Steve Palmer's alternative Christmas message: It's time to treat your loved ones to something more exciting than socks
Racing Post Sport's top columnist is looking forward to watching Alexandra Palace come under its annual Nuke attack
With Christmas looming large, the goose getting fat and the bank balances of a beleaguered nation getting thin, the betting community may come under even more pressure than usual if devoting significant time and resource to their wagering.
I would urge punters to be kind to themselves. Gamble responsibly, of course, but don't feel shame – because there is a key fact which often gets lost on the verbal battleground when non-punters are looking down from the saddle of their high horse. You might win.
Your partner may go into a shop today and spend a fortune on Christmas decorations, ornaments and garlands. An inflatable Santa from Argos, for example, costs £25. A nodding reindeer will set you back £20. And you need to invest something close to the GDP of Denmark to purchase an actual Christmas tree.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inSteve Palmer
Last updated
Copy- Steve Palmer: Limitless Littler and the sport he dominates are still not getting the respect they deserve
- Why a sensible sports bet is always more responsible than trusting in Lotto luck
- Try to be more like Jilly and Kyle and ride life's rollercoaster with genuine jollity rather than robotic reticence
- Proceed with caution on the roads but remain optimistic when it comes to the power of punting
- Don't be fooled by the naysayers – great punters can also be great husbands and fathers
- Steve Palmer: Limitless Littler and the sport he dominates are still not getting the respect they deserve
- Why a sensible sports bet is always more responsible than trusting in Lotto luck
- Try to be more like Jilly and Kyle and ride life's rollercoaster with genuine jollity rather than robotic reticence
- Proceed with caution on the roads but remain optimistic when it comes to the power of punting
- Don't be fooled by the naysayers – great punters can also be great husbands and fathers