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More nature stuff....The BBC recently posted some information on how a single species of ant has established mega-colonies in California and Japan. There is one in Europe too, about 4000 miles long following the Mediterranean coast.

Apparently scientists believe it could be part of one gigantic colony that stretches across the world. Generally ants are rivals and will attack each other - even if they are the same species - but when Argentine ants from three continents were brought into close proximity - they rubbed antennae (saying 'hello' basically).








Maybe it is just their relaxed South American nature! But there is a more scientific reason - chemical testing showed that originally they were probably from the same 'family'. Incredible really.

Only humans extend in masses to the same degree as ants - although people are certainly more destructive. Maybe that's why ants are starting to band together...

posted by Betting Exchange Trader

At present I am concentrating on strike rate while also trying to cut my losing positions as quickly as possible - on the pre-race trading. Of course you have to know that they are losing positions in the first place! Mondays are the worst day for me so far in the few months that I have been pre-race trading. I think it is because the quality of racing is very poor just after the weekend - when racing is fairly decent. Still, it is only fair that I put up these results too.



There were a few trades on 'page 2' - two losing and one winning - but ultimately my strike rate was 70% with pretty meagre profits. Strike rate means nothing if too many of your profitable trades are scratch trades and your few losing trades are big ones.

I hope with time and practice things will improve. It would be a good thing to be able to do consistently and add profit to my main skillset which is trading in-play.

posted by Betting Exchange Trader

Goals (and lack of draws) are in abundance in Premiership this season - there hasn't been a start like it. I've heard some columnists put it down to the lack of quality defenders being unable to deal with strikers like Drogba, Torres and Rooney. But the latter were there last season and with Ronaldo now at Real you could almost expect less goals to be flying in. In any case there are still a lot of solid defenders around - even if they are a dying breed as football demands more 'attack minded' defensive players .

A major factor has to be the ball itself. In the past few seasons the match balls have been getting lighter and seem to have a mind of their own. This season the culprit is the Nike T90 Ascente designed with the help of the latest 'golf ball technology'. This ball apparently just fires off your foot at immense speed and can change course numerous times on the way to goal.

You have to feel sorry for the goalkeepers - they are up against it - and it must be frustrating to know that the ball that swerved, dipped, and changed course three or four times before hitting the back of your net was less to do with the skill of the individual who struck it and more to do with the ball itself.

Yet the season isn't over - perhaps there is still a correction to come. We may see an unprecedented number of draws in the middle part or end of the season as goalkeepers get to grips with the ball and poorer weather condition set in. Perhaps we should be looking at high score draws...

Keep an eye on things. We could all be blindly laying the draw next season.

posted by Betting Exchange Trader

Some of you may recall that around the beginning of August I decided to focus on pre-race trading on Betfair - to give it a real go for a few months.

In the past I have looked at it for the odd week or fortnight but jacked it in because I couldn't 'see' what was going on in the markets and, probably, because I was making good money betting!

From reading other trading blogs I realise now how much dedication and time is required to become successful.

After two months, things are beginning to click, somehow you just see things, patterns I guess. In the last week or so my strike rate has been in the region of 75% and my best efforts have yielded profit in 21 trades in a row.

I don't think it is a good thing to get preoccupied with 'winning trade' sequences - but it is not a bad exercise for a novice.

I will try to post some results in the next week or two and maybe look at posting a trading video - just for interest.

posted by Betting Exchange Trader

It was back down to earth with a bang in September. I missed about 4 days because of remote server / software issues. Total points profit/loss was -92.6 points over around 700 bets - so that basically wipes out the profit for August.

This is fully expected of course. But I will continue for 3000-4000 bets before I pack it in or adjust things having anaysed results. If there is an edge it will be very small I am sure!

posted by Betting Exchange Trader

Kelly Harrison came through to win on Bateau Bleu yesterday in the 5.10 at Nottingham. Nothing short of a miracle really.

The beast (not Kelly!) was hanging all over the place, had been upped in trip on it's last three runs never finishing better than 7th, and had been off the track since the Cretaceous period. Must have had some weight taken off - but still!

I had a trading profit on this race of about GBP 34.00 and I am always tempted to bung a few quid on the outsiders especially in tight handicaps. It shouldn't make any real difference long term but it's a bit of a thrill winning at big prices!

I think my biggest odds winner ever was on a horse called Culcabock at 150/1 on Betfair. I only had about 25.00 to 50.00 e/w on it but it was still a great coup. Rather a long time ago though now...

posted by Betting Exchange Trader