookie at the end of the road. Give them a call to get the bet on if you couldn't nip out of work ( or school! ), pay them on Tuesday for a bet on Saturday and collect the winnings out of hours in the local pub if you had a bit of luck....they are much missed I'd imagine.

No Jacks then. Just regular Joe's enjoying a punt.....

Oh yes perhaps this sensible, slowly accumulating and winning name could be given to a decent nag? Sadly that hasn't worked out in the luck stakes for those that have tried it though, a handful of examples I could find grinding out sellers and low grade handicaps here and there. Quite rightly so I hear you all say....

As for having more fun with nine letters, well answers on a postcard always welcome

Good luck to all.