From Nags to Riches

Arbitrage Diary

With one of the blighters winning, it leaves me a bit short in covering funds for Betfair lays whilst I get the money out of the bookies and back into the bank.  Good job I am actually going to Cheltenham tomorrow (corporate hospitality from Betfair) so will not be arbing at all.

cheltenham-2012-03-13-08-52While writing the last post, the prices of both my selections shortened, so I have lost out a bit on that.  It doesn’t always pay to be greedy.  This prices can just as easily move against you.  Also, taking to larger price at the bookie on a steamer will increase the chances of the account being closed/limited. I have also noticed a tendency for a couple of Ladbrokes arbs to be wildly wrong in price.  I must investigate why.  My price scraping software is obviously picking up the wrong price at the bookie.

cheltenham-2012-03-13-08-45Well this shows how the prices can change is only  a few minutes.  BACK IN FOCUS has drifted out to 3.95 to lay, so I took that, even though I lost out a bit and will only make £24 on the arb.  But conversely, my £500 at William Hill now makes me £86, so by 14:05, I’ll be £110 richer and I’m committing just over £2,500, so my return is nearly 4.4%!

cheltenham-2012-03-13-08-32Here is a screenshot at 08:32 and the two I’m going for are PONT ALEXANDRE with William Hill for £500 and BACK IN FOCUS at Paddy Power for £250.  I will also see what they will stand on SPRINTER SACRE – being odds on, I might even get a grand on it.  But of course if it wins, I will have a amassed a samll fortune in Paddy Power which will take a few days to transfer back into my bank etc

So I played with 3 arbs today for just over £130 profit. All horses lost, so the profit is now in Betfair where it will be siphoned off into my “pension fund

with £400 on across 2 bookies, the lay at 4.7 is for a backer’s stake of £473.12 securing a profit of £49.46

southwell-2012-03-12-16-02I spotted this and decided to get on quickly because the price was a bit volatile having been as low as 4.8 on Betfair.  By the time I got on at the bookies for £200 at each of Totesport and Betfred, the Betfair price had risen to almost wipe out any potential profit but a few minutes later had dropped below 5.0.  I am waiting for 4.7

With the arb being beaten, the money at the bookies is lost and the Betfair coffers are swollen.  I prefer this because I need more funds in Betafir to cover the lays.  Too many arbs winning means

  • too much money at the bookmakers which can take a day or two to transfer back through the bank and to Betfair
  • a higher risk of the account being limited

I am already forced with some books to use their shops as my online account is severely restricted.  I am very grateful for having mobile internet

 

Haven’t had much time for arbing this morning so my current status is as per 10am with all matched on the Cheltenham bets.  Cheltenham and other big meetings can be great for early liquidity, but it takes it away from the other meetings somewhat.

 

So I’ve tied up approx £3,150 for a £51 profit so I’m going to be a bit more picky this afternoon to see if I can back another £30 or £40 quid with another £2000-£2500

MY TENT OR YOURS all matched now at 3.1 so my running total is £82 profit for the day so far.  Time for coffee

 

The bookies cut the price at about 09:15 and it drifted out to 3.2 to lay for a while before coming back in again.

cheltenham-2012-03-12-09-00

Now Stan James have prices up, another £400 on MY TENT OR YOURS will give another £36 if matched at 3.1.  I am prepared to risk it since I already have some profit on here.  I also put £100 on THE DRUIDS NEPHEW at both Tote and BetFred for £15 total.  I need to keep an eye on the 13:30 in case MY TENT OR YOURS drifts.  Anything over 3.35 and I’m losing.

cheltenham-2012-03-12-08-24I couldn’t resist this one when it popped up.  Putting £400 on with Paddy Power gives £36 profit whilst cooking breakfast.  It ties up £1,364, so yields 2.64%  The price was 3.5 versus 3.1 – click on the thumbnail to see the full-sized image.