#BettingPeople

#BettingPeople: Jonathan Powell has been a racing correspondent for the News of the World, Sunday People, Sunday Express, Sunday Times, and the Mail on Sunday as well as writing books on Bob Champion, Paul Nicholls, David Nicholson, Frankie Dettori, ‘tidied up’ autobiographies of Jenny Pitman and Patrick Veitch, not to mention Desert Orchid and Monksfield. He’s also been involved with the IJF and the son of a Great Train Robber and guarded a racehorse armed with a shotgun. Phew. Meeting Jonathan Powell with Simon Nott.

Professional punter Shane is considered by many to be the shrewdest judge in Ireland whose opinions make the market. He started his working life working in a betting shop before taking the plunge to work in Paddy Power’s trading room. After four years he jumped shop taking the plunge as a full time professional punter and has never looked back. Simon Nott meets Shane Reville.

Professional punter Jeff Laughton has been beating the bookies professionally for almost 20 years. His apprenticeship was an unusual one, he started working life as a policeman as part of the team that caught the Yorkshire Ripper, was a DJ while still a policeman, ran an entertainment business that used to pay Gary Barlow £60 to perform at one of their clubs then became a professional punter and successful owner. Simon Nott meets Jeff Laughton.

Dave is a freelance racing and betting journalist that writes for GeeGeez.com and The Sporting Life, writes paddock notes for ‘Blue Delta’ works as a frontman for racecourse bookmakers and gets a few quid punting too. Here’s his story. Meeting Dave Massey with Simon Nott.

Ian Watkinson’s 13 year career as a national hunt jockey ended with a near fatal fall at Towcester in 1979, cutting short a career that included winning eight times on Tingle Creek, five times on Night Nurse and three on Sea Pigeon. He was of the old school of hard man jump jockeys, strapping broken bones in order to take the next ride and a social life to match the rough and tumble on course. In four parts the fascinating story of an iron man jockey. Meeting IAN WATKINSON with Simon Nott.

#BettingPeople: Luiz Cunha has recently launched ‘Pedigree To Win’ which is an added tool to the punters’ armoury highlighting the most likely winners of races purely on their bloodlines. This service is a culmination of a 45-year labour of love studying the pedigree of horses. Luiz, father of Newmarket trainer Dylan, has advised trainers and owners to highly successful purchases over the years and offers the same service now on one to one basis. pedigreetowin.co.uk. Meeting Luiz Cunha with Simon Nott.

#BettingPeople: Sir Rupert Mackeson, aka ‘The Bad Baronet’, makes his second appearance within the #BettingPeople series. Whilst there’s plenty of his personal story left to tell, this interview is predominantly centred around his latest book ‘Frankie Dettori’s British Classic Winners’ published under his pen name Rupert Collens by Pan And Sword but with plenty of personal memories eased out of this colourful Octogenarian too. Meeting Rupert Mackeson with Simon Nott.

Barry Beasley started in the betting business in 1975 working for Joe Coral, then the Tote, has been a commission agent, worked with City Index and been a private card marker and odds compiler since 1989 as well as still freelancing for the Racing Post. This is his story including why he’s been daubed ‘The Weatherman’. Meeting Barry Beasley with Simon Nott.

Trustee of Racing Welfare, Iggy’s Fund and 792nd Point Of Light Winner Richard Farquhar had a lifetime in racing before raising £500,000 ‘Walking The Courses’. Here’s his story with Simon Nott…

‘Juppy’ as he is affectionally known has been in the betting game all his life. He started working on course back in the 1990s at picnic races where they’d turn over large amounts of money in lively markets. After moving to London he worked with spread betting firm Sporting Index before relocating to Brighton and working for PanBet.

Now back in Melbourne, he’s a freelancer on course working for bookmakers as well as punting. Juppy was active at this year’s ‘Call Of The Card’ and has even recorded a series of food vlogs, no connection. Meeting Juppy with Simon Nott.