Tom Segal with an ace Aintree bet in the Old Roan Chase

Punting on jump racing can be an incredibly frustrating pastime. This season I reckon I have backed about ten horses, six of whom have fallen while the others have made horrendous errors early on which have put paid to their chance.

The consequence is you then have to sit through about six minutes of torture as you watch the one you half fancied never touch a twig and win at a big price.

On the Flat at least the pain is short-lived and generally there is some hope for most of the race, but the jumps can be a brutal test of a punter's temperament when things aren't going well.