So, I'm sitting here with a reduced profit for the month, but a profit nonetheless,and I need to tiptoe through today to protect that. I'll be playing in the novices hurdle and hunters chase at Kelso, not a sentence I ever thought I'd write, but obviously I'll be keeping those to myself.
Which leaves a reduced stakes play on the two big chases to prevent itchy fingers.
3:25 Newbury
Seventh Sky 3pts ew at 12/1 and 2pts win Ballygarvey at 14/1
3:45 Doncaster
Samingarry 3pts ew at 12/1
and 1pt double the main bets.
Then I'll take my profit and say good job well done. But all the time I can feel the weight of March, Cheltenham looming, and the threat it poses to my new found discipline.
Discipline is a very important thing when it comes to gambling, Leakage is the ruin of many excellent judges. In today's ultra-competitive betting markets the major bookmakers have realised that the over-round doesn't matter that much. That's not what kills punters. What kills them is greed, indiscipline, inconsistent staking, the need for action.
So when I lost my discipline mid-afternoon and backed Glingerburn at no value I was not being wise, I was not being patient, I was not being strong. That's some horse though and he turned my day. When I chucked some of those winnings back turning my win bet on Balleygarvey into an each way one I was not being wise not at all. And when my fingers clicked on a small bet for old time's sake on Wayward Prince at 33/1 I was being particularly stupid and incontinent.
Them's the cards. You can play them badly and win. Sometimes.