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Interview with a Layer

John Hanley

Hello

In today's interview Mark speaks with John Hanley a veteran of some 50 years' in the betting game, and who runs the successful Tipster website www.transworldhrc.com

So John, why be a layer?
Well Mark, I became a layer to give an extra dimension to our new company of some 18 months ago (Transworld).
I have no real preference for laying as such but on the basis that in an 8 horse race ‘only 1 can win and 7 will lose’ it is obviously easier to select losers! Of course as you and your readers know, it is not quite as simple as that but it has proved to be somewhat easier to create long runs of lay bets that actually win money than it is to find long runs of profitable winners.
My method of winner finding has become flawed in the traditional ‘back to win’ sense. I have always used early morning odds reductions to select winners as over the years it has proved that the really early movement is from connections rather than the general betting public and the percentage of winning tips was always around 75%.
The reason this method has become flawed is that with ATR(Attheraces), Racing Channel, Betfair etc giving out these movements those bookie chaps are now able to throw in "ringers" which has resulted in the winning percentage dropping to below 25%.
I am in the process of using other methods of selecting winners which is proving quite successful based on various scenarios that I can use from a lifetime of studying horse racing form. It will mean that there will only be a maximum of 2 bets per week, but my trials over the last 6 weeks have indicated a 45% winning percentage and the average odds are 9/2 – so watch this space.

Do you remember your first lay?
I became interested in horse racing some 50 years ago and have gambled ever since. I started using betting exchanges around 2 years ago when I was trailing the lay system for our company. I do believe they have changed the gambling habits forever and for the better and given punters such as myself a new found revenue stream, to do something with a sport that I have a huge interest in.

So tell my John, what was your Best Lay?
My best recent lay was New Approach in the 2000 guineas.

And your Worst?
My worst recent lay was New Approach in the Derby also Authorized in last years Derby. [Mark] – Ouch!

Would you Lay anything?
I am only interested in horse racing at present and it is important in any game or walk of life to specialize, as this gives you the advantage.

What is your Golden rule of laying?
My golden rules are the horse must drift in the market preferably early in the morning and I never lay a horse over 5.0 as it can break the bank.

And finally, have you any advice for Donkeyites?
Keep reading this column! No seriously watch the market, learn and keep learning and remember there are no shortcuts to getting rich, although Don I may just start following your Lay advices!

[Mark] – Thanks John and we wish you another 50 successful years of punting.

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