Betting on tri-casts seems an unlikely means of making a profit, but professional sponsor Paul Cooper used it to win almost £400,000 in a series of bets in Thirsk.
Cooper was one of the first to capitalize on the fact that the high draft horses seemed to have a pronounced advantage over the straight sprint at Thirsk. There are a number of tracks around the country where, on soft ground, a particular draw can prove to be a huge advantage, but at Thirsk the same was true of fast racing. It appears that shortcomings in the course’s irrigation system left a strip of dirt under the “unsprayed” support rails, which went significantly faster than the rest of the track. By betting the top five or six numbers in the draw, the ones most likely to get the favorite wicket, Cooper was able to pull off a number of big hits.
“I was hooked on gambling at a very young age,” Cooper admitted. “But even then I knew you had to control it, otherwise it would control you.”
During the 1970s, the ITV Seven was introduced. It immediately caught Cooper’s attention. ‘One of my first bets was a £1.90 bet that won over £800. I was in business! A couple of years later I made £13,365 on a £3 accumulator and was really on my way.’ Cooper is still fascinated by multiple bets, the prospect of big wins for a small outlay, and believes that serious gamblers shouldn’t treat them so arrogantly.
‘The Lucky 15 is a value bet.- It’s a Yankee who also has four winning singles, and different sportsbooks offer a variety of bonuses and consolations. For example, if he only wins one of his selections, he can get double the odds. So just a 7/1 winner pretty much guarantees his money back.’
Cooper’s penchant for what Barney Curley calls ‘miracle gambling’ isn’t his only apparent similarity to the man on the street. Like all bookies regulars, he is irresistibly drawn to competitive handicaps where they bet 6/1, but hits much more often.
Cooper insists that studying the trainers is the key to the entire operation of his business. The fact that, as an owner, he has chosen to have horses trained by Barry Hills, Jimmy Fitzgerald and Robert Williams hints at the men he respects most in the game.’ “There are certainly some coaches I’d rather endorse,” he says. “What I’m really looking for is someone who is perhaps undervalued and as a result has their horses start at higher prices than they should.”
So what can we learn from the meticulous and immaculately dressed Mr. Cooper? Well, here are his 7 big do’s and don’ts, known as “Cooper’s Law.”
Cooper’s Law – Back
1: Stay cool, calm and collected when making a selection, and don’t go with your head down. Weigh all the possibilities and then have the courage to move on.
2: Only bet when you get good value and look for the best starting prices.
3: Push back the horses that have gained shape. Stay away from the maidens – the form is unpredictable and untested.
4: Bet on sprints. The form is usually more reliable than in longer distance flat races.
5: Find a competent little yard to follow; because it is not fashionable, you will almost certainly get a good price on your horses.
6: Watch the horses in the paddock, especially in the spring and fall. You can usually rule out quite a few that are obviously not ready or are showing all the signs of a tough season.
7: Bet within your means. Reduce your bets when you are on a losing streak and increase them when things are going well.
Cooper’s Law – Avoid
1: Do not get drunk or mix alcohol with gambling. You need your wits to pick winners and objectively deal with losses.
2: Don’t endorse low-priced favorites. The returns just aren’t good enough, and let’s face it, they are often delivered anyway.
3: Don’t chase your losses. There is always another day.
4: Don’t get pushy when there’s been a sudden change in the road.
5: Do not back overweight trainers, stables or riders.
6: Don’t be too supportive of Chester. The narrow way is a law in itself.
7: Do not bet on races with more than 18 runners. This is when the horses will split into two or more groups, effectively becoming two or three different breeds.