Feb 05 2009
Stupid bets versus smart bets
Football betting: Stupid bets before transfer window closed
How stupid should a punter be in order to risk 100 units to win 3 units? Well, such punters do exist, to the delight of the bookmakers.
Some Betfair punters placed their bets on Robbie Keane to stay at Liverpool. The Republic of Ireland captain was backed as low as 1.03 to remain a Liverpool player and was still odds-on to remain a red on Monday morning.
But Robbie Keane’s sensational and unexpected return to Spurs has left some Betfair customers in a state of shock.
The Irish striker has been backed as low as 1.03 (risking £100 to win £3) to stay at Anfield on the exchange’s “Keane To Stay?” market on the transfer window.
Despite those market-low odds, the Irishman was backed for small amounts, on Betfair on January 22nd, with more than £500 matched on him at odds of 1.06 or less.
Keane was odds-on to remain at Liverpool as late as Tuesday morning, only going odds-against just after 10 am.
Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin said: “A good Christmas period for Keane had some Betfair customers taking it ‘as Red’ that he would still be a Liverpool player after the transfer window.”
Horseracing betting: Record win, record odds
On the other hand, there are also smart punters who know something about betting strategies. Betting on the underdogs might be considered a successful strategy that can bring punters some profit on the long term.
Forever’s Girl was successfully backed at huge odds of 1000 on Betfair.
Southwell runner Forever’s Girl overcame an awful start to land victory by a head, netting one punter £8,991 (minus commission!).
The latest addition to the select band of successful maximum-price winning punters on Betfair came in the 2.10 pm at Southwell on Tuesday, when Forever’s Girl was backed at odds of 1000.0 to be placed on the exchange.
Forever’s Girl won at the 10th attempt at Wolverhampton last month and did not run badly there in defeat next time.
Forever’s Girl had a hood on to go into the stalls for that five-furlong handicap but then, when Duran Fentiman reached up to whip it off her, she started bucking and rearing. As the stalls opened, Fentiman was still desperately tugging at the hood while his mount threw her head around. By the time the hood came off and the pair started their race, the others had had at least a 10-length start. She was laid at 1000.0 in-running to be placed.
One punter, a smart one “we might add” stepped in at that point and had £9 on Forever’s Girl at the maximum price.
And he was handsomely rewarded less than a minute later with a £8,991 return, minus commission.
Anyone would have thought that was £9 made but Forever’s Girl took off like a rocket and ran on strongly into third place behind the winner, Bold Rose.
And that was all it took for the punter to join one of the most exclusive clubs in racing - namely the one that consists of punters to have backed a 1000-1 winner on Betfair.
