2023 Cheltenham Festival Betting Diary

I'm doing things different this year.

Instead of publishing a Cheltenham Festival post each day, as I have often done in previous years, I will update this post daily with my bets and results.

I aim to have this post updated no later than midday throughout the festival. 

Tuesday 14 March
I have used some special offers and a free bet for the opening day. As of this morning, I have laid out £18. Here's how that money has been spent across the seven races:

1:30 - IL ETAIT TEMPS 9/2
£2 Win (If the bet loses, I'll get a £2 refund)

Result: This was the first LOSS for me. The race was won by Marine Nationale. My £2 bet will be refunded by Sky Bet. 

2:10 - JONBON 7/4
£4 Win

Result: Another LOSS. Jonbon finished second to El Fabiolo.

2:50 - FANTASTIKAS 16/1
£2.50 Each-Way (Free Bet)

Result: Corach Rambler won. Another LOSS for me!

3:30 - I LIKE TO MOVE IT 28/1
£1 Each-Way
Constitution Hill is a very short favourite, so I thought I'd look at other runners to make an each-way gamble.

Result: As expected, Constitution Hill won. I Like To Move It ran a good race.. until the latter stages. Another LOSS.

4:10 - HONEYSUCKLE 2/1
£1 Each-Way

Result: Honeysuckle coming first was my first WIN of the festival. It returned £4.70.

4:50 - TEKAO 3/1
£1 Each-Way

Result: My win in the 4:10 was followed by another LOSS. 

5:30 - GAILLARD DU MENSIL EVS
£3 Each-Way

Result: My second WIN of the festival. This one brought back £9.60 to my account.

Here's how it's looking after the first day.

Wednesday 15 March
I've done some things similar to yesterday, but have also made some other kinds of bets for today. These will be explained below.

1:30 - HERMES ALLEN 11/4
£2 Win

This bet is similar to yesterday in which I'll have a £2 refund if the horse - in the first race of the day - doesn't win.

Result: LOSS. The race was won by Impaire Et Passe. I'll have my £2 back.

2:30 - THYME HILL 10/1
£2.50 Each-Way (Using a £5 free bet)

Result: Another LOSS. Or should that be 'another one I didn't win' considering I haven't 'lost' anything due to this being a free bet? The race was won by The Real Whacker, which was one of the horses I considered. Not that this matters now!

2:50 - GOOD RISK AT ALL 14/1 and SAN SALVADOR 14/1
50p Each-Way Singles 

I was torn between both of these 14/1 selections, so decided I would bet on both in 50p each-way singles.

Result: Langer Dan won. A LOSS for me.

3:30 and 4:10 - EDWARDSTONE 11/8 and DELTA WORK 6/5
£2 Each-Way Double

The first double of the festival. I thought their odds were too short to place a bet as singles, so thought I'd combine them.

Results: Edwardstone came nowhere so the double is already a LOSS before the Cross Country Chase.

And to add insult to injury, Delta Work won!

4:50 - THIRD TIME LUCKI 8/1
£1 Each-Way

Result: Third Time Lucki finished fourth. Fortunately for me, my bookmaker paid to six places in this race, so it's a WIN because it returned £2.60. The outright winner, of the Handicap Chase, was Maskada who was 22/1.

5:30 - FUN FUN FUN 13/2
£1 Each-Way

Result: Another LOSS. A Dream To Share was the winner.

Today was a £7.40 loss. Add to yesterday's results, and I am £9.10 in the red at the half-way point.

Thursday 16 March
For today's card, I've placed some singles and one Lucky 15. All will be explained below.

1:30 - MIGHTY POTTER 10/11
£2 Win

This is the same offer from the past two days which has Sky Bet refunding losing wagers, up to £2, in the first race.

Result: It was a LOSS, but I'll have my stake refunded ready for tomorrow. Stage Star was the winner.

2:10 THANKSFORTHEHELP 7/2
£5.01 Each-Way

Result: My gamble  didn't pay off. Another LOSS.

4:10 MIDNIGHT RIVER 8/1
£2.50 Each-Way

This was a free £5 bet.

Result: Another LOSS

Here are the selections in the multiple bet I've placed.

Lucky 15 
2:50 - SHISHKIN 10/11 PLACED
3:30 - HOME BY THE LEE 13/2 LOST
4:50 - LUCCIA 6/4 PLACED
5:30 - DUNBOYNE 13/2 PLACED

Stake: 20p each-way a line (£6 total)

Result: The three places, and one loss, returned £3.44. Another disastrous day!

Friday 17 March
It has not been a good Cheltenhem Festival so far. Because of this, I've decided to quit going with some of the horses I like and focused on the picks that were shared on the ITV Racing show this morning.

I've spent a total of £20 today. The first is a £2 single that, just like the other days this week, is for the first race. If it loses, I'll have my money refunded to me. Going by the previous three days of racing, I expect that I'll have the refund rather than a win. 

As for the remaining £18 I've spent - well, that has gone on a 60p each-way Lucky 15. All of the picks are below.

£2 Single
1:30 - BLOOD DESTINY 9/4

Result: Lossiemouth was the winner. Another LOSS for me, but I will get a £2 refund.

Lucky 15 (60p each-way a line)
2:10 - PIED PIPER 14/1
2:50 - CORBETTS CROSS 5/2 (Lost it at the final hurdle and ran into a barrier in shocking scenes)
3:30 - NOBLE YEATS 14/1
4:10 - FAMOUS CLERMONT 7/1*

I'll colour code the picks as the race day is in progress. Red is a loss, Green for a win and Blue is for any horses that may place.

* I decided to cash out my bet a minute before the race started. I was offered £26.69 and thought it was best to cut my losses for the festival.

It's a good job I did because Famous Clermont, despite running a decent race, was interrupted by a jockey-less horse right near the end. 

I finish the festival down by £12.99. Thank god for cashouts is all I can think right now.

I'll be better prepared in 2024.

World Cup 2022 Betting Diary Part 2: The Knockouts

Ever since the start of the this year's World Cup, I've been placing bets, of at least £1, on every game. The post I was keeping track of my bets and results was getting far too long, so I've decided to cut the 'World Cup 2022 Betting Diary' into two parts.

The first half, with all the games from the groups, can be found if you FOLLOW THIS LINK.

Here's everything I bet on for the knockout stages of the tournament.

****

ROUND OF 16

Saturday 3 December

I ended the first part of this World Cup betting diary in £1.96 profit. It wasn't much, but profit is profit. 

Netherlands .vs. USA

I've placed £1 on:

1) Over 2 Goals

2) Most Goals to be Scored in the Second Half

3) Cody Gakpo Over 0.5 Shots on Target

Result: Netherlands 3 USA 1

The game obviously had over two goals. However, two of them were scored in the first half and the second couple came in the final half. I don't believe Cody Gakpo had a shot on target. Not that it mattered because I didn't get the 'most goals in the second half' bet work in my favour.

Argentina .vs. Australia 

£1 on:

1) Both Teams to Score in the First Half

Result: Argentina 2 Australia 1
Both teams scored in the second half after Messi opened things up in the first half. 

I leave the day 8p down overall. 

Sunday 4 December

I have two bets, but only spent £1 for today's games.

France .vs. Poland

A couple of things needed in this £1 bet builder.

1) France to Win

2) Kylian Mbappe to Score Anytime

3) Raphael Varane to Have Over 1.5 Tackles

Result: France 3 Poland 1

The first two selections came in. However, Varane didn't have over 1.5 tackles. 

England .vs. Senegal

I used a free £5 bet builder token. It'll need:

1) Over 2.5 Goals

2) Over 3.5 Goals

3) Both Teams to score in Both Halves

4) England to Have 3 or More Shots on Target

Result: England 3 Senegal 0

No win.

Today's results now leave me at -1.08.

Monday 5 December

Another two £1 bet builders today. They are:

Japan .vs. Croatia

1) Over 2 Goals

2) Both Teams to Receive a Card in the Match

3) Both Teams to Score in the 2nd Half

Result: Japan 1 Croatia 1 (Croatia win on penalties)

I came nowhere with this one. There obviously wasn't more than a couple of goals, both teams didn't score in the second half, and I can only recall one yellow card being issued.

Brazil .vs. South Korea

1) Over 2 Goals

2) Most Goals to be Scored in the 2nd Half

Result: Brazil 4 South Korea 1

Well, I would have got the 'Over', but what slipped me up was the fact that all of Brazil's goals came in the first half!

I'm at -3.08 for the tournament after today's fixtures.

Tuesday 6 December 

I've done one £1 single and a £1 bet builder on today's games.

Morocco .vs. Spain

I have £1 on:

1) Both Teams to Score in the First Half

Result: Morocco 0 Spain 0 (Morocco progress via penalties)

Portugal .vs. Switzerland

The £1 bet builder requires:

1) Most Goals to be Scored in the Second Half

2) Both Teams to Score in the Second Half

Result: Portugal 6 Switzerland 1

The game was 2-0 to Portugal going into the second half, so I was not sure if there would be at least three in the following half. Well, I was wrong. Switzerland's goal was the deciding one for the bet as it meant both selections came in from it. 

The win from today returned £5.17. I am back in profit. However, it's only profit of 9p!

****

QUARTER-FINALS

Here are the four bets I've placed for the quarter-final games. Most are bet builders, but one is a single.

Friday 9 December

Croatia .vs. Brazil

I have gambled £2 on the following bet builder:

1) Both Teams to Score in the 2nd Half

2) Most Goals in the 2nd Half

3) Brazil to Qualify

Result: Croatia 1 Brazil 1 AET (Croatia progress via penalties)

This one drew a blank because it was 0-0 at full-time. Oh, and Brazil didn't qualify.

Netherlands .vs. Argentina

£1 bet builder on:

1) Lionel Messi Over 1.5 Shots

2) Both Teams To Score in the 2nd Half

3) Over 2 Goals in the Match

4) Netherlands to Qualify

Result: Netherlands 2 Argentina 2 (Argentina go through on penalties)

This was one of my favourite games so far in the tournament. The bet's only losing selection was the one which needed the Netherlands to get through.

Saturday 10 December

Morocco .vs. Portugal

I've bet £1 on the following single:

1) Both Teams to Score in the First Half

Result: Morocco 1 Portugal 0

The only goal in the game came in the latter part of the first half. Another losing bet.

England .vs. France

I had a free £2 bet builder. It needs:

1) Kylian Mbappe 2 or More Shots on Target in the 1st Half

2) Both Teams to Score

3) Over 2.5 Goals

4) France to Qualify 

I had another free £1 bet builder wager shortly before kick off. I need:

1) Over 2.5 Goals

2) Harry McGuire to be Carded

3) Kylian Mbappe To Score in 90 Minutes

Result: England 1 France 2

In the first bet builder, the selection which let me down was the one which needed Kylian Mbappe to have two or more shots in the second half. Mbappe not scoring in ninety minutes was the only losing pick in the second bet builder on this game.

****

SEMI-FINALS

Tuesday 13 December

Argentina .vs. Croatia

A £1 bet builder on:

1) Most Goals in the 2nd Half

2) Lionel Messi to Score First for Argentina

3) Both Teams NOT to Score in the Match

Result: Argentina 3 Croatia 0

The only selection to ruin the bet was the one which needed the most goals to be scored in the second half. It was 2-0 going into the break.

Wednesday 14 December

France .vs. Morocco

Another £1 bet builder. This one requires:

1) Kylian Mbappe Anytime Goalscorer

2) Antoine Griezmann Anytime Goalscorer

3) France to Qualify

I have also placed £1 on the following 25/1 single:

1) Morocco to Win in Extra Time

Result: France 2 Morocco 0

Another two losses. When it was 1-0 to France, and Morocco were giving them a game, I did entertain the thought of a sneaky extra time win for the Moroccans.

****

3RD PLACE PLAY-OFF

Saturday 17 December

Croatia .vs. Morocco

I took up a free bet offer where I'd get a free £5 bet builder wager on the Final. To qualify, I had to do a £5 bet builder on this game. Here's what I've bet on.

1) Over 3.5 Goals

2) Croatia Over 2.5 Corners

3) Both Teams to Score in Both Halves

Result: Croatia 2 Morocco 1

All the goals were scored in the first half, so I was holding out some hope that luck will land my way in the second. It wasn't to be.

****

FINAL

Sunday 18 December

Argentina .vs. France

I used the free £5 bet builder on:

1) Argentina to lift the Cup

2) Over 2.5 Goals

3) Both Teams to Score

4) Antoine Griezmann to Score or Assist

I have also put on a late £5 bet builder on. It needs:

1) France to lift the Cup

2) Mbappe to Score Anytime

3) Messi to Score Anytime

4) Over 2.5 Goals

Result: Argentina 3 France 3 AET (Argentina win on penalties)

What a game. The first bet technically lost when Griezmann was substituted. As for the second one - well, that was looking dead after Argentina went 2-0 up, then Mbappe's first two goals levelling it up revived it. What a thrilling time it was watching out to see if that bet won. Alas, it didn't. I repeat - what a game.

With the 'France to lift the cup' selection losing out in bet builder 2, I had a free £5 bet given to me. I'll spend that on WWE wagering sometime. The promotion doesn't apply to the first bet builder because I had used a free stake originally.

Monday 19 December

And that's it for another four years. I had a lot of fun doing these two posts over the course of the tournament. 

I added the final information into the spreadsheet shortly before adding this part to the post. After all the games, I finished off £16.91 in the red. 

It could have been a lot worse than that!

World Cup 2022 Betting Diary Part 1: The Groups

I am going to have a bet on every single game of this year's World Cup. And - on top of that - for fun, I'm going to share my predictions and keep track of my progress.

This post will float across the blog to the end of the group stage and then a second post will pick things up for the knockout rounds.

* * * *

Sunday 20 November

For the first game of the tournament, I've done a bet builder with three selections.

Qatar .vs. Ecuador

1) Under 3 Goals in the Match

2) Both Teams Receive a Card in the Match

3) Most Goals to be Scored in 2nd Half

I've laid out £5 and will get a 25% bonus on my return should it win.

Result: Qatar 0 Ecuador 2

I lost the bet. I correctly guessed the match to have under 3 goals and for both teams to receive a card. However, both goals were scored in the first half. Therefore, the losing selection was the 'Most Goals to be Scored in 2nd Half'.

I'm at -£5 heading into tomorrow's fixtures.

Monday 21 November

There are a trio of games today. I have a free £5 bet builder on the England .vs. Iran game, so I'm not laying anything out on it and - because of that - I've gone a little bit overboard by betting on a red card in the game as one of my selections.

England .vs. Iran

1) England to win

2) Both Teams to Score

3) Over 2.5 Cards

4) A Red Card in the Match

I have been given a free £1 bet builder with Sky Bet. I've picked two things:

1) Harry Kane to score 2 goals

2) A Goal in Both Halves

Result: England 6 Iran 2

Harry Kane didn't score any of the goals and was substituted later in the game to end any chance of him getting one, let alone two.

For the remaining games of the day, I've gone with;

Senegal .vs. Netherlands

1) Both Teams to Score in Both Halves £1 single at 25/1

Result: Senegal 0 Netherlands 2

The scoreline tells the story - both teams didn't score in both halves.

Wales .vs. USA

I have placed a £2 bet builder and need the following things to happen.

1) Gareth Bale to Score Anytime

2) Gareth Bale Over 0.5 Shots On Target

3) Aaron Ramsey Over 0.5 Shots

4) Both Teams to Score

Result: Wales 1 USA 1

Three of the four selections came in. The one which let me down was Aaron Ramsey not having at least one shot on goal.

Tuesday 22 November

Starting off today, I have not won any bets and I am £8 in the red. I don't have any free bets on the four matches for the day.

Argentina .vs. Saudi Arabia

I've a £2 bet builder with two selections in the first game of the day. The things I need to happen are for:

1) Lionel Messi to Have Over 0.5 Shots on Target

2) 2nd Half to Have Most Goals

Result: Argentina 1 Saudi Arabia 2

What an upset. Fortunately, it worked out well for my bet. The first selection came in within the first couple of minutes when Lionel Messi had a shot stopped. That was followed by Saudi Arabia's two goals in the second half after coming back from the break a goal down. I had a return of £4.40.

Denmark .vs. Tunisia

A £1 bet builder with the following two selections

1) Kasper Dolberg Anytime Goalscorer

2) Under 3 Goals in Match

Result: Denmark 0 Tunisia 0

I had my £1 returned to me because it fell under the promotion which refunds bets if there is a goalless draw.

Mexico .vs. Poland

I have bet £5 on:

1) Both Teams to Score in the 2nd Half

Result: Mexico 0 Poland 0
The 'Bore Draw' promotion doesn't apply to the market I bet in this game. Therefore, this was a fiver loss.

France .vs. Australia

I was going to bet on Kylian Mbappe to score two or more goals, but then decided I'd pick him to be the man of the match. I have £2.74 riding on that one at odds of 3/1.

1) Kylian Mbappe Man of the Match

Result: France 4 Australia 1

Mbappe was named the Man of the Match. In my opinion, it was a close call because a lot of those French players, for example: Olivier Giroud, could have easily won it. This win brought back £10.96.

Wednesday 23 November

I started off the day at -£2.38 for the tournament. I'll have four £1 bets today just to see if I end up in the black by this evening.

My bets are:

Morocco .vs. Croatia

Both Teams to Score and Croatia to Win

Result: Morocco 0 Croatia 0

Another 0-0 draw. The 'Bore Draw' promotion didn't apply to the specials market I bet on, so that's a £1 loss.

Germany .vs. Japan

Germany -1.5 Asian Handicap

Result: Germany 1 Japan 2

A great result for Japan. A bad one for me.

Spain .vs. Costa Rica

Both Teams to Score in Both Halves

Result: Spain 7 Costa Rica 0

Another great result, but not for me!

Belgium .vs. Canada

The final wager of the day is a bet builder that needs three things to occur during the game.

1) Over 3 Goals

2) Kevin De Bruyne Over 0.5 Assists

3) Kevin De Bruyne Over 1.5 Shots on Target

Result: Belgium 1 Canada 0

Dreadful game for Belgium despite winning. Canada fought a fight.

I am now at -£6.38 heading into tomorrow.

Thursday 24 November

Here are the wagers I've placed on today's fixtures.

Switzerland .vs. Cameroon

A £1 bet builder which needs:

1) Both Teams to be Carded

2) Over 2 Goals in Match

3) 2nd Half to Have Most Goals

Result: Switzerland 1 Cameroon 0

This game was two goals short for the bet to be declared a winner.

Uruguay .vs. South Korea

Another £1 bet builder. This one requires:

1) Uruguay to Score in Both Halves

2) Luis Suarez to Score Anytime

3) Both Teams to Score

Result: Uruguay 0 South Korea 0

Zzzzzzzz. I had a refund on the bet because of the 0-0 score, though.

Portugal .vs. Ghana

£2 single on

1) Cristiano Ronaldo to Score 2+ Goals

Result: Portugal 3 Ghana 2

Ronaldo scored the first goal only.

Brazil .vs. Serbia

I placed a free £2 bet builder on:

1) Serbia to Receive the Most Cards

2) Goal Scored in Both Halves

3) Over 3.5 Goals

4) Brazil to Win

Result: Brazil 2 Serbia 0

The bet died at half-time. They went into the break at 0-0.

I finish tonight down by £9.38 overall. Back tomorrow!

Friday 25 November

I have some free bets for today's games.

Wales .vs. Iran

I have a £2 free bet builder which needs a couple of things to happen. They are:

1) Over 0.5 First Half Goals

2) Over 2.5 Goals in the Game

Result: Wales 0 Iran 2

This bet lost at the half. 

Qatar .vs. Senegal

A £1 bet builder which needs:

1) Over 2 Goals

2) Both Teams NOT to Score

Result: Qatar 1 Senegal 3

Frustrating. Senegal had two goals and I was looking for them to score a third. Qatar scored to take the game over two goals, but ruin the entire bet by having both teams as scorers. Then, to add insult to injury, Senegal scored a third.

Netherlands .vs. Ecuador

A £1 bet builder on:

1) Both Teams to Score in Both Halves

2) Over 3 Goals in Game

Result: Netherlands 1 Ecuador 1

Another loss.

England .vs. USA

Another free £2 bet builder. This one requires:

1) Both Teams to Score

2) Over 2.5 Cards

3) England to Have Over 0.5 Cards

4) Over 2.5 Goals

Result: England 0 USA 0

The bad run continued.

Today's losses have put me £11.38 in the red overall. It could be worse. However, it could be a heck of a lot worse.

Saturday 26 November

Here are the gambles I've made for today's fixtures.

Tunisia .vs. Australia

A £1 single on:

1) Over 2.5 Goals in the Second Half

Result: Tunisia 0 Australia 1

The only goal was scored in the first half.

Poland .vs. Saudi Arabia

£1 bet builder needing the following two selections to come in:

1) Both Teams to Score in the Second Half

2) Most Goals to be Scored in the Second Half

Result: Poland 2 Saudi Arabia 0

Another loser.

France .vs. Denmark

A £2 bet builder on

1) France to Win

2) Kylian Mbappe to Score Anytime

3) Over 3 Goals in the Match

Result: France 2 Denmark 1

All three came in with Mbappe scoring both of France's goals. The wager returned £12.

Argentina .vs. Mexico
I used a £2 free bet to wager on the following three things to happen:

1) Both Teams to Score in Both Halves

2) Over 3.5 Goals

3) Lionel Messi to Score or Assist

Result: Argentina 2 Mexico 0

Well, I didn't get the first two selections correct. Messi scored the first goal. 

Sunday 27 November

I've bet a bunch of wacky £1 bets on each game today. All need early goals. And then some.

Japan .vs. Costa Rica

1) Costa Rica to be Winning in the 10th Minute

2) Costa Rica to Win

Result: Japan 0 Costa Rica 1

Costa Rica did win.. but they weren't leading in the tenth minute.

Belgium .vs. Morocco

1) Morocco to be winning in the 10th Minute

2) Morocco to Win

Result: Belgium 0 Morocco 2

Another case of me getting far too cute with the eventual winning team to be leading at the ten minute mark.

Croatia .vs. Canada

1) Canada to be Winning in the 10th Minute

Result: Croatia 4 Canada 1
It was third time lucky in regards to the punts on the underdog leading in the tenth minute. Canada went one-up in the second minute and held on in time for my bet to settle at 8/1. Even more fortunate for me, I didn't add 'Canada to win' in the end as I had done with the first couple of bets today.

Spain .vs. Germany

1) Spain to be Winning in the 10th Minute

2) Most Goals in the Second Half

Result: Spain 1 Germany 1

Spain came close to having the lead before the tenth minute, but the ball didn't go in. As for the second part of the bet - that would have won because both goals were scored in the second half.

Today's win moves me into the black. I am now +1.62.

Monday 28 November

I have done something different today. 

A Lucky 15 bet, at 15p a line, which needs the following half-time/full-time scores.

1) Cameroon .vs. Serbia: 0-0 Half-Time / 2-0 Serbia Full-Time

2) South Korea .vs. Ghana: 0-0 Half-Time / 2-0 South Korea Full-Time

3) Brazil .vs. Switzerland: 1-0 Half-Time / 2-0 Brazil Full-Time

4) Portugal .vs. Uruguay: 0-0 Full-Time / 2-0 Portugal Full-Time

Results

1) Cameroon .vs. Serbia: HT 1-2 FT 3-3

2) S. Korea .vs. Ghana: HT 0-2 FT 2-3

3) Brazil .vs. Switzerland: HT 0-0 FT 1-0

4) Portugal .vs. Uruguay: HT 0-0 FT 2-0

I had one winning selection with the final game of the day coming in for me. The odds were 18/1, but were doubled due to the rule, in Lucky 15 bets, which doubles the odds if only one selection is a winner. 

It returned £5.55 from my £2.25 stake. I'm now at +4.92 leading into the final batch of group games.

Even though I won today, I cannot see myself having another go at these HT/FT scoreline punts. 

As of this evening, I am sitting on +4.92 profit.

Tuesday 29 November

I'm back to the bet builders today. Three are for £1 each while the fourth is a free £5 stake.

Ecuador .vs. Senegal

I've put £1 on the following scenarios to occur in this one:

1) Over 3 Goals

2) Over 2 Cards

3) Both Teams to Score in Both Halves

Result: Ecuador 1 Senegal 2

Netherlands .vs. Qatar

£1 on:

1) Both Teams to Receive a Card

2) Over 2 Goals

3) Most Goals to be Scored in the 2nd Half

Result: Netherlands 2 Qatar 0

Iran .vs. USA

£1 on (prepare for a crazy one):

1) Both Teams to Score in Both Halves

2) No Red Card in the Match

3) Exactly 4 Goals in the Match

4) Full Time Score to be 2-2

Result: Iran 0 USA 1

Wales .vs. England

I used a free £5 bet builder on:

1) Over 3.5 Goals

2) Both Teams to Score in Both Halves

3) Gareth Bale to have 2 or More Shots

4) Wales to Have Over 0.5 Cards

Result: Wales 0 England 3

I am now at +1.92 after today's four losses.

Wednesday 30 November

For today, I've put £1 bet builders on each of the following:

Australia .vs. Denmark 

1) Both Teams to Score in the Match

2) Odd Number of Goals in the Match

3) Most Goals in the Second Half

Result: Australia 1 Denmark 0

Tunisia .vs. France

1) Kylian Mbappe Anytime Scorer

2) Both Teams NOT to Score in the Match

Result: Tunisia 1 France 0

Poland .vs. Argentina

1) Both Teams to Score in Both Halves

Result: Poland 0 Argentina 0-2

Saudi Arabia .vs. Mexico

1) Score to be 0-0 at Half Time

2) Most Goals to be Scored in the 2nd Half

3) Both Teams to Receive a Card

Result: Saudi Arabia 1 Mexico 2
This good news: the bet won with both teams getting yellows instead of goals in the first half and then having all the game's goals in the second half.

The not so good news: the odds were 3/1, so I broke even for the day!

I'm back to +1.92.

Thursday 1 December

The bets I've placed for today's games are:

Croatia .vs. Belgium
£1 bet builder which needs:

1) Belgium to be Winning at the 10th Minute

2) Over 2 Goals

3) Both Teams to Score

Result: Croatia 0 Belgium 0

Canada .vs. Morocco
Another £1 bet builder:

1) 0-0 Half Time Score

2) No Red Card

3) Most Goals in the Second Half

Result: Canada 1 Morocco 2

Japan .vs. Spain

I've gambled £5 on the following:

1) Over 2 Goals

2) Over 1 Card

3) Spain to win by 2+ Goals

Result: Japan 2 Spain 1

What a controversial result.

Costa Rica .vs. Germany

I have two £1 bet builders on this game.

1) Both Teams to Score

2) Over 2 Goals

and:

1) Most Goals to be Scored in the 2nd Half

2) A Red Card in the Game

Result: Costa Rica 2 Germany 4

I had a win with the first bet builder I placed for this game. It returned £3.

I enter the final day of the group games tomorrow at -4.08.

Friday 2 December

Today is the final day of the group stage. I feel that this post is becoming far too long to continue right through to the final, so I've made some adjustments to the opening paragraphs and will now end this portion of the diary after today's results and then resume with a new post which will cover the knockout rounds.

Here are the bets for today.

Ghana .vs. Uruguay

I need a trio of things to happen in the following £1 bet builder wager:

1) Both Teams to score in the Second Half

2) Over 1 Card

3) Over 2 Goals

Results: Ghana 0 Uruguay 2

A lot of cards, but not enough of anything else I needed.

South Korea .vs. Portugal

£1 bet builder on:

1) Portugal to be Leading in the 10th Minute

2) Both Teams to Score in the Match

Result: South Korea 2 Portugal 1
Portugal's goal came before the tenth minute and then Korea came back to win the game in the second half. I saw a return of £10.

Cameroon .vs. Brazil

I have another a £1 two-selection bet builder for this one.

1) Both Teams NOT To Score in the Match

2) Brazil to Win By 2+ Goals

Result: Cameroon 1 Brazil 0

What a surprising result. I lost the bet, though!

Serbia .vs. Switzerland

A £1 on a half-time score.

1) 0-0 at Half-Time

Result: Serbia 2 Switzerland 3

It was 2-2 at half-time, so that was a loss.

I end the group stages in the black with £1.92 profit. 

The diary will continue tomorrow.