'Even a mug punter has a winning week once in a while. I hope it will be this'

Say not the struggle naught availeth. That won’t be until about Wednesday. I don’t know how Lazarus got on after he was brought back to life but when I was resurrected for Grab a Grand last year, after a six-year break, I lost £390.88. At least it wasn’t £391.

By what used to be known as ‘a miracle', between 2002 and 2013 (non-runner in 2012), I won in eight of the 11 years and recorded a total profit of £5,240, plus another £2,700 when Grab a Grand took place at the 2007 and 2008 Cheltenham Festivals, as well as its traditional pre-Christmas slot.

I’ve no idea how I did it, although I did try very hard, studied a lot of
form and watched a lot of replays. It may have helped. I also asked a lot of trainers and jockeys what they thought, then tried to ignore what they told me.