Posted: 8th November 2009

Here is an online interview with top Betfinder tipster GRAHAM DESMOND who is currently leading the overall tipster league with +1,314 profit points since April 2009. How does he do it? Read on...

Q1.) How did you first get involved in the world of betting?
A.) I began betting at the age of 16, just for a laugh really and not knowing what to do. Mostly the names or mostly the favs were my thing. But I caught the bug when I put £100 on a horse and it won by about 10-15 lenghts and that was it for me. Plus like most other people my bookies was beside the pub, so we would run in and out doing bets whilst having a drink.

Q2.) What one piece of advice would you give to a total newcomer to online betting?
A.) The one one piece of info I would give is don't listen to other people giving you tips as you have every newspaper with their so called tipsters giving different horse's to win. And the second tip is never rip up your first betting docket and do another you will always regret it beleive me.

Q3.) Can you give any indication of how you arrive at your selections such as form study or the use of systems, tools, web sites etc.?
A.) Well I mostly go for gambled on horses (the Steamers) but for information I use the Racing Post. I don't beleive in system tools as anything can happen on the day.

Secretgambler has his system tool ratings thing, but he is dropping very fast. I look at the going, jockey/trainer form and I don't care what price it is, if I like it and think it has half a chance I will do it. I hate doing favourites and the people who always do them, as that to me is one way of losing money fast.

My PC tools will have to stay private. I use no tipsters and laugh at the conclusions of RP journos. I do not check oncourse prices the way I should, because I have a 9-to-5 honest job which acts as a counterpoise to the enormous ups and downs of betting.

Q4.) What changes or improvements would you like to see on Betfinder?
A.) I said this before that the football bets take no skill but you get massive odds if you click with one like last month one player got a 100-1 tip up on a correct scoreline of 5-2 bet but that's all he does. He was on top that month for a while but I overtook him with 3 big priced winners in a row plus others aswell. Maybe having a mini-league for football as it's only on for 5-6 months, but apart from that it's fine, and with the new "T" system it's great...

Q5.) What do you like/dislike most about the Betfinder Tipster League?
A.) The one thing I like is you only get 5 bets per day as people would just go mad doing stupid bets without thinking, but the thing I dislike is the length of the compitition, it's very long. Apart from them little things I visit the site every day and check other tipsters form aswell.

Q6.) What is the most costly lesson you have ever made when either betting or trading?
A.) When I am betting in the bookies, I try not chase my losing bets as you do not think right when doing so. That's why I bet online because you can get better odds plus I can only bet with money I lodge into my accounts (not with credit-card, don't have one) but with cash I hand over the counter in the bookies shops where I have accounts. That's the best way I think.

Q7.) Which sports do you specialise in, and why?
A.) Horse racing, has to be, as the rush you get when your horse comes in (and even better at a big price) you can't beat it. And secondly because the odds are far better than other sports.
I am a huge football fan (Liverpool FC) but the prices for football are not good and you have to be very, very lucky to get more than 5 or 6 teams in a accumulator. I will give you one tip - never put your own team in a bet and don't start with LFC this year. They have lost me hundreds over the years in accumulator bets.

Q8.) How do you deal with the inevitable losing run?
A.) Well I am on a mini one here at the moment, but with cash I really do think you should do what I do and put in only what you can afford and try to build it up. Even if that means throwing the odd fav in there, and try not to lose your head and start doing stupid bets to cover your losses.

Q9.) Anything else you would like to say?
A.) There is one thing I would like to say and it is let me win the top prize as I am giving it to the Graham Desmond Racing Funds.

No really, just try to use this site to train yourself for the real thing. I have learned so much about racing from sites like this and you get to meet all sorts of people who like me, have shared some info about betting etc. So don't be afraid get in there and ask questions. It will not fall into your lap. Best of luck for the year.

Please post your views on this article in this thread in the Betfinder forums.