'I remember thinking 'I'm f***ed'. I owed money and I was in a really bad way'

Tony McCoy rode more winners than any jump jockey in British racing history. As he has regularly pointed out himself, he also rode more losers. Perhaps more than any sportspeople, jockeys must become accustomed to repeated failure. It is the same for those who bet on those jockeys and the horses they ride – even the professionals.

As a punter, you win some, you lose some. However, for most punters, betting is a hobby. They will set off for a day at the races or prepare for the Saturday ITV action knowing they are prepared to invest a certain amount of money with bookmakers. They will equally know that if the results go badly they can afford to lose.

For professional punters, the picture is completely different. Theirs is a precarious occupation, devoid of future certainty. A decent win might allow the rest of us a little treat. The majority of those who bet for a living need to win in order to pay the bills. It is through betting that professional punters pay their own salaries. Winning really matters.