STEVE PALMER

Weblog: Seven days in the life of a man born to punt

Retirement plans on hold - but dream is still alive

I SUPPOSE you could describe it as a rollercoaster ride, except that on most rollercoasters I've ever been on you don't board full of hope that you're going to win forty grand only to find when it's all over that you've won next to nothing.

Oh well. There it is. Tim Clark decides to lay up like a fairy and therefore my dream of retirement from working life is ruined. For now.

Within three hours of Clark's defeat, I was back in the game with a £200 wager on Alvaro Quiros to win the Qatar Masters at Bet365's reckless 30-1. I haven't decided who to stick him in a double with yet.

Thanks for all the kind messages of support on the blog last night. I was alone in my lounge but knew the Racing Post readers and users were with me in spirit.

You can read a full account of oneof the most disappointing nights of my life in Sunday's Racing Post or right here early next week.