My name's Lee. I grew up in Yorkshire around men who bet on horses. My dad, my uncle, and half the pub on a Saturday afternoon. I put my first bet on at fifteen, which I'd rather they didn't know, and I've been at it ever since.
For most of my twenties and thirties I bet the way most people do. Hunches, trainers I liked, horses whose names I fancied. I made money in bursts and gave it back in longer stretches. Same story as everyone.
What changed things was leaving a proper job in 2015 and keeping a record of every bet. Every single one, in a spreadsheet. It's boring work, but it made me honest.
Once I had a few years of it, the record told me something I didn't want to hear. A lot of the favourites I was backing out of habit were costing me money. The ones that paid were the ones where something had actually changed since the last run, and where the price still made sense.
That's where the Shortlist comes from. A short list of fancied horses that pass those tests, win and place, all on Betfair. Most favourites don't make it.
I keep it on Betfair because I'm tired of bookmakers cutting people's stakes the moment they win. On the exchange nobody does that, and everyone gets the same starting price, so you can follow it properly.
If you've got a question, email me at lee@exchangeshortlist.co.uk. It comes straight to me and I answer it myself, usually the same evening.
Lee
See exactly what I do for two weeks.
For only £5.
Every bet I make, by email each racing morning, with the stake and my line on why. Pay £5 today, then £49 for the winter pass unless you cancel before day 15.
I email you before the charge. Cancel with one email back. Nothing renews after 31 March. Full details.
