Goodbye 2025 Hello 2026

Whilst doing the research for todays Pau card I spotted a horse called Gardons Le Sourire which rang a loud bell. Scroll back nearly five and a half years and we were in Lockdown and the French had gone back racing well before we had – the 11^th May so I was bored of betting on tiny golf events like the Cactus and Outlaw tours so thought I would have a go. Fortunately for me the first two horses I backed won and a few days later Gardons ran @ Auteuil – I had £40 win 10/1 it won @ 11/2. From little acorns large oak trees grow – or in this case it’s still a sapling but it shows how you just have to keep on adapting to survive in this game.

I enter 2026 with a certain amount of trepidation as it will be the first year after 25 years of doing this that I will purely rely on betting as my source of income. “What?” I hear you cry – well if you ever listened to my Starsports Betting People interview you will realise I have always had little additional income streams whether that be arbitrage betting, writing articles, paid tipping services, affiliate deals etc alongside my own betting. Alas they are no more, but life changes constantly and the loss of a few friends suddenly this year certainly has focused my mind.

I have made a profit betting every year bar one in those 25 years so I know I can do it but with limited accounts it has become harder. It is quite interesting when you look at what accounts you have left and think, well the profits haven't been that great but then you have to think of all the accounts that have been closed and all the bookmakers that have disappeared and then it makes sense.

One thing I know for certain I will have to be more disciplined – might sound strange but it’s surprising how little wasted bets creep in and they add up. I have spent the past few months looking even more closely at where I do well on both golf and horse racing and I have identified stuff that I need to cut back on and bets where I have to stake more, that will hopefully become more apparent as the year progresses.

Some will ask why I ask for tips when tipping bets or even why I still tip at all. Well – I still have limited access to accounts to make certain bets count and if I’m honest what is better than making other people money? I don’t have a massive bankroll even after 25 years – you find in life other things get in the way – marriage, starting a family, divorce, buying and selling houses not necessarily at the right time all change our financial position. So I will continue to push the Paypal me thing, but remember it’s still performance based – none of you will tip me if I don’t make you money!!!

On a personal note 2026 will involve much more walking – this year was a bit of a disaster as I was out of action for a month in February with bruised ribs – a flying dismount from a minibus following a long pub crawl is not recommended. I did manage to complete my first ever marathon in June only for a couple of weeks later totally knacker my left ankle which meant over two months out of action. This years challenge will hopefully be a three peak South West challenge – highest points of Exmoor, Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor in one day. Walking is my escape and although I don’t listen to music or podcasts  I do write things in my head – most of this was!

I have just finished the Quiz for tonights shenanigans in my beloved Green Dragon where yet again I shall entertain the troops. It is not dissimilar to tipping and trying to win people money, it’s all about making people smile and laugh. If you ever were to meet me you will find that I’m quite an introvert who likes to share – not as daft as it sounds - think of all the great comics.

So – here’s to a highly profitable and disciplined 2025

Sláinte 

Ian

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/sportsbettingindex