BetHawk Bot Review

Lay Back & Get Rich betting system review

BetHawk has been trialled twice at Lay Back.

Lucy ran the first trial from 11th July 2013 to 27th February 2014, placing 2,703 bets and banking 159 points of profit.

The second was carried out by Stephen from 5th February 2016 to 7th February 2017, this time placing 5,776 bets and returning 696 points of profit.

Needless to say, both reviews saw BetHawk placed in the “passed systems” folder.

But… that’s not quite the end of the story.

User feedback since has been… let’s say… “mixed” with some praising the betting bot and others having a hard time.

Based on the trial results over a total of 19 months, I don’t think that anyone could argue that BetHawk shouldn’t remain as a “passed” system, but…

I urge anyone getting involved to take things steady with a very long-term view.

If you can’t look past bad runs and drawdowns, BetHawk is certainly not for you.

They are going to happen.

On the other hand, if you want to find out more about this automated betting system then read on. After all, both trials did end well in profit.

In this post you will find the full transcripts of both trials, along with results and conclusions from Lucy and Stephen. It’s a looooooooong read but you will get the full 19 months worth of results, thoughts, conclusions, ups and downs.

I can’t imagine a more comprehensive or thorough live, public test. Hats off to both!

If you’d like to find out more about BetHawk itself, you can do so here.


Lucy’s Intro: 11th July 2013

I can think of few things weirder than a betting bot.

It almost seems a contradiction in terms.

After all, horse racing in particular is notoriously random, and robots, presumably by definition, are utterly predictable, slavishly following their designer’s rules.

Can such a random sport really be reduced to a series of programming instructions?

That said, when you think of the enduring appeal of tipsters – which, I believe, comes from how busy most people are, creating the demand for high quality, effortless selections – then I suppose a bot makes some sort of sense.

With a bot you don’t even have to put the bets on yourself!

You just switch on your computer and let it do its thing.

But still. It goes against the grain….

And yes I know I have said things like this before, specifically on the only previous occasion when I tried testing one of these things.

In the end of course, I didn’t have to deal with the philosophical and socio-economic implications of an army of tipsters suddenly being made redundant, as my trial of the Magic Backing Bot ended in disaster. It showed itself to be little more than an automated way of losing money, plus was a total pain to live with, as it seemed to need constant TLC.

I was glad when the whole sorry affair was over and I could go back to normal punting.

With all the above preamble in mind, you will probably be surprised to hear about my new trial of BetHawk.

For in spite of all my reservations, I cannot ignore the fact that this thing appears to deliver real results via a portfolio approach.

And yes, it is that word portfolio that’s hooked me.

Regular readers will know I go on and on about portfolios (Read “Rollingstone”, to find out why).

It is an idea we punters can steal from the financial trading world, to minimise risk, and, importantly, give us a degree of insurance against the pain of losing runs.

Also, unlike my previous failed foray into the world of betting automation, this one does allow some user engagement in order to help you build your portfolio contents.

A cynic might consider this the illusion of control, but I still think it better than no control at all!

So What’s Inside The Box?

BetHawk essentially provides a range of systems from which you select the ones that appeal most to you.

This might seem a bit silly, because surely everyone will simply want the most profitable systems. But it really isn’t as simple as that.

You may for instance be prepared to trade off some profit for an improved strike rate.

Or perhaps you prefer to focus on long-term return on investment, and may be prepared to live with the fact that a given system has struggled recently.

In any event, you simply select from a long list those systems that have features that appeal to you, and bundle them together into a portfolio.

Then, as far as I can tell, all you do is press the magic go button, and sit back and wait. 🙂

There is apparently also the option to monitor individual systems for a period of time, before you decide to buy in.

The monitoring aspect is free, and can, it appears, be run indefinitely, or, more realistically, until such time as you’re convinced this is something you’d like to invest real money in.

Which, if nothing else, is a damned impressive sales technique!

So Here Goes…

I’m going to set up the tool on my PC over the next couple of days…

….build my portfolio…

… then kinda look at it for a bit…

… then kick off the trial!

It all seems very straightforward.

And of course utterly mystifying.


Update: 8th August 2013

It’s just under a month since I wrote my introductory post about the BetHawk bot.

And here I am, 246 bets down the line, already wondering if I should wind up the trial….

This is not an easy report to write. Because my emerging view is that this product may be beyond testing.

As I said in my opening post, I don’t really understand betting bots.

And now, 246 bets later, I have to say… I still don’t.

For me (and maybe it’s a personal thing), the whole point of a successful betting system should be the exploitation of an “edge”.

An edge being the reason why the system is believed to work in the first place.

For instance…

Maybe you believe you can profitably lay horses on the all-weather track at Southwell, if, say, they have no previous experience of its sapping fibresand.

Thus the market may be under-pricing runners with experience of other all-weather tracks, and not taking adequate notice of Southwell’s unique surface.

Thus, this belief would become your “edge”.

And if you could find enough winners over the long term by laying in this way, your belief in the edge would sustain you during the occasional losing run.

Which brings me back to BetHawk.

Because losing runs with bots are a bit of a nightmare.

I don’t know why I should believe in them, because I have no idea what the edge is supposed to be.

The opaque nature of betting bots tries my faith to the point where I find them almost impossible to live with.

After all, this thing is spending my money, but not telling me how it’s making its decisions!

OK – so how are we doing overall?

You might think I’m going tell you BetHawk‘s been a disaster… but it hasn’t.

After 246 bets, I have lost just 5.5 points, by using 2 point stakes.

In effect, it’s a draw.

But I’m afraid my point still stands.

I can see no clear pattern in the bets, and therefore no real “reasons to believe”.

The prices taken offer no clue, with winners to date ranging from 1.64 to 12.14.

And race-types include both handicaps and non-handicaps; chases, hurdles and flats; quick dashes and long canters.

Now I haven’t run BetHawk all day every day — I do have to go out sometimes ! — and of course, I have only selected a subset of systems from the many options available in the product’s portfolio.

But the ones I have chosen were personally recommended to me by the system provider, so I have to say overall performance so far has been slightly disappointing.

However, it is quite likely that another user, selecting other systems, and running at different times of the day, might have obtained far better – or worse – results.

It also doesn’t help matters that the strike rate has been a shade under 20%. So long, losing runs have very quickly become a fact of life.

However, that said, there are a lot of bets each day, so a “long losing run” might last more than ten bets but only take three hours!

I normally test systems for 200 bets, as this number, in my mind, represents a sort of trade-off between statistical robustness on the one hand, and the sheer hassle of trialling on the other.

So clearly, at 246 bets placed, I’m there already.

Plus, as I have no idea what this thing is doing anyway, I am even more tempted to call it a day.

However!..

Now that the system is set up, there is almost no effort involved in actual trialling (other than remembering to switch it on!), so I have decided, in spite of my reticence, to let BetHawk run for another 250 bets or so.

If we can get to 500 bets, I think I’ll have given it a fair old go.

What I can say unequivocally is that I have found Keith @ Acebots to be tremendously helpful and courteous, and determined to provide a good quality service.

And I so want to see it work!

And even more, I would love to know what the hell it’s doing with my money!

I’ll be back in a month or so with a conclusion.

In the meantime, the complete results log for the BetHawk trial looks like this…

BetHawk Bet Log          
race race time race profit race bets winning bets win price
Horse Racing / Kemp 7th Aug : 7f Mdn Stks 07-Aug-13 19:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Yarm 7th Aug : 6f Hcap 07-Aug-13 18:50 5.1 1 Big Wave 3.71
Horse Racing / Kemp 7th Aug : 1m4f Hcap 07-Aug-13 18:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Yarm 7th Aug : 1m Hcap 07-Aug-13 18:20 -4 2
Horse Racing / Brig 7th Aug : 6f Hcap 07-Aug-13 17:55 6.8 2 Koharu 5.6
Horse Racing / Yarm 7th Aug : 7f Hcap 07-Aug-13 17:50 -4 2
Horse Racing / Newc 7th Aug : 1m2f Hcap 07-Aug-13 17:35 -4 2
Horse Racing / Brig 7th Aug : 1m2f Hcap 07-Aug-13 17:25 14.2 2 Thewinningmachine 9.52
Horse Racing / Brig 7th Aug : 1m2f Hcap 07-Aug-13 16:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ponte 7th Aug : 6f Hcap 07-Aug-13 17:00 -4 2
Horse Racing / Ripon 5th Aug : 1m4f Hcap 05-Aug-13 17:15 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 5th Aug : 1m Mdn Stks 05-Aug-13 17:00 9.2 2 Quantify 6.83
Horse Racing / Wolv 5th Aug : 1m Hcap 05-Aug-13 16:30 -6 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 5th Aug : 7f Mdn Stks 05-Aug-13 16:00 1.2 1 Satwa story 1.64
Horse Racing / Ripon 5th Aug : 6f Hcap 05-Aug-13 15:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 5th Aug : 7f Nursery 05-Aug-13 15:30 -6 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 5th Aug : 5f Hcap 05-Aug-13 15:00 5.6 2 Little Eli 6.96
Horse Racing / Ripon 5th Aug : 5f Sell Hcap 05-Aug-13 14:45 8 1 Edith Anne 5.19
Horse Racing / Wolv 5th Aug : 5f Nursery 05-Aug-13 14:30 -4 2
Horse Racing / MrktR 4th Aug : 2m1f Hcap Hrd 04-Aug-13 17:35 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newb 4th Aug : 1m2f Hcap 04-Aug-13 16:55 -2 1
Horse Racing / MrktR 4th Aug : 2m3f Hcap Hrd 04-Aug-13 16:00 7.7 1 Get Home Now 5.06
Horse Racing / MrktR 4th Aug : 2m5f Nov Hrd 04-Aug-13 14:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newb 4th Aug : 1m2f Hcap 04-Aug-13 14:10 -4 2
Horse Racing / Ling 3rd Aug : 1m2f Hcap 03-Aug-13 20:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ham 3rd Aug : 1m Hcap 03-Aug-13 20:15 5.2 1 Teds Brother 3.77
Horse Racing / Ling 3rd Aug : 1m4f Hcap 03-Aug-13 20:00 3.6 2 Slip Of The Tongue 3.89
Horse Racing / Ling 3rd Aug : 5f Mdn Stks 03-Aug-13 19:30 -6 3
Horse Racing / Ling 3rd Aug : 6f Hcap 03-Aug-13 19:00 -4 2
Horse Racing / Ham 3rd Aug : 6f Nursery 03-Aug-13 18:15 7.6 2 Its All A Game 6
Horse Racing / Newt 3rd Aug : 2m5f Hcap Chs 03-Aug-13 17:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newt 3rd Aug : 3m3f Hcap Hrd 03-Aug-13 16:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Thirsk 3rd Aug : 6f Hcap 03-Aug-13 14:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Donc 3rd Aug : 5f Hcap 03-Aug-13 14:25 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newm 3rd Aug : 7f Hcap 03-Aug-13 14:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newm 2nd Aug : 1m Hcap 02-Aug-13 17:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Bang 2nd Aug : 3m Hcap Hrd 02-Aug-13 17:35 -6 3
Horse Racing / Thirsk 2nd Aug : 7f Hcap 02-Aug-13 16:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Thirsk 2nd Aug : 7f Hcap 02-Aug-13 16:05 -4 2
Horse Racing / Thirsk 2nd Aug : 7f Claim Stks 02-Aug-13 14:55 -2 1
Horse Racing / FfosL 1st Aug : 1m4f Hcap 01-Aug-13 20:15 -2 1
Horse Racing / FfosL 1st Aug : 5f Nursery 01-Aug-13 17:40 5.6 1 Mselle 3.95
Horse Racing / Good 1st Aug : 7f Hcap 01-Aug-13 16:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Strat 1st Aug : 2m4f Hcap Chs 01-Aug-13 16:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Nott 1st Aug : 1m Mdn Stks 01-Aug-13 15:55 -2 1
Horse Racing / Strat 1st Aug : 2m7f Hcap Chs 01-Aug-13 15:35 -2 1
Horse Racing / Strat 1st Aug : 2m6f Hcap Hrd 01-Aug-13 14:35 -2 1
Horse Racing / Strat 1st Aug : 2m6f Hcap Hrd 01-Aug-13 14:05 -2 1
Horse Racing / Leic 31st Jul : 1m Hcap 31-Jul-13 20:45 8.7 2 Calm Attitude 6.6
Horse Racing / Leic 31st Jul : 6f Hcap 31-Jul-13 20:10 -4 2
Horse Racing / Redc 31st Jul : 1m Hcap 31-Jul-13 18:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Sand 31st Jul : 1m Hcap 31-Jul-13 17:50 5.3 1 Ishikawa 3.78
Horse Racing / Redc 31st Jul : 6f Hcap 31-Jul-13 17:35 -6 3
Horse Racing / Perth 31st Jul : 3m Hcap Chs 31-Jul-13 17:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Redc 31st Jul : 6f Hcap 31-Jul-13 17:00 -4 2
Horse Racing / Good 31st Jul : 1m1f Hcap 31-Jul-13 16:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Perth 31st Jul : 2m4f Hcap Chs 31-Jul-13 16:35 -2 1
Horse Racing / Redc 31st Jul : 1m2f Hcap 31-Jul-13 15:50 7.4 2 Morocco 5.92
Horse Racing / Perth 30th Jul : 2m Hcap Hrd 30-Jul-13 18:30 3.8 1 Cadore 3
Horse Racing / Bev 30th Jul : 1m2f Hcap 30-Jul-13 17:45 10.5 2 Hernando Torres 7.56
Horse Racing / Uttox 29th Jul : 3m Hcap Hrd 29-Jul-13 19:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wind 29th Jul : 1m Hcap 29-Jul-13 19:00 -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 29th Jul : 6f Hcap 29-Jul-13 17:45 13.6 3 Burren View Lady 12.14
Horse Racing / Wolv 29th Jul : 5f Mdn Stks 29-Jul-13 17:15 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ayr 29th Jul : 1m Hcap 29-Jul-13 17:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 29th Jul : 1m6f Hcap 29-Jul-13 16:45 -6 3
Horse Racing / Ayr 29th Jul : 1m Hcap 29-Jul-13 16:30 7.8 1 Le Chat Dor 5.1
Horse Racing / Wolv 29th Jul : 6f Hcap 29-Jul-13 16:15 13.3 4 Fathsta (2 pts) 5.9
Horse Racing / Ayr 29th Jul : 1m1f Hcap 29-Jul-13 16:00 6.6 1 Save The Bees 4.51
Horse Racing / Wolv 29th Jul : 6f Hcap 29-Jul-13 15:45 12.7 5 Reginald Claude (3 pts) 3.9
Horse Racing / Ayr 29th Jul : 7f Hcap 29-Jul-13 15:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 29th Jul : 1m4f Hcap 29-Jul-13 15:15 -4 2
Horse Racing / Ayr 29th Jul : 1m5f Hcap 29-Jul-13 15:00 1.9 2 Beat The Tide 2.98
Horse Racing / Wolv 29th Jul : 7f Hcap 29-Jul-13 14:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ayr 29th Jul : 5f Hcap 29-Jul-13 14:30 -4 2
Horse Racing / Ponte 28th Jul : 5f Hcap 28-Jul-13 17:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Carl 28th Jul : 7f Hcap 28-Jul-13 17:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Carl 28th Jul : 1m1f Hcap 28-Jul-13 17:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ponte 28th Jul : 1m Listed 28-Jul-13 16:05 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ponte 28th Jul : 1m4f Hcap 28-Jul-13 14:55 -2 1
Horse Racing / Chep 26th Jul : 5f Hcap 26-Jul-13 19:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Chep 26th Jul : 1m Hcap 26-Jul-13 19:20 3.7 2 Mandy The Nag 3.95
Horse Racing / Newm 26th Jul : 1m Hcap 26-Jul-13 19:10 15.8 2 On My Own 10.31
Horse Racing / Chep 26th Jul : 7f Hcap 26-Jul-13 18:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Thirsk 26th Jul : 5f Hcap 26-Jul-13 17:25 5.9 1 Oil Strike 4.09
Horse Racing / Uttox 26th Jul : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 26-Jul-13 17:15 12.3 2 Della Sun 8.44
Horse Racing / Thirsk 26th Jul : 6f Hcap 26-Jul-13 17:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Uttox 26th Jul : 3m Hcap Hrd 26-Jul-13 16:05 -2 1
Horse Racing / Uttox 26th Jul : 2m Hcap Hrd 26-Jul-13 15:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Thirsk 26th Jul : 5f Mdn Stks 26-Jul-13 15:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Thirsk 26th Jul : 7f Mdn Stks 26-Jul-13 14:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Thirsk 26th Jul : 7f Hcap 26-Jul-13 14:10 -4 2
Horse Racing / Leic 24th Jul : 1m2f Hcap 24-Jul-13 20:50 3.9 1 Dame Nellie Melba 3.05
Horse Racing / Sand 24th Jul : 1m Hcap 24-Jul-13 20:05 -2 1
Horse Racing / Worc 24th Jul : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 24-Jul-13 17:55 -4 2
Horse Racing / Leic 24th Jul : 7f Hcap 24-Jul-13 17:40 -4 2
Horse Racing / Ling 24th Jul : 7f Hcap 24-Jul-13 17:35 7.9 2 Menelik 6.16
Horse Racing / Worc 24th Jul : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 24-Jul-13 17:20 5.8 1 Jigsaw Financial 4.07
Horse Racing / Ling 24th Jul : 6f Hcap 24-Jul-13 17:10 -6 3
Horse Racing / Catt 24th Jul : 1m4f Hcap 24-Jul-13 17:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 24th Jul : 5f Hcap 24-Jul-13 16:40 -1.2 2 Dangerous Age 2.4
Horse Racing / Catt 24th Jul : 6f Hcap 24-Jul-13 16:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 24th Jul : 1m4f Hcap 24-Jul-13 16:10 -6 3
Horse Racing / Ling 24th Jul : 1m4f Mdn Stks 24-Jul-13 15:40 1.8 2 Fledged 2.97
Horse Racing / Worc 24th Jul : 2m7f Hcap Hrd 24-Jul-13 15:20 4.5 1 Sovereign Spirit 3.34
Horse Racing / Catt 24th Jul : 7f Nursery 24-Jul-13 15:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Worc 24th Jul : 2m4f Hcap Chs 24-Jul-13 14:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Worc 24th Jul : 2m7f Hcap Chs 24-Jul-13 14:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / FfosL 23rd Jul : 5f Hcap 23-Jul-13 21:05 -4 2
Horse Racing / Bang 23rd Jul : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 23-Jul-13 20:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Bang 23rd Jul : 2m1f Hcap Chs 23-Jul-13 20:15 -2 1
Horse Racing / FfosL 23rd Jul : 1m4f Hcap 23-Jul-13 19:35 -2 1
Horse Racing / Bang 23rd Jul : 3m Hcap Hrd 23-Jul-13 19:15 -2 1
Horse Racing / FfosL 23rd Jul : 1m2f Hcap 23-Jul-13 19:05 4.7 2 Golden Jubilee 4.5
Horse Racing / Wind 22nd Jul : 1m2f Hcap 22-Jul-13 19:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Bev 22nd Jul : 1m2f Hcap 22-Jul-13 19:00 7.7 1 Maybeme 5.03
Horse Racing / Cart 22nd Jul : 2m1f Hcap Hrd 22-Jul-13 17:30 11 1 Lodgician 6.8
Horse Racing / Cart 22nd Jul : 2m1f Hcap Chs 22-Jul-13 15:55 -4 2
Horse Racing / Cart 22nd Jul : 2m6f Hcap Hrd 22-Jul-13 14:45 -6 3
Horse Racing / Ayr 22nd Jul : 7f Hcap 22-Jul-13 14:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Redc 21st Jul : 1m6f Hcap 21-Jul-13 17:40 4.7 2 Madrasa 3.47
Horse Racing / Newt 21st Jul : 3m2f Hcap Chs 21-Jul-13 16:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ham 19th Jul : 1m1f Hcap 19-Jul-13 21:15 4.9 1 Wellingrove 3.6
Horse Racing / Ponte 19th Jul : 6f Hcap 19-Jul-13 21:05 -4 2
Horse Racing / Ham 19th Jul : 1m3f Hcap 19-Jul-13 20:45 -4 2
Horse Racing / Ponte 19th Jul : 1m2f Hcap 19-Jul-13 20:35 5.5 2 Arlecchino 4.9
Horse Racing / Nott 19th Jul : 1m Hcap 19-Jul-13 17:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newb 19th Jul : 1m3f Hcap 19-Jul-13 17:10 -4 2
Horse Racing / Brig 18th Jul : 5f Hcap 18-Jul-13 16:50 5.3 1 Excellent Aim 3.79
Horse Racing / Ham 18th Jul : 1m5f Hcap 18-Jul-13 16:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Leic 18th Jul : 7f Hcap 18-Jul-13 15:40 6.1 1 Ghasabah 4.2
Horse Racing / Ham 18th Jul : 1m1f Hcap 18-Jul-13 15:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Brig 18th Jul : 7f Hcap 18-Jul-13 15:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Sand 17th Jul : 7f Mdn Stks 17-Jul-13 19:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 17th Jul : 1m2f Hcap 17-Jul-13 17:30 4 4 Precision Five 6.1
Horse Racing / Ling 17th Jul : 6f Hcap 17-Jul-13 17:00 11.4 3 Perfect Venture 9
Horse Racing / Catt 17th Jul : 1m4f Hcap 17-Jul-13 16:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 17th Jul : 6f Mdn Stks 17-Jul-13 16:30 -6 3
Horse Racing / Ling 17th Jul : 6f Mdn Stks 17-Jul-13 16:00 2.1 1 Along Again 2.12
Horse Racing / Uttox 17th Jul : 3m Hcap Chs 17-Jul-13 15:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 17th Jul : 2m Hcap 17-Jul-13 15:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Yarm 16th Jul : 6f Hcap 16-Jul-13 18:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 16th Jul : 2m Hcap 16-Jul-13 18:30 -4 2
Horse Racing / Kemp 16th Jul : 6f Mdn Stks 16-Jul-13 18:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Bev 16th Jul : 5f Hcap 16-Jul-13 17:35 -2 1
Horse Racing / Bath 16th Jul : 5f Hcap 16-Jul-13 17:15 2.1 2 Dreams Of Glory 3.12
Horse Racing / Bev 16th Jul : 1m2f Hcap 16-Jul-13 17:00 12.5 1 City Ground 7.6
Horse Racing / Bath 16th Jul : 6f Hcap 16-Jul-13 16:45 4.5 1 Ginzan 3.35
Horse Racing / Bev 16th Jul : 7f Hcap 16-Jul-13 16:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Bev 16th Jul : 1m2f Hcap 16-Jul-13 16:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Bev 16th Jul : 5f Hcap 16-Jul-13 14:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 15th Jul : 1m Hcap 15-Jul-13 21:20 -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 15th Jul : 7f Hcap 15-Jul-13 19:50 -1.8 4 Future Reference 3.1
Horse Racing / Wind 15th Jul : 6f Mdn Stks 15-Jul-13 19:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wind 15th Jul : 5f Mdn Stks 15-Jul-13 19:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 15th Jul : 1m6f Hcap 15-Jul-13 18:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 15th Jul : 6f Mdn Stks 15-Jul-13 18:20 -4 2
Horse Racing / Wind 15th Jul : 5f Hcap 15-Jul-13 18:00 -4 2
Horse Racing / Ayr 15th Jul : 1m5f Hcap 15-Jul-13 17:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ayr 15th Jul : 1m Hcap 15-Jul-13 16:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newt 15th Jul : 3m3f Hcap Hrd 15-Jul-13 16:15 -4 2
Horse Racing / Newt 15th Jul : 2m6f Hcap Hrd 15-Jul-13 15:45 -4 2
profit -5.5      
  no. of bets 246      
  winning bets 48      
  strike rate 20%    

Update: 12th October 2013

It’s been a couple of months since I wrote my last report on our BetHawk trial.

I have my reasons: hospital, holiday, life, stuff.

But the weird thing is, BetHawk doesn’t care. It just ploughs on regardless….

In fact, recent events may be the very best argument there is for getting this product.  It does its thing and you forget about it.

So much so that I do often forget to run it!   Which naturally doesn’t help.

However, every now and again, I remember to fire it up, and off it toddles, speculating with my money whilst I try my level best not to look.

So… how has BetHawk been doing?

Well, thanks for asking, pretty well in fact.

We are not really on speaking terms – BetHawk does its thing and I do mine – and of course it knows I don’t really trust betting bots.

But somehow, somewhere along the way, it decided to forgive me and start amassing profit.

And it has done this, courtesy of some new (ahem!) “dynamic portfolio config files”.

So now you know.

OK – so what do the numbers look like then?

In my first report, I managed to lose 5.5 points in 246 bets.

Not a disaster by any means, but hardly a pulse-quickening start either.

However, this time, thanks to my new impressively dynamic portfolio thingummy, we have recovered dramatically.

Look at this!

bets 291
winners 37
strike rate 13%
profit this time 66.5
points this time  33.25

 

At this point in a review, I usually like to add lots of reflections about the way a service is designed, what it’s like to live with, what the risk profile is like, and any tips or tricks I’ve picked up along the way.

You know the score by now. 🙂

But frankly, with BetHawk there’s nothing to add.

Who the hell knows what it’s doing?!

OK OK there are a couple of things I suppose…

Firstly, the strike rate alarms me a bit (another reason not to look!).

And secondly, the way it often places multiple bets on the same race (and indeed, even on the same horse) adds to my general sense of bafflement.

But other than that, like I say, BetHawk goes its way, and I go mine.

Bottom line: BetHawk has made me 27.75 points after 537 bets.  So really, who cares?

So should I just wind up the trial there, and award a Pass?

After all, I said last time that I might finish at 500 bets… which we long since passed.

But there’s just one thing though: that 13% strike rate really does make me nervous.

So: I’m going to let it run to at least 1000 bets.

Which probably means I’ll be back with my next update in December.

Provided that is, I remember to switch it on.

The complete results log for BetHawk this time was as follows…

Market Start time        
    race profit race bets winning bets win price
Horse Racing / Hex 12th Oct : 3m Hcap Hrd 12-Oct-13 16:30 -10 5
Horse Racing / Newm 12th Oct : 7f Grp2 12-Oct-13 16:25 -2 1
Horse Racing / Chep 12th Oct : 2m3f Nov Chs 12-Oct-13 16:15 -4 2
Horse Racing / Hex 12th Oct : 3m Hcap Hrd 12-Oct-13 16:00 -8 4
Horse Racing / Chep 12th Oct : 2m4f Nov Hrd 12-Oct-13 15:35 -2 1
Horse Racing / Hex 12th Oct : 2m4f Hcap Chs 12-Oct-13 15:20 26.6 2 Rossinis Dancer 16
Horse Racing / Chep 12th Oct : 2m4f Nov Hrd 12-Oct-13 15:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / York 12th Oct : 6f Listed 12-Oct-13 14:55 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 11th Oct : 1m1f Hcap 11-Oct-13 21:10 -6 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 11th Oct : 1m Nursery 11-Oct-13 20:40 7.5 4 Earthflight 8.95
Horse Racing / Wolv 11th Oct : 1m Mdn Stks 11-Oct-13 20:10 9.9 2 Miguel Grau x2 3.58
Horse Racing / Wolv 11th Oct : 1m6f Hcap 11-Oct-13 19:40 5.5 7 Getaway Car x3 3.31
Horse Racing / Wolv 11th Oct : 6f Hcap 11-Oct-13 19:10 -6 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 11th Oct : 6f Hcap 11-Oct-13 18:40 2.5 6 Fat Gary x2 3.63
Horse Racing / Wolv 11th Oct : 7f Hcap 11-Oct-13 18:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 11th Oct : 7f Mdn Stks 11-Oct-13 17:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newt 11th Oct : 2m1f NHF 11-Oct-13 17:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Carl 11th Oct : 2m1f Hcap Hrd 11-Oct-13 14:10 7.6 5 Tweedo Paradiso x2 4.5
Horse Racing / York 11th Oct : 6f Nursery 11-Oct-13 14:00 18.9 0 Aeolus 10.97
Horse Racing / Newt 11th Oct : 2m1f Juv Hrd 11-Oct-13 13:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 7th Oct : 1m Hcap 07-Oct-13 17:30 -4 2
Horse Racing / Wind 7th Oct : 1m Hcap 07-Oct-13 17:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ponte 7th Oct : 1m Mdn Stks 07-Oct-13 17:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 7th Oct : 1m4f Hcap 07-Oct-13 17:00 -4 2
Horse Racing / Ponte 7th Oct : 1m4f Hcap 07-Oct-13 16:40 -6 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 7th Oct : 6f Hcap 07-Oct-13 16:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 7th Oct : 6f Hcap 07-Oct-13 16:00 10.3 3 French Press 8.4
Horse Racing / Wind 7th Oct : 1m3f Hcap 07-Oct-13 15:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 7th Oct : 6f Mdn Stks 07-Oct-13 15:30 -4 2
Horse Racing / Wind 7th Oct : 1m Mdn Stks 07-Oct-13 14:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ponte 7th Oct : 6f Nursery 07-Oct-13 14:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 7th Oct : 7f Hcap 07-Oct-13 14:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wind 7th Oct : 1m Mdn Stks 07-Oct-13 14:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Kelso 6th Oct : 2m NHF 06-Oct-13 17:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Kelso 6th Oct : 2m2f Hcap Hrd 06-Oct-13 17:15 -4 2
Horse Racing / Uttox 6th Oct : 2m Hcap Hrd 06-Oct-13 17:05 -4 2
Horse Racing / Hunt 6th Oct : 3m2f Hcap Hrd 06-Oct-13 16:55 -2 1
Horse Racing / Kelso 6th Oct : 2m2f Hcap Hrd 06-Oct-13 16:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Uttox 6th Oct : 3m Hcap Chs 06-Oct-13 16:35 11.8 2 Roc de Guye 8.2
Horse Racing / Hunt 6th Oct : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 06-Oct-13 16:25 -8 4
Horse Racing / Kelso 6th Oct : 2m7f Hcap Chs 06-Oct-13 16:15 4.1 2 Chicago Outfit 4.13
Horse Racing / Uttox 6th Oct : 3m Hcap Hrd 06-Oct-13 16:05 -4 2
Horse Racing / Hunt 6th Oct : 2m Juv Hrd 06-Oct-13 15:25 -2 1
Horse Racing / Hunt 6th Oct : 2m Hcap Chs 06-Oct-13 14:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Kelso 6th Oct : 2m Juv Hrd 06-Oct-13 14:35 -2 1
Horse Racing / Hunt 6th Oct : 2m Nov Hrd 06-Oct-13 14:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Kelso 6th Oct : 2m Hcap Hrd 06-Oct-13 14:00 -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 5th Oct : 1m Hcap 05-Oct-13 21:15 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 5th Oct : 1m1f Hcap 05-Oct-13 19:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 5th Oct : 1m1f Hcap 05-Oct-13 19:00 -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 5th Oct : 1m4f Hcap 05-Oct-13 18:30 -4 2
Horse Racing / Redc 5th Oct : 5f Hcap 05-Oct-13 17:35 1 3 Thatcherite 3.55
Horse Racing / Redc 5th Oct : 5f Hcap 05-Oct-13 17:05 -4 2
Horse Racing / Font 5th Oct : 2m6f Hcap Chs 05-Oct-13 16:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newm 5th Oct : 6f Listed 05-Oct-13 16:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Redc 5th Oct : 1m2f Hcap 05-Oct-13 16:35 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ascot 5th Oct : 7f Listed 05-Oct-13 16:25 -2 1
Horse Racing / Font 5th Oct : 3m3f Hcap Hrd 05-Oct-13 16:15 -4 2
Horse Racing / Newm 5th Oct : 1m2f Listed 05-Oct-13 16:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Redc 5th Oct : 1m2f Sell Stks 05-Oct-13 16:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ascot 5th Oct : 7f Hcap 05-Oct-13 15:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newm 5th Oct : 1m Mdn Stks 05-Oct-13 15:35 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ascot 5th Oct : 6f Grp3 05-Oct-13 15:15 21.8 1 Tropics 12.43
Horse Racing / Redc 5th Oct : 7f Listed 05-Oct-13 14:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newm 5th Oct : 7f Stks 05-Oct-13 14:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Redc 5th Oct : 1m Hcap 05-Oct-13 14:15 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ascot 5th Oct : 5f Grp3 05-Oct-13 14:05 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newm 5th Oct : 7f Stks 05-Oct-13 13:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Redc 5th Oct : 7f Mdn Stks 05-Oct-13 13:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ascot 5th Oct : 5f Listed 05-Oct-13 13:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 4th Oct : 1m1f Hcap 04-Oct-13 20:55 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 4th Oct : 1m Mdn Stks 04-Oct-13 20:25 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 4th Oct : 1m4f Mdn Stks 04-Oct-13 19:25 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 4th Oct : 1m6f Hcap 04-Oct-13 18:55 -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 4th Oct : 6f Claim Stks 04-Oct-13 18:25 -2 1
Horse Racing / Font 4th Oct : 2m2f Hcap Hrd 04-Oct-13 15:15 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ascot 4th Oct : 6f Hcap 04-Oct-13 15:05 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ascot 4th Oct : 1m Stks 04-Oct-13 14:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Font 4th Oct : 2m2f Mdn Hrd 04-Oct-13 14:10 49.6 2 Hallings Wish x 2 14.04
Horse Racing / Ascot 4th Oct : 7f Hcap 04-Oct-13 14:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 3rd Oct : 1m Hcap 03-Oct-13 20:40 7.6 2 Let Me In 6
Horse Racing / Wolv 3rd Oct : 1m4f Claim Stks 03-Oct-13 20:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 3rd Oct : 7f Sell Stks 03-Oct-13 19:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 3rd Oct : 6f Hcap 03-Oct-13 19:10 -6 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 3rd Oct : 6f Mdn Stks 03-Oct-13 18:40 1.4 1 Miss Atomic Bomb 1.74
Horse Racing / Wolv 3rd Oct : 6f Hcap 03-Oct-13 18:10 -6 3
Horse Racing / Warw 3rd Oct : 1m7f Hcap 03-Oct-13 17:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 3rd Oct : 6f Nursery 03-Oct-13 17:40 6.9 3 Shyron 6.65
Horse Racing / Sthl 3rd Oct : 1m Hcap 03-Oct-13 17:30 19.3 3 Greyfriarschorista 13.16
Horse Racing / Warw 3rd Oct : 6f Hcap 03-Oct-13 17:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Sthl 3rd Oct : 6f Hcap 03-Oct-13 17:00 15.2 3 King Bertie x 2 5.51
Horse Racing / Warw 3rd Oct : 1m3f Hcap 03-Oct-13 16:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newc 2nd Oct : 7f Hcap 02-Oct-13 15:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Nott 2nd Oct : 1m Mdn Stks 02-Oct-13 15:35 38.4 1 Cambridge 21.2
Horse Racing / Nott 2nd Oct : 5f Hcap 02-Oct-13 15:00 -4 2
Horse Racing / Newc 2nd Oct : 7f Mdn Stks 02-Oct-13 14:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Nott 2nd Oct : 5f Mdn Stks 02-Oct-13 14:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Salis 2nd Oct : 1m Mdn Stks 02-Oct-13 14:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newc 2nd Oct : 1m Mdn Stks 02-Oct-13 14:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Nott 2nd Oct : 1m2f Nursery 02-Oct-13 14:00 4.5 1 Fair Flutter 3.36
Horse Racing / Salis 2nd Oct : 1m Mdn Stks 02-Oct-13 13:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 1st Oct : 6f Hcap 01-Oct-13 21:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 1st Oct : 6f Hcap 01-Oct-13 20:50 -4 2
Horse Racing / Kemp 1st Oct : 1m3f Hcap 01-Oct-13 20:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 1st Oct : 1m3f Mdn Stks 01-Oct-13 19:50 -4 2
Horse Racing / Kemp 1st Oct : 1m Hcap 01-Oct-13 19:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 1st Oct : 1m Nursery 01-Oct-13 18:50 -6 3
Horse Racing / Ayr 1st Oct : 5f Hcap 01-Oct-13 17:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Chep 1st Oct : 2m Hcap Hrd 01-Oct-13 16:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Chep 1st Oct : 2m Hcap Chs 01-Oct-13 16:15 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ayr 1st Oct : 7f Hcap 01-Oct-13 17:00 12.9 1 Deliberation 7.8
Horse Racing / Sedge 1st Oct : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 01-Oct-13 16:35 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ayr 1st Oct : 7f Hcap 01-Oct-13 16:25 12.9 1 Natures Law 7.8
Horse Racing / Ayr 1st Oct : 1m5f Hcap 01-Oct-13 15:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Sedge 1st Oct : 2m4f Hcap Chs 01-Oct-13 15:25 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ayr 1st Oct : 6f Hcap 01-Oct-13 15:15 -4 2
Horse Racing / Chep 1st Oct : 3m Hcap Hrd 01-Oct-13 14:30 -4 2
Horse Racing / Sedge 1st Oct : 2m1f Nov Hrd 01-Oct-13 14:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Muss 29th Sep : 5f Hcap 29-Sep-13 17:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Epsm 29th Sep : 7f Hcap 29-Sep-13 17:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Muss 29th Sep : 5f Hcap 29-Sep-13 17:15 -2 1
Horse Racing / Muss 29th Sep : 1m1f Hcap 29-Sep-13 16:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 28th Sep : 7f Hcap 28-Sep-13 21:00 -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 28th Sep : 7f Hcap 28-Sep-13 20:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 28th Sep : 5f Hcap 28-Sep-13 20:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 28th Sep : 1m Nursery 28-Sep-13 19:00 0.5 3 Top Dollar 3.26
Horse Racing / Wolv 28th Sep : 1m1f Hcap 28-Sep-13 18:30 2.4 2 Goal 3.27
Horse Racing / Wolv 28th Sep : 5f Claim Stks 28-Sep-13 18:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ripon 28th Sep : 5f Hcap 28-Sep-13 17:25 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newm 28th Sep : 7f Hcap 28-Sep-13 17:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ripon 28th Sep : 1m4f Mdn Stks 28-Sep-13 16:55 -2 1
Horse Racing / Chest 28th Sep : 7f Hcap 28-Sep-13 16:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / MrktR 28th Sep : 2m3f Hcap Hrd 28-Sep-13 16:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newm 28th Sep : 7f Nursery 28-Sep-13 16:25 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ripon 28th Sep : 1m4f Hcap 28-Sep-13 16:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Chest 28th Sep : 5f Nursery 28-Sep-13 16:15 -2 1
Horse Racing / Hayd 28th Sep : 6f Hcap 28-Sep-13 16:05 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ripon 28th Sep : 6f Hcap 28-Sep-13 15:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Hayd 28th Sep : 5f Hcap 28-Sep-13 15:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / MrktR 28th Sep : 2m6f Hcap Chs 28-Sep-13 15:20 -4 2
Horse Racing / Hayd 28th Sep : 1m Mdn Stks 28-Sep-13 15:00 8.1 2 Monsea 6.26
Horse Racing / MrktR 28th Sep : 2m6f Listed 28-Sep-13 14:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Chest 28th Sep : 6f Hcap 28-Sep-13 14:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Hayd 28th Sep : 1m Mdn Stks 28-Sep-13 14:25 9.5 2 Flippant 7.01
Horse Racing / MrktR 28th Sep : 2m1f Listed 28-Sep-13 14:15 19.9 1 Ahyaknowyerself 11.5
Horse Racing / Chest 28th Sep : 7f Mdn Stks 28-Sep-13 13:55 -2 1
Horse Racing / MrktR 28th Sep : 2m1f Juv Hrd 28-Sep-13 13:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 27th Sep : 1m1f Hcap 27-Sep-13 21:10 10.3 2 Legends x2 3.68
Horse Racing / Wolv 27th Sep : 1m6f Hcap 27-Sep-13 20:40 -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 27th Sep : 7f Mdn Stks 27-Sep-13 19:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Worc 27th Sep : 2m7f Hcap Hrd 27-Sep-13 17:45 -6 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 27th Sep : 1m Hcap 27-Sep-13 17:40 -6 3
Horse Racing / Hayd 27th Sep : 1m2f Hcap 27-Sep-13 17:20 -4 2
Horse Racing / Worc 27th Sep : 2m Hcap Hrd 27-Sep-13 17:10 -8 4
Horse Racing / Worc 27th Sep : 2m7f Hcap Hrd 27-Sep-13 16:35 -4 2
Horse Racing / Hayd 27th Sep : 1m Hcap 27-Sep-13 16:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Worc 27th Sep : 2m4f Mdn Hrd 27-Sep-13 16:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newm 27th Sep : 7f Mdn Stks 27-Sep-13 15:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Hayd 27th Sep : 5f Nursery 27-Sep-13 15:35 -2 1
Horse Racing / Hayd 27th Sep : 6f Mdn Stks 27-Sep-13 15:00 33.2 1 True Comment 18.5
Horse Racing / Hayd 27th Sep : 6f Mdn Stks 27-Sep-13 14:30 40.3 1 Dutch S 22.22
Horse Racing / Newm 27th Sep : 1m Listed 27-Sep-13 14:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Hayd 27th Sep : 1m4f Hcap 27-Sep-13 14:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Hayd 27th Sep : 1m4f Hcap 27-Sep-13 13:30 4.8 2 Mister Fizz 4.54
Horse Racing / Redc 25th Sep : 6f Hcap 25-Sep-13 18:05 -2 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 25th Sep : 6f Mdn Stks 25-Sep-13 17:55 1.9 1 Mushir 1.98
Horse Racing / Perth 25th Sep : 3m Hcap Hrd 25-Sep-13 17:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Redc 25th Sep : 6f Hcap 25-Sep-13 17:30 -4 2
Horse Racing / Kemp 25th Sep : 5f Mdn Stks 25-Sep-13 17:25 7 1 Dutch Interior 4.7
Horse Racing / Good 25th Sep : 5f Hcap 25-Sep-13 17:20 8.7 2 Threave 6.58
Horse Racing / Perth 25th Sep : 3m Hcap Chs 25-Sep-13 17:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Good 25th Sep : 6f Hcap 25-Sep-13 16:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Redc 25th Sep : 1m2f Hcap 25-Sep-13 16:25 -6 3
Horse Racing / Good 25th Sep : 1m3f Hcap 25-Sep-13 16:15 -2 1
Horse Racing / Redc 25th Sep : 5f Hcap 25-Sep-13 15:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Good 25th Sep : 1m2f Listed 25-Sep-13 15:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Redc 25th Sep : 1m Nursery 25-Sep-13 14:40 -4 2
Horse Racing / Ham 23rd Sep : To Be Placed 23-Sep-13 16:40 8 1 Aramist 1.42
Horse Racing / Ayr 20th Sep : 1m Hcap 20-Sep-13 17:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newb 20th Sep : 1m2f Hcap 20-Sep-13 17:20 19.9 1 Pasaka Boy 11.5
Horse Racing / Newb 20th Sep : 7f Listed 20-Sep-13 16:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ayr 20th Sep : 1m Hcap 20-Sep-13 16:35 -4 2
Horse Racing / Newc 20th Sep : 1m4f Hcap 20-Sep-13 16:25 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newc 20th Sep : 1m2f Hcap 20-Sep-13 15:15 -2 1
Horse Racing / Newc 20th Sep : 1m Hcap 20-Sep-13 15:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ayr 20th Sep : 2m1f Hcap 20-Sep-13 15:25 -4 2
Horse Racing / Kemp 18th Sep : 1m4f Hcap 18-Sep-13 19:15 15.8 4 Ebony Roc x2 6.16
Horse Racing / Kemp 18th Sep : 1m2f Hcap 18-Sep-13 18:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 18th Sep : 1m2f Nursery 18-Sep-13 18:15 -2 1

Update: 29th November 2013

It’s been six weeks since my last pretty upbeat report on the BetHawk trial.

I do keep forgetting to run the thing(!), but I don’t suppose it matters that much. After all, I’ve still racked up 986 bets so far, which is starting to look like a pretty robust trial.

So, most importantly, are we still in the money?

In a word, No, but we’re only slightly overdrawn.

A total loss of 8.25 points after 986 bets isn’t a disaster by any means, nor indeed is it conclusive.

And so it’s very hard to know what to make of our progress. Because the thing is so opaque, I can barely comment on the way it works.

The bottom line is: almost 1000 bets have passed, and I still don’t know what to do with BetHawk.

So OK.. deep breath — this is what I’m going to do!

I do hereby solemnly swear to run BetHawk at least four days a week until Christmas.

With the express purpose of completing at least TWO THOUSAND BETS IN MY TRIAL.

Then I’m going to stop.

If it’s still 8 points or so down, it’s going in the Neutral folder.

But I do hope it goes one way or another, as level outcomes are such an anti-climax!

And of course, in spite of all my well-documented doubts about betting bots, I still have to admit that the basic idea is rather intoxicating.

The portfolio that runs itself!!

Who wouldn’t want it to work!?

Here are the top-level statistics.

In report #1, I managed to lose £5.50, or 2.75 points, in 246 bets.

In report #2, I added 33.25 points from 291 selections, to get me quite excited!

But unfortunately, this time, I’ve managed to lose 38.75 points in 449 bets, to leave me with a net balance of -8.25. 🙁

Bets this time 449
Winners this time 54
Strike rate this time 12.03%
Profit this time (£) -77.5
Profit this time (points) -38.75
   
   
Total bets so far 986
Total winners 139
Strike rate for trial 14.10%
Total profit (£) -16.5
Total profit (points) -8.25

 

The stand-out stat is, of course, that strike rate, which can translate into quite a few dispiriting runs. However, the thing about using a bot is – I barely look!

After all, what’s the point?

It’s not as if I can influence BetHawk, is it!?

The complete log of results for the last six weeks is as follows.

Market Start time Bets this race Profit/loss (GBP)
Horse Racing / Extr 24th Nov : 2m1f Hcap Hrd 24-Nov-13 16:05 4 14.7
Horse Racing / Towc 24th Nov : 2m NHF 24-Nov-13 15:45 1 -2
Horse Racing / Extr 24th Nov : 2m1f Nov Hrd 24-Nov-13 15:35 2 -4
Horse Racing / Towc 24th Nov : 2m6f Hcap Chs 24-Nov-13 15:15 2 -4
Horse Racing / Extr 24th Nov : 2m1f Hcap Chs 24-Nov-13 15:05 2 -4
Horse Racing / Towc 24th Nov : 2m5f Hcap Hrd 24-Nov-13 14:45 2 -4
Horse Racing / Extr 24th Nov : 3m Hcap Chs 24-Nov-13 14:35 4 13.3
Horse Racing / Towc 24th Nov : 3m Hcap Chs 24-Nov-13 14:15 4 -8
Horse Racing / Extr 24th Nov : 3m Hcap Chs 24-Nov-13 14:05 2 8.7
Horse Racing / Extr 24th Nov : 2m7f Hcap Hrd 24-Nov-13 13:35 2 -4
Horse Racing / Towc 24th Nov : 2m3f Hcap Chs 24-Nov-13 13:45 1 6.6
Horse Racing / Towc 24th Nov : 2m Claim Hrd 24-Nov-13 13:15 1 -2
Horse Racing / Towc 24th Nov : 2m5f Nov Hrd 24-Nov-13 12:45 1 -2
Horse Racing / Extr 24th Nov : 2m1f Nov Hrd 24-Nov-13 12:35 2 -4
Horse Racing / Wolv 23rd Nov : 6f Nursery 23-Nov-13 17:50 2 -4
Horse Racing / Ascot 23rd Nov : 2m6f Hcap Hrd 23-Nov-13 13:30 3 4.7
Horse Racing / Ling 23rd Nov : 7f Hcap 23-Nov-13 13:25 1 5
Horse Racing / Hayd 23rd Nov : 3m5f Hcap Chs 23-Nov-13 13:15 2 -4
Horse Racing / Hunt 23rd Nov : 2m Hcap Chs 23-Nov-13 13:10 2 5.6
Horse Racing / Ascot 23rd Nov : 3m Hcap Chs 23-Nov-13 13:00 2 8.8
Horse Racing / Ling 23rd Nov : 7f Cond Stks 23-Nov-13 12:55 2 -4
Horse Racing / Hayd 23rd Nov : 2m Hrd 23-Nov-13 12:45 1 5.9
Horse Racing / Hunt 23rd Nov : 2m Hcap Hrd 23-Nov-13 12:35 1 -2
Horse Racing / Ling 23rd Nov : 5f Mdn Stks 23-Nov-13 12:20 2 6.6
Horse Racing / Hayd 23rd Nov : 2m Hcap Hrd 23-Nov-13 12:10 4 -8
Horse Racing / Wolv 22nd Nov : 1m6f Hcap 22-Nov-13 17:10 6 -12
Horse Racing / Wolv 22nd Nov : 6f Mdn Stks 22-Nov-13 16:40 1 2.1
Horse Racing / Wolv 22nd Nov : 6f Hcap 22-Nov-13 16:10 7 33.2
Horse Racing / Ascot 22nd Nov : 2m Hcap Hrd 22-Nov-13 15:50 2 -4
Horse Racing / FfosL 22nd Nov : 2m3f Hcap Chs 22-Nov-13 15:25 1 -2
Horse Racing / Ascot 22nd Nov : 3m Hcap Chs 22-Nov-13 15:15 3 -6
Horse Racing / Hayd 22nd Nov : 2m4f Nov Hrd 22-Nov-13 15:05 1 8.6
Horse Racing / FfosL 22nd Nov : 2m6f Hcap Hrd 22-Nov-13 14:50 1 -2
Horse Racing / FfosL 22nd Nov : 2m5f Hcap Chs 22-Nov-13 14:15 2 -4
Horse Racing / Hayd 22nd Nov : 2m Listed Hrd 22-Nov-13 13:55 2 1.6
Horse Racing / FfosL 22nd Nov : 3m Hcap Chs 22-Nov-13 13:40 2 -4
Horse Racing / Ascot 22nd Nov : 2m3f Beg Chs 22-Nov-13 13:30 1 -2
Horse Racing / Hayd 22nd Nov : 2m1f Grad Chs 22-Nov-13 13:20 2 -4
Horse Racing / Ascot 22nd Nov : 2m3f Mdn Hrd 22-Nov-13 13:00 1 -2
Horse Racing / Hayd 22nd Nov : 3m Hcap Hrd 22-Nov-13 12:50 1 -2
Horse Racing / FfosL 22nd Nov : 2m4f Mdn Hrd 22-Nov-13 12:40 1 -2
Horse Racing / Kemp 21st Nov : 7f Hcap 21-Nov-13 19:40 4 -8
Horse Racing / Kemp 21st Nov : 7f Hcap 21-Nov-13 19:10 3 -6
Horse Racing / Kemp 21st Nov : 1m3f Hcap 21-Nov-13 18:40 2 -4
Horse Racing / Kemp 21st Nov : 1m Hcap 21-Nov-13 18:10 3 11.7
Horse Racing / Kemp 21st Nov : 1m Hcap 21-Nov-13 17:40 4 2.1
Horse Racing / Kemp 21st Nov : 6f Nursery 21-Nov-13 16:40 4 -8
Horse Racing / Kemp 21st Nov : 6f Claim Stks 21-Nov-13 16:10 2 -4
Horse Racing / Winc 21st Nov : 1m6f NHF 21-Nov-13 16:00 1 -2
Horse Racing / Chep 21st Nov : 3m Hcap Hrd 21-Nov-13 15:50 3 -6
Horse Racing / Winc 21st Nov : 2m5f Hcap Chs 21-Nov-13 15:30 1 -2
Horse Racing / Chep 21st Nov : 3m Hcap Chs 21-Nov-13 15:20 6 -12
Horse Racing / MrktR 21st Nov : 2m4f Hcap Chs 21-Nov-13 15:10 2 -4
Horse Racing / Winc 21st Nov : 2m5f Hcap Chs 21-Nov-13 15:00 1 -2
Horse Racing / Chep 21st Nov : 2m3f Hcap Chs 21-Nov-13 14:50 4 -1.4
Horse Racing / MrktR 21st Nov : 2m5f Hcap Hrd 21-Nov-13 14:40 2 3.2
Horse Racing / Chep 21st Nov : 2m Hcap Hrd 21-Nov-13 14:15 5 -10
Horse Racing / MrktR 21st Nov : 3m Hcap Hrd 21-Nov-13 14:05 3 0.3
Horse Racing / Winc 21st Nov : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 21-Nov-13 13:50 2 6.8
Horse Racing / MrktR 21st Nov : 2m6f Hcap Chs 21-Nov-13 13:30 2 -4
Horse Racing / Winc 21st Nov : 2m Hcap Chs 21-Nov-13 13:20 3 -6
Horse Racing / Chep 21st Nov : 2m Hcap Chs 21-Nov-13 13:10 3 -6
Horse Racing / Winc 21st Nov : 2m Hcap Hrd 21-Nov-13 12:50 4 -8
Horse Racing / Chep 21st Nov : 2m Nov Hrd 21-Nov-13 12:40 1 -2
Horse Racing / MrktR 21st Nov : 2m3f Nov Hrd 21-Nov-13 12:30 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wolv 19th Nov : 7f Hcap 19-Nov-13 19:30 5 -10
Horse Racing / Wolv 19th Nov : 7f Hcap 19-Nov-13 19:00 4 -0.6
Horse Racing / Wolv 19th Nov : 7f Hcap 19-Nov-13 18:30 5 2.6
Horse Racing / Wolv 19th Nov : 1m1f Hcap 19-Nov-13 17:30 2 29.6
Horse Racing / Wolv 19th Nov : 1m1f Hcap 19-Nov-13 17:00 3 14.1
Horse Racing / Wolv 19th Nov : 6f Mdn Stks 19-Nov-13 16:30 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wolv 19th Nov : 6f Hcap 19-Nov-13 16:00 1 3.5
Horse Racing / Ling 19th Nov : 2m NHF 19-Nov-13 15:50 1 6.6
Horse Racing / Sthl 19th Nov : 6f Hcap 19-Nov-13 15:40 4 1.7
Horse Racing / Ling 19th Nov : 3m Hcap Chs 19-Nov-13 15:20 1 4.7
Horse Racing / Sthl 19th Nov : 6f Hcap 19-Nov-13 15:10 4 -8
Horse Racing / Fake 19th Nov : 2m7f Hcap Hrd 19-Nov-13 15:00 3 0.4
Horse Racing / Ling 19th Nov : 2m Hcap Hrd 19-Nov-13 14:50 3 12.2
Horse Racing / Sthl 19th Nov : 6f Nursery 19-Nov-13 14:40 6 2.7
Horse Racing / Sthl 19th Nov : 1m Mdn Stks 19-Nov-13 14:10 5 7.5
Horse Racing / Fake 19th Nov : 2m Hcap Hrd 19-Nov-13 14:00 2 -4
Horse Racing / Wolv 18th Nov : 1m4f Hcap 18-Nov-13 17:00 6 -12
Horse Racing / Wolv 18th Nov : 7f Hcap 18-Nov-13 16:30 3 16
Horse Racing / Wolv 18th Nov : 7f Sell Stks 18-Nov-13 16:00 1 -2
Horse Racing / Plump 18th Nov : 2m2f NHF 18-Nov-13 15:50 2 -4
Horse Racing / Leic 18th Nov : 2m Nov Hrd 18-Nov-13 15:40 3 -6
Horse Racing / Wolv 18th Nov : 2m Hcap 18-Nov-13 15:30 7 -5
Horse Racing / Plump 18th Nov : 2m5f Hcap Hrd 18-Nov-13 15:20 4 -0.2
Horse Racing / Leic 18th Nov : 2m4f Hcap Chs 18-Nov-13 15:10 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wolv 18th Nov : 7f Mdn Stks 18-Nov-13 15:00 2 1.1
Horse Racing / Plump 18th Nov : 2m2f Hcap Hrd 18-Nov-13 14:50 5 10.6
Horse Racing / Leic 18th Nov : 2m Hcap Hrd 18-Nov-13 14:40 4 -0.8
Horse Racing / Plump 18th Nov : 2m4f Hcap Chs 18-Nov-13 14:20 2 -4
Horse Racing / Wolv 18th Nov : 1m1f Nursery 18-Nov-13 14:00 2 -4
Horse Racing / Leic 18th Nov : 2m Sell Hrd 18-Nov-13 13:35 1 -2
Horse Racing / Plump 18th Nov : 2m4f Nov Chs 18-Nov-13 13:20 1 -2
Horse Racing / Plump 18th Nov : 2m Nov Hrd 18-Nov-13 12:50 1 -2
Horse Racing / Leic 18th Nov : 2m Juv Hrd 18-Nov-13 12:35 2 -4
Horse Racing / Uttox 16th Nov : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 16-Nov-13 14:15 2 -4
Horse Racing / Weth 16th Nov : 3m1f Hcap Chs 16-Nov-13 14:05 1 -2
Horse Racing / Ling 16th Nov : 1m Hcap 16-Nov-13 14:00 3 -6
Horse Racing / Chelt 16th Nov : 3m3f Hcap Chs 16-Nov-13 13:50 1 27.2
Horse Racing / Weth 16th Nov : 3m1f Hcap Hrd 16-Nov-13 13:30 5 -10
Horse Racing / Ling 16th Nov : 1m Nov Stks 16-Nov-13 13:25 2 -4
Horse Racing / Chelt 16th Nov : 3m Nov Chs 16-Nov-13 13:15 1 -2
Horse Racing / Weth 16th Nov : 2m Nov Chs 16-Nov-13 12:55 1 -2
Horse Racing / Uttox 16th Nov : 2m Nov Hrd 16-Nov-13 12:35 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wolv 12th Nov : 5f Hcap 12-Nov-13 18:20 1 -2
Horse Racing / Newm 2nd Nov : 7f Hcap 02-Nov-13 16:00 1 -2
Horse Racing / Weth 2nd Nov : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 02-Nov-13 16:05 1 -2
Horse Racing / Ascot 2nd Nov : 2m Nov Hrd 02-Nov-13 15:50 1 -2
Horse Racing / Ayr 2nd Nov : 2m Hcap Chs 02-Nov-13 15:45 3 1.6
Horse Racing / Weth 2nd Nov : 3m1f Grd2 Chs 02-Nov-13 15:35 1 -2
Horse Racing / Ascot 2nd Nov : 3m Hcap Chs 02-Nov-13 15:20 1 -2
Horse Racing / Ayr 2nd Nov : 2m Hcap Hrd 02-Nov-13 15:10 3 -6
Horse Racing / Ascot 2nd Nov : 2m Hcap Hrd 02-Nov-13 14:45 3 7
Horse Racing / Newm 2nd Nov : 1m Hcap 02-Nov-13 14:20 1 -2
Horse Racing / Ayr 2nd Nov : 3m1f Hcap Chs 02-Nov-13 14:35 1 -2
Horse Racing / Ascot 2nd Nov : 2m1f Hcap Chs 02-Nov-13 14:10 1 -2
Horse Racing / Ayr 2nd Nov : 2m4f Hcap Chs 02-Nov-13 14:00 1 -2
Horse Racing / Weth 2nd Nov : 2m Listed Hrd 02-Nov-13 13:50 1 -2
Horse Racing / Ascot 2nd Nov : 2m3f Hcap Chs 02-Nov-13 13:35 2 -4
Horse Racing / Ayr 2nd Nov : 3m Hcap Hrd 02-Nov-13 13:25 3 -6
Horse Racing / Kemp 23rd Oct : 7f Class Stks 23-Oct-13 21:20 1 -2
Horse Racing / Kemp 23rd Oct : 7f Hcap 23-Oct-13 20:50 2 -4
Horse Racing / Kemp 23rd Oct : 7f Nursery 23-Oct-13 20:20 3 8.7
Horse Racing / Kemp 23rd Oct : 1m Hcap 23-Oct-13 19:50 3 2.8
Horse Racing / Kemp 23rd Oct : 1m Mdn Stks 23-Oct-13 19:20 3 -6
Horse Racing / Kemp 23rd Oct : 1m Mdn Stks 23-Oct-13 18:50 2 -4
Horse Racing / Kemp 23rd Oct : 6f Mdn Stks 23-Oct-13 18:20 4 -0.4
Horse Racing / Kemp 23rd Oct : 1m2f Hcap 23-Oct-13 17:50 4 12.6
Horse Racing / Worc 23rd Oct : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 23-Oct-13 17:30 4 -8
Horse Racing / Worc 23rd Oct : 2m4f Mdn Hrd 23-Oct-13 16:55 2 6.6
Horse Racing / Font 23rd Oct : 2m6f Hcap Hrd 23-Oct-13 16:30 3 -6
Horse Racing / Worc 23rd Oct : 2m Nov Hrd 23-Oct-13 16:20 3 -6
Horse Racing / Newm 23rd Oct : 1m Mdn Stks 23-Oct-13 16:10 1 -2
Horse Racing / Font 23rd Oct : 2m4f Beg Chs 23-Oct-13 16:00 1 -2
Horse Racing / Font 23rd Oct : 2m2f Nov Hrd 23-Oct-13 15:25 1 -2
Horse Racing / Worc 23rd Oct : 2m Hcap Chs 23-Oct-13 15:15 1 -2
Horse Racing / Ponte 21st Oct : 1m2f Hcap 21-Oct-13 17:40 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wind 21st Oct : 1m3f Hcap 21-Oct-13 17:30 2 3.5
Horse Racing / Plump 21st Oct : 2m5f Hcap Hrd 21-Oct-13 17:20 1 -2
Horse Racing / Ponte 21st Oct : 1m2f Hcap 21-Oct-13 17:10 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wind 21st Oct : 5f Hcap 21-Oct-13 17:00 3 -6
Horse Racing / Plump 21st Oct : 2m1f Hcap Chs 21-Oct-13 16:50 2 -4
Horse Racing / Ponte 21st Oct : 2m2f Hcap 21-Oct-13 16:40 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wind 21st Oct : 1m2f Hcap 21-Oct-13 16:30 1 -2
Horse Racing / Plump 21st Oct : 3m1f Hcap Hrd 21-Oct-13 16:20 3 2.8
Horse Racing / Ponte 21st Oct : 1m4f Mdn Stks 21-Oct-13 16:10 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wind 21st Oct : 1m Hcap 21-Oct-13 16:00 2 -4
Horse Racing / Wind 21st Oct : 1m Hcap 21-Oct-13 15:30 2 -4
Horse Racing / Plump 21st Oct : 2m Hcap Hrd 21-Oct-13 15:20 1 -2
Horse Racing / Ponte 21st Oct : 5f Hcap 21-Oct-13 15:10 1 -2
Horse Racing / Plump 21st Oct : 2m4f Hcap Chs 21-Oct-13 14:50 4 1.3
Horse Racing / Ponte 21st Oct : 1m Nursery 21-Oct-13 14:10 2 -4
Horse Racing / Plump 21st Oct : 2m Mdn Hrd 21-Oct-13 14:20 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wolv 18th Oct : 7f Hcap 18-Oct-13 21:00 3 -6
Horse Racing / Wolv 18th Oct : 7f Hcap 18-Oct-13 20:30 2 -4
Horse Racing / Wolv 18th Oct : 7f Nursery 18-Oct-13 20:00 4 6.1
Horse Racing / Wolv 18th Oct : 1m1f Class Stks 18-Oct-13 19:30 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wolv 18th Oct : 1m Sell Stks 18-Oct-13 19:00 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wolv 18th Oct : 5f Nursery 18-Oct-13 18:25 4 6.1
Horse Racing / Wolv 18th Oct : 6f Mdn Stks 18-Oct-13 17:55 5 16.3
Horse Racing / Hayd 18th Oct : 2m Hcap 18-Oct-13 17:40 1 -2
Horse Racing / Chelt 18th Oct : 2m Hcap Hrd 18-Oct-13 17:30 5 16.1
Horse Racing / Wolv 18th Oct : 6f Hcap 18-Oct-13 17:25 6 -1
Horse Racing / Redc 18th Oct : 1m2f Hcap 18-Oct-13 17:20 1 -2
Horse Racing / Hayd 18th Oct : 1m Hcap 18-Oct-13 17:10 1 -2
Horse Racing / Chelt 18th Oct : 3m Hcap Chs 18-Oct-13 17:00 1 -2
Horse Racing / Redc 18th Oct : 6f Mdn Stks 18-Oct-13 16:50 1 23.7
Horse Racing / Chelt 18th Oct : 2m Mdn Hrd 18-Oct-13 16:25 1 -2
Horse Racing / Redc 18th Oct : 7f Hcap 18-Oct-13 16:15 2 -4
Horse Racing / Hayd 18th Oct : 7f Mdn Stks 18-Oct-13 16:05 1 -2
Horse Racing / Chelt 18th Oct : 3m Nov Chs 18-Oct-13 15:50 4 -8
Horse Racing / Redc 18th Oct : 7f Hcap 18-Oct-13 15:40 1 -2
Horse Racing / Redc 18th Oct : 1m6f Hcap 18-Oct-13 15:05 1 -2
Horse Racing / Hayd 18th Oct : 5f Nursery 18-Oct-13 14:55 1 -2
Horse Racing / Redc 18th Oct : 6f Mdn Stks 18-Oct-13 14:30 1 29.6
Horse Racing / Hayd 18th Oct : 1m2f Mdn Stks 18-Oct-13 14:20 1 -2
Horse Racing / Chelt 18th Oct : 2m5f Nov Hrd 18-Oct-13 14:10 1 6.5
Horse Racing / Redc 18th Oct : 1m Mdn Stks 18-Oct-13 13:30 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wind 14th Oct : 1m3f Hcap 14-Oct-13 17:40 3 3.6
Horse Racing / Salis 14th Oct : 1m6f Hcap 14-Oct-13 17:30 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wind 14th Oct : 1m2f Hcap 14-Oct-13 17:10 1 -2
Horse Racing / Salis 14th Oct : 1m2f Hcap 14-Oct-13 17:00 1 -2
Horse Racing / Muss 14th Oct : 7f Hcap 14-Oct-13 16:50 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wind 14th Oct : 1m Hcap 14-Oct-13 16:40 1 -2
Horse Racing / Salis 14th Oct : 1m2f Hcap 14-Oct-13 16:30 1 8.4
Horse Racing / Muss 14th Oct : 5f Hcap 14-Oct-13 16:20 2 -4
Horse Racing / Muss 14th Oct : 1m5f Hcap 14-Oct-13 15:45 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wind 14th Oct : 6f Hcap 14-Oct-13 15:35 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wind 14th Oct : 1m Mdn Stks 14-Oct-13 15:05 1 -2
Horse Racing / Salis 14th Oct : 7f Mdn Stks 14-Oct-13 14:50 1 -2
Horse Racing / Wind 14th Oct : 1m Nursery 14-Oct-13 14:30 2 5.2
Horse Racing / Muss 14th Oct : 5f Hcap 14-Oct-13 14:10 1 -2
Horse Racing / Salis 14th Oct : 7f Mdn Stks 14-Oct-13 13:50 1 -2
Horse Racing / Good 13th Oct : 1m Hcap 13-Oct-13 17:45 1 -2
Horse Racing / FfosL 13th Oct : 2m NHF 13-Oct-13 17:30 1 -2
Horse Racing / FfosL 13th Oct : 3m Hcap Hrd 13-Oct-13 17:00 5 3.4
Horse Racing / Good 13th Oct : 6f Hcap 13-Oct-13 16:45 1 -2
Horse Racing / FfosL 13th Oct : 2m Hcap Hrd 13-Oct-13 16:30 2 -4
Horse Racing / Good 13th Oct : 1m4f Hcap 13-Oct-13 15:40 3 -6
Horse Racing / FfosL 13th Oct : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 13-Oct-13 15:20 3 -6
Horse Racing / Good 13th Oct : 1m1f Mdn Stks 13-Oct-13 15:05 1 -2
Horse Racing / FfosL 13th Oct : 2m5f Hcap Chs 13-Oct-13 14:45 1 -2
Horse Racing / Good 13th Oct : 6f Mdn Stks 13-Oct-13 14:30 1 -2
Horse Racing / FfosL 13th Oct : 2m Mdn Hrd 13-Oct-13 14:15 1 -2
Horse Racing / Good 13th Oct : 2m Hcap 13-Oct-13 14:00 1 -2
Bets this time 449
Winners this time 54
Strike rate this time 12.03%
Profit this time (£) -77.5
Profit this time (points) -38.75

I aim to be back around Christmas with my trial conclusion. 🙂


Update: 3rd January 2014

At last, a long overdue update from me on our intriguing BetHawk trial… And I have to say, it’s hard to dislike this product.

As I said last time, I do keep forgetting to run the bot in the morning (Note to self — must try harder!! — This is actually now on my New Year’s Resolutions List!) , but when I do, I find it remarkably drama-free.

BetHawk grows on you.

I think, for me, the issue with using a bot has been trust. But I am starting to believe my money is really safe with this thing.

So how are we doing?

Well, it’s a story of little ups and little downs, but the bottom line is an overall loss of 4.2 points after 1236 bets.

The good news is that we’ve made 4.05 points in 250 bets this time, to bring us almost back to the break-even point.

Bets this time 250
Winners this time 30
Strike rate this time 12.00%
Profit this time (£) £8.10
Profit this time (points) 4.05
Total bets so far 1236
Total winners 169
Strike rate for trial 13.67%
Total profit (£) -£8.40
Total profit (points) -4.20

 

I have to confess to worrying about that strike rate…

It’s the reason why I still feel a little nervous about switching the thing on!

But after over 1000 bets, I think it’s fair to say that confidence does start to build.

Maybe the secret with a tool like BetHawk is, ultimately, “faith”.

In precisely the way you must believe in a tipster before you place serious stakes on his selections, I’ve slowly had to learn to believe that my money is safe with this bizarre arrangement, of one software product (BetHawk) gambling my money with another software product (Betfair.com).

My log of results for the month of December is as follows.

Market Start time Race Profit Race Bets
Horse Racing / MrktR 26th Dec : 2m3f Hcap Hrd 26-Dec-13 15:20 -4 2
Horse Racing / Font 26th Dec : 3m2f Hcap Chs 26-Dec-13 15:20 2.3 3
Horse Racing / Winc 26th Dec : 2m Hcap Chs 26-Dec-13 15:25 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 26th Dec : 1m1f Hcap 26-Dec-13 15:15 -4 2
Horse Racing / Kemp 26th Dec : 3m Grd1 Chs 26-Dec-13 15:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Towc 26th Dec : 2m3f Hcap Chs 26-Dec-13 15:05 -2 1
Horse Racing / Sedge 26th Dec : 2m4f Hcap Chs 26-Dec-13 15:05 1.4 4
Horse Racing / Weth 26th Dec : 2m4f Hcap Chs 26-Dec-13 14:55 -10 5
Horse Racing / Winc 26th Dec : 3m1f Hcap Chs 26-Dec-13 14:50 -6 3
Horse Racing / Font 26th Dec : 2m2f Hcap Hrd 26-Dec-13 14:45 -8 4
Horse Racing / MrktR 26th Dec : 2m2f Hcap Chs 26-Dec-13 14:45 6.7 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 26th Dec : 1m Nursery 26-Dec-13 14:40 4.5 2
Horse Racing / Towc 26th Dec : 2m5f Hcap Hrd 26-Dec-13 14:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Sedge 26th Dec : 2m1f Hcap Hrd 26-Dec-13 14:30 -8 4
Horse Racing / Weth 26th Dec : 2m6f Hcap Hrd 26-Dec-13 14:20 -6 3
Horse Racing / Bang 22nd Dec : 2m1f NHF 22-Dec-13 15:40 -4 2
Horse Racing / Ling 22nd Dec : 6f Hcap 22-Dec-13 15:30 2.3 6
Horse Racing / Bang 22nd Dec : 3m Hcap Hrd 22-Dec-13 15:10 -6 3
Horse Racing / Ling 22nd Dec : 2m Hcap 22-Dec-13 15:00 7.6 4
Horse Racing / Ling 22nd Dec : 7f Hcap 22-Dec-13 14:30 -6 3
Horse Racing / Bang 22nd Dec : 2m4f Nov Hrd 22-Dec-13 14:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 22nd Dec : 1m Hcap 22-Dec-13 14:00 -8 4
Horse Racing / Ling 22nd Dec : 1m Mdn Stks 22-Dec-13 13:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Bang 22nd Dec : 3m Hcap Chs 22-Dec-13 13:10 -0.5 4
Horse Racing / Bang 22nd Dec : 2m4f Hcap Chs 22-Dec-13 12:40 -4 2
Horse Racing / Hayd 21st Dec : 3m Hcap Chs 21-Dec-13 14:05 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 21st Dec : 1m Cond Stks 21-Dec-13 14:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ascot 21st Dec : 2m1f Hcap Chs 21-Dec-13 13:50 -6 3
Horse Racing / Newc 21st Dec : 2m4f Hcap Chs 21-Dec-13 13:40 -4 2
Horse Racing / Hayd 21st Dec : 2m Hcap Chs 21-Dec-13 13:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 21st Dec : 5f Hcap 21-Dec-13 13:25 -8 4
Horse Racing / Newc 21st Dec : 2m Hcap Hrd 21-Dec-13 13:10 19.8 2
Horse Racing / Hayd 21st Dec : 2m4f Listed Hrd 21-Dec-13 13:00 -4 2
Horse Racing / Kemp 18th Dec : 6f Mdn Stks 18-Dec-13 17:50 -4 2
Horse Racing / Kemp 18th Dec : 7f Sell Stks 18-Dec-13 17:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 18th Dec : 5f Hcap 18-Dec-13 16:50 8.5 5
Horse Racing / Wolv 16th Dec : 1m Hcap 16-Dec-13 17:10 4 4
Horse Racing / Wolv 16th Dec : 1m Mdn Stks 16-Dec-13 16:40 -6 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 16th Dec : 1m1f Mdn Stks 16-Dec-13 16:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / FfosL 16th Dec : 2m NHF 16-Dec-13 15:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 16th Dec : 1m Claim Stks 16-Dec-13 15:40 8.3 1
Horse Racing / Plump 16th Dec : 2m Hcap Hrd 16-Dec-13 15:30 6.3 3
Horse Racing / FfosL 16th Dec : 2m Hcap Hrd 16-Dec-13 15:15 -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 16th Dec : 1m6f Hcap 16-Dec-13 15:05 8.7 3
Horse Racing / Plump 16th Dec : 2m4f Hcap Chs 16-Dec-13 14:55 -2 1
Horse Racing / FfosL 16th Dec : 3m1f Hcap Chs 16-Dec-13 14:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 16th Dec : 1m4f Sell Stks 16-Dec-13 14:30 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 9th Dec : 1m Hcap 09-Dec-13 17:10 -10 5
Horse Racing / Wolv 9th Dec : 1m1f Hcap 09-Dec-13 16:40 3.8 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 9th Dec : 1m4f Hcap 09-Dec-13 16:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 9th Dec : 6f Hcap 09-Dec-13 15:40 -6 3
Horse Racing / Ling 9th Dec : 6f Hcap 09-Dec-13 15:30 -8 4
Horse Racing / Muss 9th Dec : 2m NHF 09-Dec-13 15:20 -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 9th Dec : 1m6f Hcap 09-Dec-13 15:10 -4 2
Horse Racing / Ling 9th Dec : 1m Hcap 09-Dec-13 15:00 -8 4
Horse Racing / Muss 9th Dec : 3m Hcap Chs 09-Dec-13 14:50 11.4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 9th Dec : 6f Nursery 09-Dec-13 14:40 4 4
Horse Racing / Ling 9th Dec : 1m2f Hcap 09-Dec-13 14:30 -4 2
Horse Racing / Muss 9th Dec : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 09-Dec-13 14:20 -4 2
Horse Racing / Ling 9th Dec : 7f Claim Stks 09-Dec-13 14:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Muss 9th Dec : 3m Hcap Hrd 09-Dec-13 13:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 9th Dec : 5f Hcap 09-Dec-13 13:30 0 2
Horse Racing / Kelso 8th Dec : 3m3f Hcap Hrd 08-Dec-13 15:25 -2 1
Horse Racing / Warw 8th Dec : 2m5f Hcap Hrd 08-Dec-13 15:10 -4 2
Horse Racing / Kelso 8th Dec : 2m6f Nov Hrd 08-Dec-13 14:55 -0.1 3
Horse Racing / Warw 8th Dec : 3m5f Hcap Chs 08-Dec-13 14:40 -6 3
Horse Racing / Kelso 8th Dec : 2m7f Hcap Chs 08-Dec-13 14:25 4.7 3
Horse Racing / Warw 8th Dec : 2m5f Mdn Hrd 08-Dec-13 14:10 -2 1
Horse Racing / Kelso 8th Dec : 4m Hcap Chs 08-Dec-13 13:55 5.2 5
Horse Racing / Warw 8th Dec : 2m Hcap Chs 08-Dec-13 13:40 -12 6
Horse Racing / Kelso 8th Dec : 2m Hcap Hrd 08-Dec-13 13:25 -6 3
Horse Racing / Warw 8th Dec : 2m Juv Hrd 08-Dec-13 12:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 7th Dec : 2m Hcap 07-Dec-13 21:20 13.5 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 7th Dec : 6f Nursery 07-Dec-13 20:50 12 4
Horse Racing / Wolv 7th Dec : 1m6f Hcap 07-Dec-13 20:20 7.4 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 7th Dec : 7f Mdn Stks 07-Dec-13 19:50 1.5 4
Horse Racing / Wolv 7th Dec : 1m4f Mdn Stks 07-Dec-13 19:20 -0.1 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 7th Dec : 1m Hcap 07-Dec-13 18:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 7th Dec : 7f Hcap 07-Dec-13 18:20 -0.9 3
Horse Racing / Chep 7th Dec : 2m NHF 07-Dec-13 15:45 -2 1
Horse Racing / Sand 7th Dec : 3m5f Hcap Chs 07-Dec-13 15:35 19 1
Horse Racing / Aint 7th Dec : 2m5f Hcap Chs 07-Dec-13 15:15 -2 1
Horse Racing / Chep 7th Dec : 2m3f Hcap Chs 07-Dec-13 15:10 -6 3
Horse Racing / Sand 7th Dec : 2m Grd1 Chs 07-Dec-13 15:00 -2 1
Horse Racing / Weth 7th Dec : 3m1f Hcap Chs 07-Dec-13 14:50 4.9 3
Horse Racing / Chep 7th Dec : 3m Hcap Hrd 07-Dec-13 14:35 -2 1
Horse Racing / Sand 7th Dec : 2m Hcap Hrd 07-Dec-13 14:25 -2 1
Horse Racing / Weth 7th Dec : 2m Hcap Hrd 07-Dec-13 14:15 0.1 4
Horse Racing / Chep 7th Dec : 3m Hcap Chs 07-Dec-13 14:00 5.1 3
Horse Racing / Sand 7th Dec : 2m Nov Chs 07-Dec-13 13:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Weth 7th Dec : 2m Hcap Chs 07-Dec-13 13:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Aint 7th Dec : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 07-Dec-13 13:30 21.8 2
Horse Racing / Sand 7th Dec : 2m6f Hcap Hrd 07-Dec-13 13:20 -2 1
Horse Racing / Weth 7th Dec : 3m1f Hcap Hrd 07-Dec-13 13:10 13.9 4
Horse Racing / Aint 7th Dec : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 07-Dec-13 13:00 -4 2
Horse Racing / Chep 7th Dec : 3m Hcap Chs 07-Dec-13 12:55 -4 2
Horse Racing / Sand 7th Dec : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 07-Dec-13 12:50 -2 1
Horse Racing / Weth 7th Dec : 2m4f Hcap Chs 07-Dec-13 12:40 -2 1
Horse Racing / Chep 7th Dec : 2m4f Nov Hrd 07-Dec-13 12:25 -2 1
Horse Racing / Sand 7th Dec : 2m Nov Hrd 07-Dec-13 12:20 6.6 2
Horse Racing / Weth 7th Dec : 2m6f Nov Hrd 07-Dec-13 12:10 42.1 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 2nd Dec : 1m6f Hcap 02-Dec-13 12:55 40.3 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 29th Nov : 5f Hcap 29-Nov-13 18:55 -10 5
Horse Racing / Wolv 29th Nov : 7f Hcap 29-Nov-13 18:25 -8 4
Horse Racing / Wolv 29th Nov : 1m Hcap 29-Nov-13 17:55 -4 2
Horse Racing / Kemp 28th Nov : 1m Mdn Stks 28-Nov-13 17:35 0 2
Totals 8.1 250

I was going to wind the trial up this time, but, in its current state, I feel things are inconclusive. And it’s obvious to me that the whole point of this product – almost more than anything else on my site – is long term investment.

So I’m pushing on.

I’ll be back with my next report around the start of February.


Update: 28th January 2014

I thought I’d take a slightly different tack with BetHawk in January.  Like, you know, switch it on.

Regular readers will know that I’m a bit of a coward where bots are concerned.

As someone once said to me in a wholly other context: I have trust issues.

Now this may be neither the time nor the place to start unloading childhood angst (er, I’m only messing here, I’m fine, really!), but frankly, things came to a head when, after my last report, the BetHawk system salesman ran out of patience with me being too timid to run his bot, to the point where he started publishing his own results on my site!

OK OK! I can take a hint!

And anyway, as I explained last time, BetHawk grows on you.

I’m starting to believe, OK!?

So this time, I’ve been switching the thing on. Most days, even!  And I’ve added almost 600 more bets! And guess what..!

I made a heap of money!

The Story In Numbers

We came into January on the back of a mildly profitable December, still slightly overdrawn – to the tune of 4.2 points, to be precise.

However, we approach the end of January, 581 bets further down the line, in far better shape.

Look at this!

Bets this time 581
Winners this time 83
Strike rate this time 14.3%
Profit this time (£)  £   74.01
Profit this time (points) 37.01
Total bets so far 1817
Total winners 252
Strike rate for trial 13.9%
Total profit (£)  £   65.61
Total profit (points) 32.81

 

And you know, I’m even starting to worry less about that strike rate….

After all, it’s rock solid.

14% is what it is, and 14% is what you are going to get.

And that isn’t a problem provided you let the thing run for long enough.

Now I know this is going to sound weirdly superstitious, but…. I find BetHawk works even better if you ignore it!

Seriously!

The days I sit and mither over the thing, it just won’t leave the station, but sits there sulking, losing my money.

Whereas when I forget all about it… it steams silently from one race track to another, like a bullet train of profit.

OK OK, back to the serious stuff… Results log time!

If there is one thing that builds trust, it’s data. And after 1,817 bets, we’ve now got plenty!

So here follows (deep breath) a summary of the 581 bets I (well, it) placed in January:

 

Market Start time Race Profit Race Bets
Horse Racing / Donc 8th Jan : 2m3f Mdn Hrd 08-Jan-14 12:10  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 8th Jan : 6f Hcap 08-Jan-14 12:30  -2 1
Horse Racing / Donc 8th Jan : 2m Hcap Hrd 08-Jan-14 12:40  7.4 3
Horse Racing / Ling 8th Jan : 5f Hcap 08-Jan-14 13:00  -8 4
Horse Racing / Donc 8th Jan : 2m3f Mdn Hrd 08-Jan-14 13:10  6.27 2
Horse Racing / Ling 8th Jan : 1m2f Hcap 08-Jan-14 13:30  -2 1
Horse Racing / Donc 8th Jan : 2m3f Nov Chs 08-Jan-14 13:40  4.3 1
Horse Racing / Ling 8th Jan : 1m2f Hcap 08-Jan-14 14:00  -4 2
Horse Racing / Donc 8th Jan : 2m Nov Hrd 08-Jan-14 14:10  -4 2
Horse Racing / Ling 8th Jan : 1m2f Mdn Stks 08-Jan-14 14:35  -2 1
Horse Racing / Donc 8th Jan : 3m Hcap Chs 08-Jan-14 14:45  -12 6
Horse Racing / Ling 8th Jan : 6f Hcap 08-Jan-14 15:10  -4 2
Horse Racing / Donc 8th Jan : 2m3f Hcap Hrd 08-Jan-14 15:20  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 8th Jan : 1m Hcap 08-Jan-14 15:40  -8 4
Horse Racing / Donc 8th Jan : 3m Hcap Hrd 08-Jan-14 15:50  -4 2
Horse Racing / Kemp 8th Jan : 1m2f Hcap 08-Jan-14 16:10  11.6 3
Horse Racing / Kemp 8th Jan : 5f Hcap 08-Jan-14 16:40  9.1 4
Horse Racing / Kemp 8th Jan : 7f Hcap 08-Jan-14 17:10  -2 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 8th Jan : 6f Hcap 08-Jan-14 18:10  -14 7
Horse Racing / Kemp 8th Jan : 7f Hcap 08-Jan-14 18:40  -4.4 5
Horse Racing / Kemp 8th Jan : 1m4f Hcap 08-Jan-14 19:10  4.2 3
Horse Racing / Catt 9th Jan : 2m Juv Hrd 09-Jan-14 12:35  -2 1
Horse Racing / Sthl 9th Jan : 5f Mdn Stks 09-Jan-14 13:20  -6 3
Horse Racing / Sthl 9th Jan : 6f Hcap 09-Jan-14 13:50  6.6 3
Horse Racing / Catt 9th Jan : 2m Nov Hrd 09-Jan-14 14:05  -4 2
Horse Racing / Sthl 9th Jan : 1m Hcap 09-Jan-14 14:20  5.3 3
Horse Racing / Catt 9th Jan : 3m6f Hcap Chs 09-Jan-14 14:35  6.6 2
Horse Racing / Sthl 9th Jan : 1m3f Mdn Stks 09-Jan-14 14:50  -2 1
Horse Racing / Catt 9th Jan : 2m3f Hcap Hrd 09-Jan-14 15:05  30.78 3
Horse Racing / Sthl 9th Jan : 5f Hcap 09-Jan-14 15:20  -6 3
Horse Racing / Catt 9th Jan : 2m NHF 09-Jan-14 15:35  -6 3
Horse Racing / Sthl 9th Jan : 1m3f Hcap 09-Jan-14 15:50  -10 5
Horse Racing / Wolv 9th Jan : 1m Hcap 09-Jan-14 16:40  -4 2
Horse Racing / Ling 10th Jan : 5f Hcap 10-Jan-14 12:30  4.9 1
Horse Racing / Ling 10th Jan : 1m4f Mdn Stks 10-Jan-14 13:00  3.71 1
Horse Racing / Sedge 10th Jan : 2m6f Hcap Chs 10-Jan-14 13:15  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 10th Jan : 1m2f Hcap 10-Jan-14 13:30  -4 2
Horse Racing / Sedge 10th Jan : 2m1f Hcap Hrd 10-Jan-14 13:45  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 10th Jan : 7f Mdn Stks 10-Jan-14 15:00  -2 1
Horse Racing / Sedge 10th Jan : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 10-Jan-14 15:15  -4 2
Horse Racing / Ling 10th Jan : 1m4f Hcap 10-Jan-14 15:30  -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 10th Jan : 6f Hcap 10-Jan-14 16:00  -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 10th Jan : 6f Hcap 10-Jan-14 16:30  -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 10th Jan : 1m6f Hcap 10-Jan-14 17:00  -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 10th Jan : 1m4f Claim Stks 10-Jan-14 17:30  -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 10th Jan : 1m4f Hcap 10-Jan-14 18:00  5.1 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 10th Jan : 7f Hcap 10-Jan-14 18:30  23.6 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 12th Jan : 5f Hcap 12-Jan-14 13:30  -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 12th Jan : 5f Hcap 12-Jan-14 14:00  -1 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 12th Jan : 1m4f Mdn Stks 12-Jan-14 14:30  9.7 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 12th Jan : 1m1f Hcap 12-Jan-14 15:00  -6 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 12th Jan : 7f Hcap 12-Jan-14 16:00  -4 2
Horse Racing / Sthl 14th Jan : 7f Hcap 14-Jan-14 12:40  -6 3
Horse Racing / Extr 14th Jan : 2m1f Hcap Chs 14-Jan-14 12:55  -8 4
Horse Racing / Sthl 14th Jan : 1m Hcap 14-Jan-14 13:10  -2 1
Horse Racing / Extr 14th Jan : 2m3f Nov Hrd 14-Jan-14 13:25  -4 2
Horse Racing / Sthl 14th Jan : 1m Hcap 14-Jan-14 13:45  16.1 3
Horse Racing / Extr 14th Jan : 2m3f Nov Hrd 14-Jan-14 14:00  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 15th Jan : 2m Claim Stks 15-Jan-14 12:30  -2 1
Horse Racing / Newb 15th Jan : 2m Juv Hrd 15-Jan-14 12:50  -2 1
Horse Racing / Newc 15th Jan : 2m Hcap Chs 15-Jan-14 13:10  7.2 2
Horse Racing / Ling 15th Jan : 7f Mdn Stks 15-Jan-14 13:30  -2 1
Horse Racing / Newc 15th Jan : 2m Hcap Hrd 15-Jan-14 13:40  -4 2
Horse Racing / Newb 15th Jan : 2m3f Nov Hrd 15-Jan-14 13:50  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 15th Jan : 1m Mdn Stks 15-Jan-14 14:00  2.6 1
Horse Racing / Newc 15th Jan : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 15-Jan-14 14:10  -0.5 5
Horse Racing / Newb 15th Jan : 3m Hcap Chs 15-Jan-14 14:25  -4 2
Horse Racing / Ling 15th Jan : 1m2f Hcap 15-Jan-14 14:35  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 15th Jan : 5f Hcap 15-Jan-14 15:10  -6 3
Horse Racing / Newc 15th Jan : 3m Hcap Hrd 15-Jan-14 15:20  8 4
Horse Racing / Newb 15th Jan : 1m4f NHF 15-Jan-14 15:35  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 15th Jan : 6f Hcap 15-Jan-14 15:45  7.6 6
Horse Racing / Newc 15th Jan : 2m NHF 15-Jan-14 15:55  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ludl 16th Jan : 2m Nov Hrd 16-Jan-14 13:10  -2 1
Horse Racing / Winc 16th Jan : 2m6f Hcap Hrd 16-Jan-14 13:20  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ludl 16th Jan : 2m4f Hcap Chs 16-Jan-14 13:40  6.46 4
Horse Racing / Winc 16th Jan : 2m5f Hcap Chs 16-Jan-14 13:50  -6 3
Horse Racing / MrktR 16th Jan : 2m1f Hcap Hrd 16-Jan-14 14:00  -6 3
Horse Racing / Ludl 16th Jan : 3m Hcap Chs 16-Jan-14 14:10  25 1
Horse Racing / Winc 16th Jan : 3m3f Hcap Chs 16-Jan-14 14:20  32.4 1
Horse Racing / MrktR 16th Jan : 2m5f Hcap Hrd 16-Jan-14 14:30  7.9 5
Horse Racing / Ludl 16th Jan : 3m Hcap Hrd 16-Jan-14 14:40  2.7 2
Horse Racing / Winc 16th Jan : 2m Hcap Hrd 16-Jan-14 14:50  -2 1
Horse Racing / Winc 16th Jan : 2m5f Hcap Chs 16-Jan-14 15:20  -4 2
Horse Racing / MrktR 16th Jan : 2m6f Hcap Chs 16-Jan-14 15:30  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ludl 16th Jan : 2m5f Mdn Hrd 16-Jan-14 15:40  6.3 2
Horse Racing / MrktR 16th Jan : 2m3f Hcap Hrd 16-Jan-14 16:00  -8 4
Horse Racing / Ludl 16th Jan : 2m NHF 16-Jan-14 16:10  -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 16th Jan : 6f Mdn Stks 16-Jan-14 16:30  2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 16th Jan : 6f Hcap 16-Jan-14 17:00  -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 16th Jan : 1m6f Claim Stks 16-Jan-14 17:30  4.8 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 16th Jan : 1m4f Hcap 16-Jan-14 18:00  -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 16th Jan : 1m1f Sell Stks 16-Jan-14 18:30  -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 16th Jan : 1m1f Hcap 16-Jan-14 19:00  -6 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 16th Jan : 7f Hcap 16-Jan-14 19:30  12.5 2
Horse Racing / Muss 17th Jan : 3m Hcap Chs 17-Jan-14 13:15  -4 2
Horse Racing / Ling 17th Jan : 1m2f Hcap 17-Jan-14 14:00  9.9 5
Horse Racing / Ling 17th Jan : 1m Hcap 17-Jan-14 14:30  -2 1
Horse Racing / Muss 17th Jan : 2m Hcap Hrd 17-Jan-14 14:45  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 17th Jan : 1m4f Cond Stks 17-Jan-14 15:00  2.5 1
Horse Racing / Muss 17th Jan : 2m4f Hcap Chs 17-Jan-14 15:20  -8 4
Horse Racing / Ling 17th Jan : 5f Mdn Stks 17-Jan-14 15:35  2.7 1
Horse Racing / Muss 17th Jan : 2m NHF 17-Jan-14 15:55  -6 3
Horse Racing / Ling 17th Jan : 2m Hcap 17-Jan-14 16:05  12.2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 17th Jan : 6f Hcap 17-Jan-14 16:30  3.9 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 17th Jan : 5f Hcap 17-Jan-14 17:00  2.2 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 17th Jan : 7f Hcap 17-Jan-14 17:30  -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 17th Jan : 7f Mdn Stks 17-Jan-14 18:00  -6 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 17th Jan : 7f Hcap 17-Jan-14 18:30  12.3 4
Horse Racing / Wolv 17th Jan : 1m1f Cond Stks 17-Jan-14 19:00  -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 17th Jan : 1m4f Hcap 17-Jan-14 19:30  4.1 1
Horse Racing / Towc 19th Jan : 2m Mdn Hrd 19-Jan-14 13:10  -2 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 19th Jan : 6f Hcap 19-Jan-14 13:30  5.4 0
Horse Racing / Towc 19th Jan : 3m Hcap Chs 19-Jan-14 13:40  -2 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 19th Jan : 7f Hcap 19-Jan-14 14:00  -6 3
Horse Racing / Towc 19th Jan : 2m5f Hcap Hrd 19-Jan-14 14:10  10.93 3
Horse Racing / Kemp 19th Jan : 1m4f Hcap 19-Jan-14 14:30  -14 7
Horse Racing / Towc 19th Jan : 2m Hcap Chs 19-Jan-14 14:40  -6 3
Horse Racing / Kemp 19th Jan : 1m4f Hcap 19-Jan-14 15:00  7.6 5
Horse Racing / Towc 19th Jan : 3m Nov Hrd 19-Jan-14 15:10  -2 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 19th Jan : 6f Hcap 19-Jan-14 15:30  -2.9 7
Horse Racing / Towc 19th Jan : 3m Hunt Chs 19-Jan-14 15:40  -2 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 19th Jan : 6f Cond Stks 19-Jan-14 16:00  -2 1
Horse Racing / Towc 19th Jan : 2m Hcap Hrd 19-Jan-14 16:10  34.2 4
Horse Racing / Kemp 19th Jan : 1m3f Hcap 19-Jan-14 16:30  -10 5
Horse Racing / Kemp 19th Jan : 7f Hcap 19-Jan-14 17:00  4.6 2
Horse Racing / Sthl 20th Jan : 1m3f Hcap 20-Jan-14 13:05  -8 4
Horse Racing / Sthl 20th Jan : 1m4f Hcap 20-Jan-14 13:35  -10 5
Horse Racing / Sthl 20th Jan : 7f Mdn Stks 20-Jan-14 14:05  -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 20th Jan : 5f Hcap 20-Jan-14 14:30  -8 4
Horse Racing / Sthl 20th Jan : 7f Hcap 20-Jan-14 14:40  -1.5 7
Horse Racing / Wolv 20th Jan : 1m6f Hcap 20-Jan-14 15:00  4.6 3
Horse Racing / Sthl 20th Jan : 1m Hcap 20-Jan-14 15:10  -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 20th Jan : 7f Hcap 20-Jan-14 15:30  -4 2
Horse Racing / Sthl 20th Jan : 6f Hcap 20-Jan-14 15:40  1.4 3
Horse Racing / Sthl 20th Jan : 5f Hcap 20-Jan-14 16:10  6.5 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 20th Jan : 1m Hcap 20-Jan-14 16:30  -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 20th Jan : 1m1f Mdn Stks 20-Jan-14 17:00  -6 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 20th Jan : 1m1f Hcap 20-Jan-14 17:30  -4 2
Horse Racing / Weth 21st Jan : 2m Mdn Hrd 21-Jan-14 12:20  -2 1
Horse Racing / Weth 21st Jan : 2m4f Hcap Chs 21-Jan-14 12:50  -2 1
Horse Racing / Sthl 21st Jan : 7f Sell Stks 21-Jan-14 13:30  -2 1
Horse Racing / Leic 21st Jan : 2m4f Hcap Chs 21-Jan-14 13:40  6.5 3
Horse Racing / Weth 21st Jan : 3m1f Hcap Chs 21-Jan-14 13:55  -2 1
Horse Racing / Sthl 21st Jan : 1m Hcap 21-Jan-14 14:05  -4 2
Horse Racing / Leic 21st Jan : 2m Nov Hrd 21-Jan-14 14:15  -2 1
Horse Racing / Sthl 21st Jan : 1m4f Hcap 21-Jan-14 14:40  -4 2
Horse Racing / Leic 21st Jan : 2m Nov Chs 21-Jan-14 14:50  -2 1
Horse Racing / Weth 21st Jan : 3m1f Hcap Chs 21-Jan-14 15:05  18 5
Horse Racing / Sthl 21st Jan : 5f Hcap 21-Jan-14 15:15  -8 4
Horse Racing / Weth 21st Jan : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 21-Jan-14 15:35  -8 4
Horse Racing / Sthl 21st Jan : 5f Sell Stks 21-Jan-14 15:45  -4 2
Horse Racing / Leic 21st Jan : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 21-Jan-14 15:55  -4 2
Horse Racing / Sthl 21st Jan : 6f Hcap 21-Jan-14 16:15  -12 6
Horse Racing / Sthl 22nd Jan : 2m Nov Hrd 22-Jan-14 13:50  5 2
Horse Racing / Ling 22nd Jan : 6f Mdn Stks 22-Jan-14 14:00  -2 1
Horse Racing / Sthl 22nd Jan : 2m Hcap Hrd 22-Jan-14 14:20  -8 4
Horse Racing / Ling 22nd Jan : 2m Cond Stks 22-Jan-14 14:30  6.84 4
Horse Racing / Catt 22nd Jan : 2m3f Hcap Hrd 22-Jan-14 14:40  -2 1
Horse Racing / Sthl 22nd Jan : 3m Mdn Hrd 22-Jan-14 14:55  14.8 2
Horse Racing / Ling 22nd Jan : 1m Hcap 22-Jan-14 15:05  -10 5
Horse Racing / Catt 22nd Jan : 2m Hcap Chs 22-Jan-14 15:15  -4 2
Horse Racing / Ling 22nd Jan : 7f Hcap 22-Jan-14 15:35  -6 3
Horse Racing / Catt 22nd Jan : 3m1f Hcap Chs 22-Jan-14 15:45  13.3 4
Horse Racing / Sthl 22nd Jan : 3m Hcap Hrd 22-Jan-14 15:55  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 22nd Jan : 7f Hcap 22-Jan-14 16:05  9.5 3
Horse Racing / Catt 22nd Jan : 2m NHF 22-Jan-14 16:15  4.5 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 22nd Jan : 7f Mdn Stks 22-Jan-14 16:55  3 2
Horse Racing / Kemp 22nd Jan : 1m3f Mdn Stks 22-Jan-14 17:25  -2 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 22nd Jan : 1m4f Hcap 22-Jan-14 17:55  1.5 3
Horse Racing / Kemp 22nd Jan : 6f Hcap 22-Jan-14 18:55  1.3 1
Horse Racing / Kemp 22nd Jan : 1m Hcap 22-Jan-14 19:25  -8 4
Horse Racing / Kemp 22nd Jan : 1m Hcap 22-Jan-14 19:55  9.9 4
Horse Racing / Hunt 24th Jan : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 24-Jan-14 12:50  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 24th Jan : 7f Claim Stks 24-Jan-14 13:00  10.2 1
Horse Racing / Donc 24th Jan : 2m Hcap Hrd 24-Jan-14 13:10  -2 1
Horse Racing / Hunt 24th Jan : 3m Hcap Chs 24-Jan-14 13:20  -4 2
Horse Racing / Ling 24th Jan : 7f Hcap 24-Jan-14 13:30  9.3 1
Horse Racing / Ling 24th Jan : 6f Hcap 24-Jan-14 14:00  -4 2
Horse Racing / Hunt 24th Jan : 3m Nov Chs 24-Jan-14 14:20  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 24th Jan : 5f Hcap 24-Jan-14 14:30  -2 1
Horse Racing / Donc 24th Jan : 3m Hcap Chs 24-Jan-14 14:45  -4 2
Horse Racing / Hunt 24th Jan : 3m2f Hcap Hrd 24-Jan-14 14:55  -6 3
Horse Racing / Ling 24th Jan : 7f Hcap 24-Jan-14 15:05  -2 1
Horse Racing / Donc 24th Jan : 3m Hcap Hrd 24-Jan-14 15:15  2.5 2
Horse Racing / Hunt 24th Jan : 2m4f Hcap Chs 24-Jan-14 15:25  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 24th Jan : 5f Hcap 24-Jan-14 15:40  -4 2
Horse Racing / Donc 24th Jan : 2m3f Hcap Chs 24-Jan-14 15:50  -4 2
Horse Racing / Hunt 24th Jan : 2m5f Hcap Hrd 24-Jan-14 16:00  0 5
Horse Racing / Ling 24th Jan : 1m2f Mdn Stks 24-Jan-14 16:10  2.8 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 24th Jan : 1m1f Hcap 24-Jan-14 16:30  -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 24th Jan : 5f Claim Stks 24-Jan-14 17:00  3.1 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 24th Jan : 7f Hcap 24-Jan-14 17:30  10.3 4
Horse Racing / Wolv 24th Jan : 1m Claim Stks 24-Jan-14 18:00  -1.6 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 24th Jan : 1m Hcap 24-Jan-14 18:30  -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 24th Jan : 2m Hcap 24-Jan-14 19:00  -0.2 2
Horse Racing / Ling 25th Jan : 6f Hcap 25-Jan-14 12:15  -6 3
Horse Racing / Donc 25th Jan : 2m3f Hcap Hrd 25-Jan-14 12:25  -4 2
Horse Racing / Ling 25th Jan : 6f Hcap 25-Jan-14 12:50  -4 2
Horse Racing / Donc 25th Jan : 2m Grd2 Nov Chs 25-Jan-14 12:55  1.9 2
Horse Racing / Chelt 25th Jan : 2m5f Hcap Chs 25-Jan-14 13:15  -6 3
Horse Racing / Ling 25th Jan : 6f Hcap 25-Jan-14 13:25  -2 1
Horse Racing / Donc 25th Jan : 2m Hcap Chs 25-Jan-14 13:30  -6 3
Horse Racing / Chelt 25th Jan : 2m5f Grd3 Hcap Chs 25-Jan-14 13:50  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 25th Jan : 1m Mdn Stks 25-Jan-14 14:00  31.2 2
Horse Racing / Ling 25th Jan : 1m Hcap 25-Jan-14 14:35  0.5 4
Horse Racing / Donc 25th Jan : 3m Grd2 Nov Hrd 25-Jan-14 14:40  4.2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 25th Jan : 1m4f Mdn Stks 25-Jan-14 15:10  -2 1
Horse Racing / Donc 25th Jan : 3m Hcap Chs 25-Jan-14 15:15  -2 1
Horse Racing / Chelt 25th Jan : 3m Grd2 Hrd 25-Jan-14 15:35  -4 2
Horse Racing / Ling 25th Jan : 1m2f Hcap 25-Jan-14 15:45  4.7 3
Horse Racing / Donc 25th Jan : 2m NHF 25-Jan-14 15:50  -4 2
Horse Racing / Chelt 25th Jan : 2m1f Hcap Hrd 25-Jan-14 16:10  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ling 25th Jan : 1m2f Hcap 25-Jan-14 16:20  4.2 4
Horse Racing / Wolv 26th Jan : 5f Mdn Stks 26-Jan-14 13:50  -4 2
Horse Racing / Sedge 26th Jan : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 26-Jan-14 14:10  3.99 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 26th Jan : 6f Hcap 26-Jan-14 14:20  -8 4
Horse Racing / Sedge 26th Jan : 2m4f Hcap Chs 26-Jan-14 14:45  -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 26th Jan : 6f Hcap 26-Jan-14 14:55  -1.7 4
Horse Racing / Sedge 26th Jan : 2m2f Hcap Hrd 26-Jan-14 15:20  -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 26th Jan : 1m6f Hcap 26-Jan-14 15:30  -6 3
Horse Racing / Sedge 26th Jan : 2m4f Hcap Chs 26-Jan-14 15:50  -4 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 26th Jan : 1m4f Hcap 26-Jan-14 16:00  -0.9 4
Horse Racing / Wolv 26th Jan : 7f Hcap 26-Jan-14 16:30  1.8 4
Horse Racing / Wolv 26th Jan : 1m Hcap 26-Jan-14 17:00  9.1 4
Horse Racing / Ayr 27th Jan : 2m Mdn Hrd 27-Jan-14 13:15  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ayr 27th Jan : 3m1f Hcap Chs 27-Jan-14 13:45  16.63 4
Horse Racing / Ayr 27th Jan : 2m Hcap Hrd 27-Jan-14 14:15  -2 1
Horse Racing / Wolv 27th Jan : 6f Hcap 27-Jan-14 14:40  2.8 3
Horse Racing / Ayr 27th Jan : 3m Hcap Hrd 27-Jan-14 14:50  -10 5
Horse Racing / Wolv 27th Jan : 6f Claim Stks 27-Jan-14 15:10  -2 1
Horse Racing / Ayr 27th Jan : 2m4f Hcap Chs 27-Jan-14 15:20  2.3 4
Horse Racing / Wolv 27th Jan : 7f Mdn Stks 27-Jan-14 15:40  16.3 2
Horse Racing / Ayr 27th Jan : 2m4f Hcap Hrd 27-Jan-14 15:50  11.2 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 27th Jan : 1m1f Hcap 27-Jan-14 16:40  -0.8 2
Horse Racing / Wolv 27th Jan : 1m4f Hcap 27-Jan-14 17:10  6.6 3
Horse Racing / Wolv 27th Jan : 7f Hcap 27-Jan-14 17:40  12.3 4
Horse Racing / Sthl 28th Jan : 1m6f Hcap 28-Jan-14 13:20  4.2 4
Horse Racing / Taun 28th Jan : 3m Hcap Hrd 28-Jan-14 13:40  -8 4
Horse Racing / Sthl 28th Jan : 6f Hcap 28-Jan-14 13:50  3.8 3
Horse Racing / Taun 28th Jan : 2m1f Hcap Hrd 28-Jan-14 14:40  -2 1
Horse Racing / Taun 28th Jan : 2m7f Hcap Chs 28-Jan-14 15:10  17 1
Horse Racing / Sthl 28th Jan : 1m Mdn Stks 28-Jan-14 15:20  -4 2
Horse Racing / Taun 28th Jan : 2m3f Hcap Hrd 28-Jan-14 15:40  11.4 2
Horse Racing / Sthl 28th Jan : 1m Hcap 28-Jan-14 15:50  -2 1
Horse Racing / Taun 28th Jan : 2m Hcap Chs 28-Jan-14 16:10  -4 2
Horse Racing / Sthl 28th Jan : 7f Hcap 28-Jan-14 16:20  17.3 5
Bets this time 581
Profit this time (£)  £   74.01
Profit this time (points) 37.01

I’d like to say a huge sorry to the good folk at BetHawk.

I’ve been mean to you.

I didn’t trust you.

I was wrong.

And, like the typing pools of the past, like HMV, and WH Smith, and Jessops, and Woolworths, and I don’t know what else… computers are going to kill tipsters stone dead.

Yep, tipsters are dead. Long live BetHawk.

And yet I can’t bring myself to wind the damned thing up.

I’ll admit it, I may even be in love!

And…. breathe! 🙂

I’ll be back with my next update around the end of February.


Lucy’s Conclusion: 27th February 2014

I almost don’t know where to begin with this report.  I am in awe of what I have just witnessed.

My report on BetHawk in January was the most upbeat so far. After trading sideways for a long time, we had finally moved comfortably into the lead.

But this time, it’s quite different.

Unlike last month, when I was still learning to leave behind my old reservations about bots, I now have something much more profound to share.

This may just be the most important trial on my site in 2014.

The only sensible place to begin is with hard numbers.

And if I thought the performance in January was good, look at these figures for the period from 29 January to 26 February.

Bets this time 886
Winners this time 185
Strike rate this time 20.9%
Profit this time (£) 253.01
Profit this time (points) 126.51
   
Total bets so far 2703
Total winners 437
Strike rate for trial 16.2%
Total profit (£) 318.62
Total profit (points) 159.3

Really quite extraordinary.

My sole regret is that I am only using £2 stakes!  £10 bets would have left me ahead to the tune of £1593.

And all you have to do is switch it on!

The odd thing though is that I am struggling for much else to say!

Normally, I would comment on a tipster’s strategy or approach.

But none of that applies here. Who knows what it’s doing!?

BetHawk is simply a mystery. A silent but glorious money-making machine in the corner of my house.

When I showed it my mother, she joked that it has, “all of the upsides of marrying a rich man, without having to bother with all that sex”.

I couldn’t put it better myself. 🙂

There are a couple of points of note.

1. By the end of Jan, we were stuck with a strike rate around 14%.

Then, somehow, in Feb, the thing delivered over 20%, thereby lifting the long-run rate to 16.2%.

Unsurprisingly, this has greatly improved the bottom line… but I am of course not in a position to account for it!

2. There is no way I can sensibly list the 886 bets that this thing has placed over the last four weeks, but a daily summary shows wide variations:

 

Date Points Profit
26-Feb -11.923
25-Feb -28.898
24-Feb -1.053
23-Feb -5.307
22-Feb 28.093
21-Feb 28.335
20-Feb -22.404
19-Feb 61.561
18-Feb -43.926
16-Feb 8.473
14-Feb -12.432
13-Feb 21.811
12-Feb 23.231
10-Feb 14.075
06-Feb 19.417
05-Feb 27.198
04-Feb 18.653
03-Feb -13.029
02-Feb 53.075
01-Feb 31.553
30-Jan 72.984
29-Jan -16.477
Profit (pts) 126.51

So, if you are going to give BetHawk a go, you have to give it some room for manoeuvre.

That said, I don’t feel you need to worry unduly about it all going horribly wrong. 2703 bets represent a lot of test data!

You can download the complete results log for the last four weeks here.

I apologised to the nice people at BetHawk in my last report.

This time, I would like to give them a round of applause!

Seriously. This thing is extraordinary.

Obviously, having achieved such a result after so many bets, I have to award it a Pass.

But somehow that doesn’t seem quite enough!

I’ve not been so excited about a product since … well, probably the launch of Profit Maximiser.

Trust me, this is an important product.

So much so… I am even starting to wonder why are they bothering to share it!??


Stephen’s Intro: 5th February 2016

Hi everyone, Stephen here, with a very exciting new trial: or rather a re-trial.

Lucy has given me a whole trial of my own to run. And I’m genuinely excited.

As I say, this is a re-trial of BetHawk, a software robot that uses a portfolio of systems to back and lay horses on Betfair.

Now the original trial was highly successful – Lucy said it converted her from sceptic to big fan, and the robot received a Passed rating as a result – but there followed an animated debate in the comments section with some readers reporting serious problems with the software.

This all blurred the final picture, to the point where Lucy tells me she’s often planned to re-test the whole thing from scratch.

Additionally, about half of the portfolio of BetHawk systems have since been either modified or replaced, so we can’t have much confidence that the performance of the original trial would be repeated today.

So: I intend to test BetHawk with a brand new portfolio and an awful lot more bets than we did last time.

In fact, it’s going to be a monster trial… 🙂

So how are we going to test BetHawk?

I’m a Software Tester in my day job and have quite a long history with running robots on Betfair, having used both the GreyHorseBot and, more recently, The Bet Engine robot running 30 systems of my own. So hopefully my experience will help.

This kind of robot software is best run on a VPS (Virtual Private Server), which means it is running on a machine somewhere in the UK even though I’m based in Sydney, Australia.

You can run BetHawk perfectly well without a VPS, especially if you are happy to have your PC left running all the time and happy to kick it off each day. The VPS just makes it more automated and less time-consuming.

There are other advantages to using a VPS. The virtual machine is on all the time and has more reliable and faster internet than I do. It also means that the trial can be run hands-free. We literally set the parameters at the start for the systems and stakes we wish to use then just set it going…

And from then it just keeps going and going and all I will be doing is tracking progress. 🙂

BetHawk offers a very informative piece of software called BetHawkConfig which helps you track and graph the overall progress of the systems. I’ll be able to choose whether to look at stuff graphically in BetHawkConfig or at the detail of all the actual bets and their results within BetHawk itself.

I can of course also check results in my Betfair account. 🙂

One disadvantage of this kind of software is that we will have no idea what methods the software is using to make its selections and no way to find out.

We only see the selections a very short time before they are placed and just have to hope that whoever designed the thing knew what they were doing!

BetHawk currently has a superset of 11 systems to pick from: 4 x lay place, 3 x lay win, and 4 x back win.

The price of the subscription varies, depending on how many systems and what stake you’d like to use.

The maximum stake can be between GBP 2 and GBP 50 per bet, although it is possible to use an even lower stake if you prefer.

GBP 25 per month gives you the minimum package of 5 systems at GBP 2 per bet.

At the other extreme, GBP 120 per month provides unlimited access at a maximum of GBP 50 per bet.

For my trial, I have chosen 7 of the 11 systems so that they:

  • Cover all 3 of the system types.
  • Give a smooth-ish climbing graph of accumulated profit in the claimed history.
  • Give the best ratio of growth to maximum drawdown based on the last year’s results.

BetHawkConfig makes it very easy for you to analyse the systems both individually and together in a trial portfolio across any historical date range to see exactly how they would have performed.

This is what it looks like:

BetHawk Config
BetHawk Config

The first graph shows the performance for system Keith08, a lay place system that is one of the seven I am going to use.

The second graph at the bottom shows the performance of the combined set of systems in the current portfolio, ‘Stephen New7’.

I have set the System Date Range to 01 Jan 2015 to 31 Dec 2015, so the graphs show me the claimed performance of this individual system and of the entire 7 system portfolio for the whole of 2015.

You can see the highlighted figures in the statistics section of 142 points profit for the Keith08 system, and 1309 points profit for the combined portfolio.

Both those outcomes would be very nice!

To explain a few more of the statistics, in the next screenshot I have simply dragged up the border above the lower graph to cover most of the middle section.

We can now see all the statistics for the combined portfolio:

BetHawk - Combined Portfolio Statistics
BetHawk – Combined Portfolio Statistics

AceBots, the BetHawk vendor, advises you to use 4 times the maximum drawdown as the total number of points in the bank.

I worked through the combinations of systems to find the best ratio of profit to drawdown and came up with the portfolio above.

You can probably (just about) see that the drawdown figure is -192.62 points.

So I am going to use a bank of just over 4 times this for my trial, which works out at 800 points.

At 50 pence a point, I’ll have a total bank £400 and a basic stake of £0.50 per bet.

There are some system combinations which would have produced more profit in the past but they come with much higher drawdown figures.

I am very conscious of the risk to reward ratio and am therefore sticking to my plan.

The trial needs to run for a decent length of time, certainly at least six months, so we have picked a target of 10,000 bets.

I expect this to work out at a duration of around 8 or 9 months, which should surely be enough to give us a definitive verdict on BetHawk.

I will provide regular monthly updates on how it is going but please feel free to post questions and comments below as normal.

In the meantime, you can find out more about BetHawk here.


Update: 1st March 2016

Hi everyone, Stephen here, with a report on the first month of my live trial of the BetHawk Betfair robot.

I kicked off the trial in early February to try to come to a final, definitive conclusion about this intriguing piece of software.

I suspect I can guess what you really want to know….

Has BetHawk automagically been winning me money, just like it says it will on the tin?

Well, I’m glad to say the answer so far is, “YES!”

Look at this screenshot of summary stats and admire the nice ascending graph!

BetHawk Month #1 Performance
BetHawk Month #1 Performance

If you recall, I started on 5th February with an 800 point bank at 0.50 (fifty pence) per point, ie GBP £400.

I’m pleased to report that, after 904 bets, the bank has grown to a healthy GBP £499 – a net profit of 198 points – an increase equal to almost 25% of the  starting bank!

I’d be extremely happy with that level of performance if it is maintained for the rest of the trial.

The eagle-eyed amongst you will spot a small discrepancy between the 198 points profit I actually made, and the 195 points profit in the screenshot.  The system author, Keith, has explained to me in great detail why there is a small discrepancy between what BetHawk Config shows and the true profit, and I am satisfied that the difference will only ever be small, and so is nothing to be concerned about.

Remarkably, the last 16 days have all produced positive outcomes, and there have been only 6 negative days out of 25 in the trial so far.

So it’s all been impressive stuff; though, of course, it is very early days yet in what is expected to be at least a ten month trial.

So.. has it truly been hands-free?

Yes it has!

Apart from one day when Betfair was down for an extensive maintenance period.  This caused BetHawk to crash, and because I had got so used to not having to touch it, I stupidly forgot to check whether it needed restarting.

This reminded me of what I already knew – that if you are running any kind of robot on Betfair then always to check it is up and running correctly after an outage.

Keith also said that he would look to send a reminder email to all subscribers whenever he becomes aware of the exchange being down – which would of course be very helpful.

In normal mode however, BetHawk remains hands-free. I’ve even configured it to send me a little summary email at the end of the racing day.

Today’s email summary is below: so you can see that I don’t even have to log in to find out the exact score for the day. 🙂

BetHawkNG Results
Profit : 3.41
Points : 6.82
Bank : 1756.99

So.. how did the individual systems in the portfolio fare?

The statistics and graphs for each of the 7 systems I am running are shown in the screenshots below.

I am pleased to be able to report that they all profited except for “Venice 18” (see the last screenshot), which is down about 5 points, and “Keith 09” (second image), which has roughly broken even.

One of the other systems only came into profit in the last few days – but hey, a profit’s a profit. 😀

port 1

port 2

port 3

port 4

port 5

port 6

port 7

We’re only a month into the trial, so a note of caution should be sounded.

However, BetHawk has certainly made a very promising start.  And, if it continues in the same fashion, I, for one, will be very happy with it!

Now that it’s up and running, there’s really little to do except, hopefully, keep tabs on how much money it’s making. 🙂

I’ll be back with my next report around the end of March.

In the meantime, you can read more about BetHawk here.


Update: 1st April 2016

Hello everyone, Stephen here…  with an update on the second month of my live (re-)trial of the BetHawk Betfair robot.

I started the trial on 5th February, and, by the end of the month, had made a healthy profit of 198 points at level stakes.

So, in just a few short weeks, BetHawk had grown its bank from 800 to 998 points, which represents nearly a 25% gain.

So inevitably I wondered, could BetHawk really maintain its astonishing early progress in March?

Yes it could!

For the second month running I can show you a very pleasing performance graph (Click to enlarge in separate window).

BetHawk Trial - Performance
BetHawk Trial – Performance

The key performance statistics are very satisfactory. 🙂

Total number of bets placed – 2214

Initial betting bank – 800 points

New bank balance – 1,257 points

Capital Growth – 57%

As I am betting at a very cautious 50 pence per point, then, in pure money terms, my opening bank balance of £400 has grown to £629.

I think we can all agree that this represents a very pleasing level of performance!

I’ll certainly be extremely happy if BetHawk maintains the same rate of growth for the rest of the trial, though we should probably expect some levelling off. The success seen to date is apparently somewhat ahead of the long-term average.

Indeed, given the fairly volatile nature of the laying parts of the portfolio (which is most of it), we should probably expect there to be one or two negative months.

It is important to bear this in mind and be psychologically prepared for when it happens. Because, in the long run, we are really only interested in finding out two things:

  • The end result after at least 10,000 bets have been struck
  • That our starting bank balance was large enough to withstand the deepest drawdown we encounter.

Incidentally, you may spot a small discrepancy in the screenshot from BetHawk Config between the 457 points’ profit I made, and the 443 points it shows.

Software supplier Keith has explained to me in great detail why this occurs. I am satisfied that the difference will only ever be small and so is nothing to be too concerned about.

Has all this profit really been hands-free?

Yes it has. 🙂

I have not had to touch BetHawk in the whole of March as it has run flawlessly on my VPS – at least, as far as I can tell.

The only glitch occurred when I incorrectly thought that it might have crashed one day towards the end of the month because it struck no bets and I did not receive my end of racing email summary.

Keith has since confirmed that there were no bets from my chosen systems that day and has added an item to the change request log to make sure that the email summary is still sent when this happens.

We’re only two months into what is expected to be a ten month trial so we do still need to sound a note of caution.

That said, I can’t help feeling a small degree of satisfaction that I put my hand up for this trial. I love the fact that, once you’ve set it up, BetHawk runs hands-free. Profit and effortlessness make for a heady cocktail.

Anyway, I’ll be back with my next update at the start of May.

Meanwhile, you can find out more about BetHawk here.


Update: 1st May 2016

Hello again, Stephen your triallist back with the third monthly report on my re-trial of BetHawk’s automated betting programme.

To recap: I kicked the thing off in February and racked up 457 points’ profit by the end of March.

So, an absolutely awesome start, but the author Keith from AceBots wisely warned us to expect fluctuations in performance.

In particular, 5 of the 7 systems in my chosen portfolio concentrate on laying, often at high odds, so we can expect a few ups and downs.

I wondered…  was April going to be the month that reality — and losses – set in?

NO! April delivered a further 90 points’ profit.

The bank balance moved from 1257 points at the start of the month to 1347 at the end. We began on 5th February with 800.

So we’ve now had 3 positive months, averaging about 180 points profit from each one.

Here is the overall performance graph for the trial to date.

As you can see, 547 points’ profit makes for a pretty picture.

BetHawk Performance Chart
BetHawk Performance Chart

The headline performance statistics remain as pleasing as ever.

  • Bets placed – 3869
  • Starting bank – 800 points
  • Current bank balance – 1,347 points
  • Capital Growth – 68%

I am betting at 50 pence per point, so my actual profit is £274: i.e. my opening bank balance of £400 has improved to £674.

Unsurprisingly, I am thoroughly satisfied with progress to date.

I keep waiting for a setback but there hasn’t been one yet.

So… has it been necessary for me to intervene in the running of the bot at any stage?
Nope.

There was a Betfair outage for 3 hours on 29th April, owing to a power failure at their data centre apparently.

Obviously this meant BetHawk could not bet for a while, but the software recovered and continued without me having to do a thing.

One other slight problem occurred when my VPS became overloaded with too many processes running (a bad habit of mine!).

BetHawk was not getting enough of the time slice (nothing was), and so it missed a few bets.

Keith was able to work out from the logs that this was what was causing the problem. Once I rebooted my VPS and stopped leaving unnecessary processes open, the issue went away.

I’ve now resolved to reboot my VPS at least once per month… a good house-keeping habit I’m sure you agree!

We’re now three months into my ten month trial and, with almost 4000 bets racked up, I have to admit to being very excited about my progress.

I have a really good feeling about BetHawk and will be very surprised if it does not end with more nice profit when we get to the 10,000 bets target!

Anyway, I’ll be back with my next update at the start of June.

Meanwhile, you can read more about BetHawk here.


Update: 1st June 2016

Hello everyone, Stephen here with an update on the fourth month of my live (re-)trial of the BetHawk Betfair robot.

Recap: I started the trial on 5th February with an initial bank of 800 points. In the first three months we then proceeded to make 547 points’ profit at level stakes.

So, an astonishing beginning, but the author Keith from AceBots wisely warned us that “there will be negative months”. 5 of the 7 systems in my chosen portfolio are laying, often at high odds, so we can expect a few ups and downs.

So did May turn out to be yet another positive month?

Sadly, no it didn’t.

May was the long-expected negative month, pegging us back 136 points to end at a balance of 1211 points: i.e. 411 points in profit overall as the original starting bank on 5th February was 800 points.

There was a spectacularly bad day on 13th May with a return of minus 180 points, followed immediately by another 43 points’ loss the very next day.

More recently, the 28th-30th May have produced a good recovery with plus 100 points over the period.

Here is how it looks month by month:

BETHAWK TRIAL – POINTS SUMMARY    
  P/L Running Profit Total
Feb 198 198
Mar  259 457
Apr  90 547
May  -136 411

Here is the overall performance picture for the 4 months so far, shown in the lower of the two graphs (Click it to enlarge!)

Click to enlarge!
BetHawk Performance – Click to enlarge!

The overall performance statistics are still very satisfactory.

Total number of bets placed = 3786 [but see note below!]

Initial betting bank = 800 points

New bank balance = 1,211 points

Capital Growth = 52%

It should be noted that I removed one of the 7 systems, “Luxor14”, from the portfolio on 3rd May.

This was because it became apparent that not only was this system stuck in a prolonged bad patch, it had reached the point where it had no longer been profitable across its entire lifetime (You can see this in the upper graph in the screenshot above).

The bottom performance graph and summary stats to the left of it are thus a simplification of the real history, because they only cover the six systems now in the portfolio: as if Luxor14 had never been a part of it.

Luxor14 had lost us 140 points at the time that it was stopped. Which explains why the number of points’ profit reported both on the graph and in the summary stats to the left total +551, whereas the actual overall profit is +411.

Translating the points into pounds: as I am betting at a very cautious 50 pence a point, my opening bank balance of £400 has grown to £605.

I continue to be pretty happy with this overall level of performance, though will be a bit worried if June doesn’t take us back into positive territory.

Once again, I have not had to touch BetHawk throughout the month: with the exception of my decision to remove the Luxor14 system from the portfolio. This was easy to implement. I just went into BetHawk Config and set the Luxor14 stake level to zero.

We’re now a third of the way through what is expected to be a twelve month trial and have experienced three profitable months followed by a losing one.

This has given us a performance average of approximately 102 points’ profit per month across the trial as a whole.

According to the system supplier Keith, this is pretty much in line with the overall history of the component systems. Keith has advised that the 5 month period from the creation date of most of the systems in my portfolio up to the start of the trial averaged 111.8 points per month. This statistic did however include Luxor14.

It will now of course be very interesting to see what June brings us!

I’ll be back with my next update a week early on 24th June as I am going away on holiday on 25th.

Meanwhile, you can find out more about BetHawk here.


Update: 11th July 2016

Hello everyone, Stephen back again with a brief update from my sunbed on life with the BetHawk Betfair robot.

(I’m sure you will appreciate why I am keen to keep this one short!).

If you remember, we kicked off the trial in February, beginning with a bank balance of 800 points.

The first three months added over 500 points at level stakes (!), only to be followed, perhaps unsurprisingly, by a first loss of 136 points in month #4.

So did month #5 see me return to winning ways?

No, quite the opposite.

A second losing month produced a loss of 109 points and further dented all the good progress we made in the first quarter.

We’ve said previously that we had to expect both good and bad months but it still doesn’t make them any easier when they come along.

BETHAWK TRIAL – POINTS SUMMARY  
  P/L TOTAL My Bank Balance  
      800  
Feb: 198 198 998  
Mar: 259 457 1257  
Apr: 90 547 1347  
May: -133 414 1214 (Luxor14 was removed 3rd May.)
Jun: -109 305 1105 (Luxor08 was removed 8th Jun.)

The performance graph doesn’t look quite as spectacular as it did two months ago either.

We seem to be giving money back almost as quickly as we once made it. 🙁

BetHawk Performannce - Months 1 to 5
BetHawk Performannce – Months 1 to 5

I have a holiday to concentrate on so I’m going to keep this short and sweet today.

The bottom line remains: I am halfway through my trial — five of ten months completed — and my bank balance is 38% healthier than it was at the outset.

So it’s a bit premature to panic.

I’ll be back in August with a fuller report. Hopefully, we’ll be rewarded for showing patience during this tricky spell.

In the meantime, you can read more about BetHawk here.


Update: 2nd August 2016

Hello everyone, Stephen here with an update on the sixth month of my live (re-)trial of BetHawk’s ‘autobet’ software for Betfair.

The story so far: I kicked off the trial in February and amassed an almost ridiculous 547 points in the first quarter. Then May and June went in the other direction with minus 133 points followed by minus 109.

So: did July stop the rot and turn us back around into positive territory?

No, sadly.

July returned a relatively small loss of 48 points to leave us with a current bank balance of 1057 points.

The original starting bank was 800 points on 5th February, so I remain 257 points in front.

The month-by-month performance summary now looks like this:

MONTH P/L TOTAL P/L POINTS BANK NOTES
Initial     800  
February 198 198 998  
March 259 457 1257  
April 90 547 1347  
May -133 414 1214 (Luxor14 was removed 3rd May.)
June -109 305 1105 (Luxor08 was removed 8th Jun.)
July -48 257 1057  

So we’re still up overall, but have now had 3 negative periods in a row, and are averaging only about 43 points’ profit per month over the whole trial, which is well below the claimed historical average.

Here is the overall performance graph for the 6 months so far:

BetHawk Performance - Months 1 to 6
BetHawk Performance – Months 1 to 6

The reason the graph says we are up 370.82 points, when my chart above says we are up by 257 points, is that we removed Luxor14 and Luxor08 systems along the way.  The graph is showing performance as if those two systems were never in the portfolio.

In other words those two systems lost us the difference of 113 points before they were removed.

BetHawk – Key Performance Statistics

  • Total number of bets placed – 2993 (excludes the Luxor14 and Luxor08 bets)
  • Initial betting bank – 800 points
  • New bank balance – 1057 points
  • Capital Growth – 32%

As I am betting at a very cautious 50 pence per point, then, in pure money terms, my opening bank balance of £400 has grown to £528.

As you can probably imagine, after the first three very pleasing months, I’m now not nearly so happy with the way things are going.

Still, we have to remember that we’re in profit overall, so things could be a lot worse, but if we continue to have negative months then we won’t be in profit for much longer!

Overall, we’re now six months into what is expected to be a ten month trial, and at this point the performance has been disappointing compared to the claimed historical average performance of the systems in our portfolio.

On the plus side, the bot continues to run in hands-free mode. I have simply not touched BetHawk in July: which is a big plus.

Let’s hope we finally return to winning ways in August – so that I will be able to tell you a more positive story in early September.

Manwhile, you can find out more about BetHawk here.


Update: 2nd September 2016

Hello, it’s Stephen back again with the seventh monthly report on my live (re-)test of BetHawk’s Betfair bot.

The first six months of the trial were a ‘game of two halves’: we made money in months #1, #2 and #3, then lost a big chunk of our profits in #4, #5 and #6.

The net result was that we came into month #7 still comfortably ahead – we’d banked 257 points overall, which isn’t to be sniffed at – but clearly we needed an end to our long losing streak.

So: did we start making money again in August?

Read on to find out…

Yes, we did thankfully. Just a little bit!

August returned a net profit of 23 points to leave us with a bank balance of 1080 points.

We began with 800 points on 5th February 2016.

The month-by-month summary is as follows:

MONTH P/L TOTAL P/L POINTS BANK NOTES
Initial     800  
February 198 198 998  
March 259 457 1257  
April 90 547 1347  
May -133 414 1214 (Luxor14 was removed 3rd May.)
June -109 305 1105 (Luxor08 was removed 8th Jun.)
July -48 257 1057  
August 23 280 1080  

A net profit of 280 points equates to a return of 40 points a month: which is lower than BetHawk’s claimed historical average.

The product contains performance graphs so you can visualise how you’re getting on. Here’s the one for my trial:

BetHawk Performance
BetHawk Performance

(Note: If you look closely, you’ll see that this chart incorrectly states says we are up by 395 points. This is because along the way we removed two subsystems, Luxor14 and Luxor08, and the chart is telling the story as if those two systems had never been in the portfolio. 

In other words those two systems lost us the difference of 115 points: 395 minus the real profit figure of 280).

BetHawk – Performance Statistics

  • Total number of bets placed – 3370 (excludes Luxor14 and Luxor08)
  • Initial betting bank – 800 points
  • New bank balance – 1080 points
  • Capital Growth – 35%

As I am betting at 50 pence a point, I have grown my starting balance of £400 to £540.

We’re now seven months into what is expected to be a one year trial, and so far returns have been disappointing compared to the claimed historical average for the systems in the portfolio.

Still, 280 points’ profit sounds pretty good to me. 🙂

Life with BetHawk remains largely a hands-free business. Unusually, it did crash once this month: I’m not sure why. It’s probably something that happened locally on my VPS but I restarted it and had no further issues.

Let’s hope we’re now heading back in the right direction and can start adding more profit. 🙂

I’ll be back with my next report in October.

In the meantime, you can find out more about BetHawk here.


Update: 2nd October 2016

Hello, this is Stephen again with the 8th monthly report on my live (re-)trial of BetHawk’s Betfair bot.

To recap: I kicked off my epic test on 5th February 2016, and three months later had racked up an awesome total profit of 547 points.

Then May, June and July went in the other direction with minus 290 points in total. Finally, August stopped the rot with a small gain of 23 points, to leave me 280 points up overall.

So did September continue the move back into positive territory?

Yes, it did!

September delivered a gain of 58 points to take us to a total bank balance of +1138 points. The original starting bank contained +800 points on 5th February 2016.

There have been quite a few monthly ups and downs along the way:

MONTH P/L RUNNING P/L POINTS BANK NOTES
Initial     800  
February 198 198 998  
March 259 457 1257  
April 90 547 1347  
May -133 414 1214 (Luxor14 was removed 3rd May.)
June -109 305 1105 (Luxor08 was removed 8th Jun.)
July -48 257 1057  
August 23 280 1080  
September 58 338 1138  

So we’re still up overall, but we are averaging only about 42 points’ profit per month over the whole trial, which is well below the claimed historical average.

Here is the system-generated performance graph for the 8 months so far:

BetHawk Performance - Months 1 to 8
BetHawk Performance – Months 1 to 8

You can see that we had almost climbed back to our all-time high profit level a week or so ago, but then a sequence of poor days took us back down again. Really it’s been quite volatile stuff ever since the first high point was reached in the spring.

Incidentally, the reason why the chart says we are up by 435 points, when my figures show we are only ahead by 338, is that we removed Luxor14 and Luxor08 subsystems along the way.

In effect, it is showing what would have happened if we’d never had these two failed subsystems in the portfolio. In other words, Luxor14 and Luxor08 lost us the difference of 107 points before they were removed.

BetHawk – Key Performance Statistics

  • Total number of bets placed – 3856 (excluding the Luxor14 and Luxor08 bets)
  • Initial betting bank – 800 points
  • New bank balance – 1138 points
  • Capital Growth – 42%

As I am betting at a very cautious 50 pence per point, then, in pure money terms, my opening bank balance of £400 has grown to £569.

I’m still making money and doing so in hands-off mode.

The profit I’ve made is below the claimed historical average level, but then I’m not complaining. I didn’t touch BetHawk once in September. Quite remarkable.

Some of the subsystems have disappointed Keith as well as me and he has therefore recommended not to use them currently. The trial portfolio no longer contains any non-recommended systems.

Here’s hoping that our steady recent progress continues. I’ll be back with my next report in November to let you know if it has done so.

Meanwhile, you can read more about BetHawk here.


Update: 1st November 2016

Hello, Stephen here with my 9th monthly update on our (re-)trial of BetHawk’s specialist Betfair software.

This increasingly epic trial began on 5th February and in the first quarter racked up an awesome total profit of 547 points.

Then May, June and July spoilt things by losing us an eye-watering 290 points.

Finally things turned round in August with a net gain of 23 points. September added a further 58.

So did October continue the move back into positive territory?

Yes, I’m thrilled to report that it did.

October added a truly excellent 247 points to take us to a total bank of 1,385 points.

We started out with 800 points on 5th February 2016.

I always like to include my month-by-month profit summary so this is how it’s looking currently:

MONTH P/L TOTAL P/L POINTS BANK NOTES
Initial     800  
February 198 198 998  
March 259 457 1257  
April 90 547 1347  
May -133 414 1214 (Luxor14 was removed 3rd May.)
June -109 305 1105 (Luxor08 was removed 8th Jun.)
July -48 257 1057  
August 23 280 1080  
September 58 338 1138  
October 247 585 1385

So we’re now at a new highest level of the points bank and are averaging about 65 points’ profit per month over the course of the trial.

The BetHawk system allows you to run off useful graphs showing how you’re getting on overall. Here’s what performance looks like after 9 months:

BetHawk Performance After 9 Months
BetHawk Performance After 9 Months

You can see that we have basically recovered back to our previous highest level.

Now, the chart isn’t quite accurate as it excludes the losses incurred by two systems, Luxor14 and Luxor08, that we removed along the way. So it says we are up 651 points, whereas my table above says we are up 585 points. My table is telling the true story.

BetHawk – High-Level Performance Statistics

  • Total bets placed – 4461 (excludes Luxor14 and Luxor08)
  • Initial bank – 800 points
  • New balance – 1385 points
  • Capital Growth – 73%

As I am betting at 50p a point, my opening balance of £400 sterling has now grown to £692.

We’re now nine months into what will be a one year trial, and after a big dip in the middle, the performance has completed an excellent recovery.

I didn’t have to go near BetHawk in the month of October. It did all this in autopilot mode.

Let’s just hope the good news continues for the rest of the trial!

I’ll be back with my next update at the start of December.

In the meantime, you can read more about BetHawk here.


Update: 1st December 2016

Hello, Stephen here yet again with monthly report number TEN on our ultra-long-running (re-)trial of BetHawk’s Betfair bot.

The story so far!…..

We began this bid for the Biggest Ever Betting Trial On Planet Earth back on 5th February.

Frankly, we should have been sponsored for charity.

The trial immediately hit warp speed, racking up a truly amazing 547 points’ profit in just three months.

And then, as is so often the way in the betting world, the very moment I started to believe, it all fell apart. The next three months duly cost me 290 points.

We kept reminding ourselves we were still in credit and were rewarded for our patience when August finally delivered a small profit (23 points).

And, as if to suggest that momentum is everything with a bot, September stepped on the gas to add 58 points before October tore off into the distance by adding an amazing 247 points.

So did November maintain the smooth acceleration into profit?

Well, we made money again, though not quite as much as last time.

November returned a mere 65 points to take us to a total bank balance of 1,450 points.

We began with an initial bank of 800 points back in February. So we are up by 650 points in all.

My month-by-month view now looks like this:

MONTH P/L TOTAL P/L POINTS BANK NOTES
Initial     800  
February 198 198 998  
March 259 457 1257
April 90 547 1347  
May -133 414 1214 (Luxor14 was removed 3rd May.)
June -109 305 1105 (Luxor08 was removed 8th Jun.)
July -48 257 1057  
August 23 280 1080  
September 58 338 1138  
October 247 585 1385  
November 65 650 1450

So we’re now at a new month-end high point and are averaging 65 points’ profit per month over the whole trial.

Here is the overall performance graph for the 10 months so far.

BetHawk Performance - Months 1 to 10
BetHawk Performance – Months 1 to 10

As I keep saying, there is a slight discrepancy between the results table, which says we are up by 650 points, and this graph, which reports a profit of 686 points.

This is because the graph has ‘forgotten’ about two systems that were removed from the portfolio midway through the trial (Luxor14 and Luxor08).

The table is therefore giving a more accurate account of how we’ve getting on.

BetHawk – Performance Summary

  • Total bets placed – 4892 (excludes Luxor14 and Luxor08)
  • Initial bank – 800 points
  • New balance – 1450 points
  • Capital Growth – 81%

I have set a single point to fifty pence. So, for me, 650 points works out at a healthy profit of £325.

I didn’t have to intervene in the running of BetHawk at any stage in November.

There was one day when the supplier, Keith, emailed before the racing started to say that there was a data problem and that BetHawk would not run that day.

But the bot resumed without any intervention the following day – and we were back to regular, hands-off operation.

There are just two more months to go till the end of the trial and I, for one, am in no mood to wind things up.

It’s been a very positive experience, even allowing for the big dip in the middle.

I’ll be back at the start of the New Year with my penultimate progress report.

Meantime, you can find out more about BetHawk here.


Update: 4th January 2017

Hello one and all, Stephen here once more with my eleventh monthly update on our (re-)trial of BetHawk’s Betfair bot.

So… as we start to approach our one-year finishing line, could BetHawk maintain its impressive form?

I’m pleased to be able to tell you that December was our fourth positive month in a row.

It returned 22 points overall to take us to a total bank of 1,472 points.

As the original starting bank, way back in Feb 2016, held 800 points, it follows that our net profit total stands at 672 points.

Monthly performance can vary quite a bit, as you can see from the summary:

MONTH P/L TOTAL P/L POINTS BANK NOTES
Initial     800  
February 198 198 998  
March 259 457 1257  
April 90 547 1347  
May -133 414 1214 (Luxor14 was removed 3rd May.)
June -109 305 1105 (Luxor08 was removed 8th Jun.)
July -48 257 1057  
August 23 280 1080  
September 58 338 1138  
October 247 585 1385  
November 65 650 1450  
December 22 672 1472  

We are now at a new all-time high point for the betting bank and are averaging around 61 points’ profit per month.

BetHawk – Performance Summary

  • Total bets placed – 5,397 (excludes Luxor14 and Luxor08 which were withdrawn mid-trial)
  • Initial bank – 800 points
  • New bank balance – 1472 points
  • Capital Growth – 84%

For me, 1 point equates to fifty pence. So the 672 points I have made translate into £336 profit.

You can, of course, set the value of a single point at whatever level you feel comfortable with.

With just one month to go in my year-long trial, it seems inconceivable that I will fail to make a healthy profit.

The last few months have really rebuilt my confidence in BetHawk following the second quarter wobble.

It’s amazing to think it’s possible to make money in a hands-off style such as this. I didn’t touch the bot once in December.

I’m naturally hoping that we finish on a high but, in any event, I’ll be back in February with my trial conclusion.

In the meanwhile, you can read more about BetHawk here.


Stephen’s Conclusion: 7th February 2017

Hello everyone, it’s Stephen here with the conclusion of our year-long (re-)trial of BetHawk’s Betfair betting bot.

Inevitably, over the course of a whole year, there are bound to be some ups and downs. And trust me, we’ve had a few!

We began on 5th February, 2016 so the trial has run for exactly one calendar year.

It got off to an incredible start, adding 547 points in just three months.

Unsurprisingly, this performance level couldn’t be maintained but the loss of 290 points over the next quarter was deeply sobering.

The turning point came in August with a modest but heartening profit of 23 points. Since when, we never really looked back.

September, October, November and December all finished in the black, meaning I entered the final month 672 points ahead.

So did the trial end with a bang or a whimper?

I’m pleased to say we finished with another positive, if unspectacular, month.

In fact, it lasted a month and a bit as I decided to extend the trial to 5th February in order to complete the full year.

The final period returned a net profit of 24 points to leave me with a bank balance of 1,496 points.

I started out last February with 800 so, in all, I’ve added 696 points to finish at the highest point of the trial.

MONTH P/L TOTAL P/L POINTS BANK NOTES
Initial     800  
February 198 198 998  
March 259 457 1257  
April 90 547 1347  
May -133 414 1214 (Luxor14 was removed 3rd May.)
June -109 305 1105 (Luxor08 was removed 8th Jun.)
July -48 257 1057  
August 23 280 1080  
September 58 338 1138  
October 247 585 1385  
November 65 650 1450  
December 22 672 1472  
January to Feb 5 24 696 1496  

Key Statistics

  • Total number of bets placed – 5,776 (excludes the Luxor14 and Luxor08 bets)
  • Initial betting bank – 800 points
  • New bank balance – 1,496 points
  • Capital Growth – 87%

I set the value of a point at a cautious 50 pence.

In financial terms therefore, my opening bank balance of £400 has grown to £748.

The trial has been genuinely hands-free though there was one day in January when the bot didn’t start and I had to restart it the next day.

However, I think this was down to a glitch on my VPS rather than the Bethawk software.

I’ve now finished my marathon trial, and, after a big dip in the middle, the system has completed an excellent recovery and posted six positive months in a row.

Early on, the author Keith told us that the expectation was 60 points’ profit per month with the systems I was using.

Our results have pretty much met this target, averaging 58 points, in spite of the big dip in the middle.

I therefore have no hesitation in awarding BetHawk a Pass mark, and I, for one, will be converting my trial account to a paid subscription.

It is a little complicated to work out which of the different subsystems to use, and then to figure out what bank size to use with them. But Keith is extremely helpful in providing both data and sensible approaches to help you make these decisions.

A couple of thoughts on subscription costs:

  • I used very low actual stakes, because I didn’t want to risk too much on an unknown quantity. And the point has been well made in readers’ comments on previous articles that, in reality, you would need to use a significantly higher stake than I did to make a profit over and above the cost of the subscription.
  • The minimum subscription is £25 per month and gives you 5 credits, which means you have 5 stakes of £2 to allocate across the various subsystems. I ended up with 5 systems, so in my case, I would have been betting at £2 per point instead of the 50p I actually used.
  • It follows that I would have made £1,392 for a total subscription cost of £25 x 12 = £300. Which works out at a net profit of £1,092 after fees.
  • There are higher cost subscription levels available if you prefer to be more adventurous.

If you’d like to find out more about BetHawk, you can do so here.

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  1. I have now stopped my trial of BetHawk, but happy to answer any questions as required.

    I have to conclude that whilst it has great potential, in the approx. 1.5 years that I ran it, it was rather a roller-coaster, and my bank ended slightly down overall.

  2. Hi Stephen

    I wish I could give some words of reassurance but really there’s not much I can say after the dreadful summer we have had. If I was going to say anything it would be that over the last few years winter has been better than summer so there’s still a glimmer of hope.

    Not much comfort at the moment though.

    Keith

  3. Sadly it is the downward trend that has prevailed so far. Yesterday was poor at -120 approx. taking the bank to another new lowest point of
    2006

    I have decided (quite a while ago) that if my bank ends a day below 2000 then it’s time for me to call it a day on this whole thing, so it is now teetering on the edge!

    Stephen

  4. Update: my bank had continued on its steady downward trend to reach
    2292
    at the end of yesterday.
    However today was its best day for a long time (York was excluded as with all big festivals) for a gain of 148 to give
    2440
    (reminder: 3920 was the start point for this portfolio, so it’s not good so far)

  5. My bank has been pretty flat the last week or so: 2782

    On the lays being backs – which system in particular? – and I guess the thing to do would be to check out that system’s profile in BetHawk Config for each March-September period that it has been running- see if it confirms the pattern you are suggesting? [Maybe you did this already?]

    cheers,
    Stephen

  6. Any updates gents?
    If the lays are being placed at this kind of rate they might work better as a backing system
    There does seem to be an issue in the March-September period

  7. Yes I agree Vincent, I’m feeling the same pain.

    My bank is now:
    2816

    (4000 start point originally, and 3920 start point for this portfolio)

  8. Loss after loss here, no sign of improvement at all, especially with the Lay Win…

    I will got a little bit longer and then remove it from my portfolio it it goes on like that (yesterday layed 3 horses @ 30+ and they won their races).
    And I’m excluding Newmarket and big meetings.

    Starting to lose faith in this…

  9. Yesterday was the worst yet on this portolio:
    it place laid Age of Wisdom at 12.5 in the 20.10 race.
    Lost just over 300 overall on the day
    Bank now:
    3175

  10. Hmmm, early days, but my new portfolio has not gone well so far.

    Bank started at 3915
    Bank now: 3481

    It’s been a pretty steady decline so far (different profile from the previous portfolio of course as this one is biased towards backing rather than laying!)

    (Btw according to my analysis of Keith’s Festival results summary, it is still best to turn it off for major festivals for this portfolio – which I did for Ascot)

  11. BH has had a good spell for my two chosen systems Luxor10 and Luxor19, and the bank has recovered to:
    3915

    Meanwhile, BetHawk’s owner Keith has suggested some different portfolios I could use with more consistent growth graphs over the last year or so. I must admit I value consistency quite highly, so I’ve decided I’m going to make the switch today to the following new portfolio:

    Bali01 LAY PLACE 36
    Luxor17 LAY WIN 3
    Paris7.1 BACK WIN SP 12
    Venice17.1 BACK WIN SP 6

    I’ll continue my bank from where it is at 3915
    These stake levels are quite aggressive for this bank size – they map to catering for up to twice the maximum drawdown so far of this portfolio. Note that Keith’s recommendation is more conservative – to use 3x max drawdown.

    As usual I’ll keep everyone posted whenever there’s a really good or bad day. If you hear nothing on here it means the bank is gradually increasing !!

    cheers,
    Stephen

    1. Hi Stephen,

      I’m following the same move as you. I was too much weighted towards the laying side, the one suggested looks more promising and more balanced, smoother hopefully!!

      Will you still be avoided “big meetings”?

      Cheers
      V

    2. Hi Everyone.

      Just thought I’d point out that I’m happy to look through the figures and come up with some tailored portfolios for anyone, it’s not just a perk for Stephen lol.

      All I need to know is your bank size, whether you prefer to limit yourself to a certain number of credits/subscription costs, how aggressive you want your bank/stake ratio to be ( we suggest 3x 2 year draw down where Stephen has chosen 2x ) and your risk attitude ( high risk with potential rapid growth ( and loss ) or lower risk with steady growth )
      The details of your current portfolio would be handy too so I can compare.

      Email me at [email protected] with the above details if you are interested.

      I will just remind everyone that we are still basing everything on past results, as does any service, so there’s no guarantee anything I come up with is any better than what you have already come up with going forward, it’s all in the interpretation of the data and ultimately your decision at the end of it :-).

      Keith

  12. Here we are again, this time with two losers, 14.30 Blaine laid at 36 and 17.05 Coolfitch laid @ 25.
    Bank has reached another new low point of
    3102

    Getting hard not to lose confidence in this, but I’ll keep going, believing in long term recovery 🙂

    1. Thankfully, my ‘trial’ has come to an end and my subscription cancelled. My losses were similar to yours – just over £682 in the same period and my confidence severely dented. I’m still rooting for you Stephen, but I somehow don’t think you’ll recover the money any time soon.. Good luck though!

      1. Hi Doug,

        Please do not take it as an offense, but you should have invested in this with a long term investment in mind… People should stop being so short term minded.

        This “deep” is not uncommon with BetHawk (laying at those odds) as graphs suggested, so your bank should have been able to take this into account…

        Also the recovery has been historically pretty impressive.

        Usually punters leave the boat at the worst time when things do not go well (actually as most investors do in the stock market!!!). Only to see a recovery… Buffet said buy when other fear, and sell when others are greedy… I’m doing just that and this works in the stock exchange.

        The mindset is very important, and although I’ve also had some moment of doubt about BetHawk, I’ve still have full confidence as I’ve crunched the numbers, seen the potential risks and the recovery. And I’ve taken the decision to invest in this, so not leaving now!

        Hope that can help others and shipping in and out is not recommended.

        Best
        V.

        1. Hi Vincent, No offence taken….
          With respect though, you have no idea what my starting bank was. This loss may have been a very small percentage and my thoughts more to do with the risk/return against the stakes involved, not necessarily the size of the bank.
          I invest heavily in the ‘markets’ and generally endorse most sayings from Mr Buffet having spent the last 40 years in and around investment banking. However, even the great man makes mistakes and the loss of $444m in Tesco by his firm Berkshire Hathaway was quite something (even though it was only one fifth of 1% of Berkshires net worth). In his 50th annual letter to shareholders he said “An attentive investor, I’m embarrassed to report, would have sold Tesco shares earlier, I made a big mistake with this investment by dawdling”

          This is a system, not an under performing portfolio or a unloved stock, and therefore has no underlying value unlike a poorly performing but asset rich multi-national just ripe for picking and ready for investment/growth.

          And, having seen and tested this product I have formed an opinion that it’s not for me and longer term I feel I can extract more value from other initiatives. As most investors will also attest, getting out of an under-performing share/fund is just as important (even at a loss) as hanging in for the long haul hoping for the recovery to come (see above). I wish everyone who uses this good fortune and I hope it does turn around for those who jumped in 3 months ago. Historical data and recovery periods are important in the life cycle of an investment and although your confidence in the product through the use of historical graphs is high, may I quote another saying, well versed in the investment world, that past performance is not a guide to future return.
          Good luck and best wishes.

          1. Hi Doug

            That’s a very sound reasoning to me. One point to note is the 3 months time horizon you allowed for BH, far too short for this system Dough!

            Wish you the best in any investment.

            Best
            Vincent

  13. By my reading of Keith’s seasonal analysis – “full 2 years”, both Luxor10 and Luxor19 are in profit in all 4 quarters, so that wouldn’t be suggesting turning it off over summer or at any period ?

    Yes Bali sounds good, although I haven’t looked into it.

  14. Only time will tell but it might be worth turning off the beast during summer time, as per previous Keith’s seasonal findings.
    In the meantime, I looked at the past performance graph and it put me back in confidence.

    Have you seen the “old new” Bali AW system? Looks very good when AW racing comes back.

  15. Only 2 days and here we are again… this time laid Englishman in the 18.50 again at 60 and laid the place as well at 12.50, so a total loss of 382 on the day to bring the bank down to:
    3200

  16. Another bad day with Artistica laid at 60 in the 15.50 Nottingham
    Takes the bank to a new low point of 3588.
    I keep looking forward to the recovery 😉

  17. Thanks Keith it will be interesting to see how this year stacks up in the 2nd half – there does seem to be some weakness in the spring and summer that coincides with some of the larger meetings

  18. Yesterday was another OUCH, with GOSSIPPING laid and winning the 14.40 Goodwood at a matched price of 40. With that being -234 pounds BH did well outside of that for the day to be “only” down 113.

    New bank:
    3628 (Start was 4000, early Feb)

  19. Stephen – I really wish I had seen your post earlier. Sadly, I am following you and to date I am down an awful lot….lol. It wasn’t just newmarket that did me in today – it was Goodwood as well! I somehow don’t think I’ll be following this system much longer. I cannot see how it will recover the losses – it is far too random! Massive losses, too little recovery potential. I’ll see it our until current subscription expires, but after that…………

    1. Hi Doug,
      Yes I must admit I’m starting to feel a lot less confident myself now. I expect it will bounce back, but we’ll see.
      (Even if it does, the long term performance average for Luxor10 and Luxor19 at the moment is taking a hit, but I am sticking with them)

      On the big festivals – as I suggested in my earlier post about it, I suggest you disable those races on those festival days. Here again is the list of festivals:
      Cheltenham Festival
      Aintree Grand National
      Newmarket 1000 Guineas
      Epsom Derby
      Royal Ascot
      Newmarket July Festival
      Glorious Goodwood
      Ebor York Festival
      Doncaster St Leger

      And here are the remaining dates of these for this year by my calculation:
      02/06/2017 03/06/2017 20/06/2017 21/06/2017 22/06/2017 23/06/2017 24/06/2017 13/07/2017 14/07/2017 15/07/2017 01/08/2017 02/08/2017 03/08/2017 04/08/2017 05/08/2017 23/08/2017 24/08/2017 25/08/2017 26/08/2017 14/09/2017 15/09/2017 16/09/2017

      cheers,
      Stephen

  20. In case anyone else is copying what I’m doing (commiserations so far, LOL)…

    I have unticked all of the Newmarket races within BetHawk today, in line with the overall analysis showing negative results for Luxor10 and Luxor19 lay systems at the big festivals!

    Banks stands at 3741.

    Have a great day!
    Stephen

  21. allow me to call the elephant in the room into the discussion please

    “”If you have looked into Bethawk you’ll be aware that we use a credit system to limit stakes so we can offer the starter version cheaper than the full version for those wanting to start with lower stakes. Each credit allows a stake up to the minimum Betfair stake in the currency you use. You’ll normally see this mentioned as £2 as most posters are from the UK””

    so comparing all these so called best choices, being able to pick and choose, (or sell/buy) beyond your 2 credits.. and oh for the crystal ball knowing which 2 out of the 10 red/green comparisons from the pics Keith posted above might be best right now..

    sorry Keith I know overall it could be working, but not when people are stepping up 2 credits at a time and cant afford, or don’t yet trust, 10 credit “plans” especially when they may need to change from time to time

    1. Hi Suzy

      At the risk of coming across a bit dumb, which wouldn’t be the first time I’m sure lol, I’m not sure what you are saying.

      Could you explain a little more what you mean as simply as you can please.

      Cheers

      Keith

      ps Unless someone else understands and can answer.

  22. I think the it would be interesting to see the half year analysis by quarter as well i think there key transition months in both the flat and NH

  23. Ouch, another nasty one yesterday! River Purple in the 15.35 Ludlow was laid at 55 win and 14.32 place for a loss of GBP 367 on that race and a bottom line for the day of minus 334. (Worst day so far)
    So, the bank is now:

    3708

    1. We’re certainly going through a turbulent period that’s for sure 🙁

      None of the systems are in their highest 2 year draw down period right not though so we have been through it before and come out the other side, hopefully we do it again.

      Keith

  24. Hi all

    I’ve just posted this to our Facebook page but thought I would also post it here for if it interests anyone 🙂

    Last year we didn’t have the best summer results wise and April has started poorly this year too so I thought I would have a look at how the systems have performed over the last 2 years in summer and winter.

    ( if you get bored easily maybe give this post a miss lol )

    I haven’t gone all technical on what summer and winter are but simply split it up into April – September as summer and October – March as winter. The 3 tables linked below show these splits over 2 years from April 2015 – March 2017 in the first table, 2015 – 2016 in the second and 2016 – 2017 in the third.

    http://www.acebots.co.uk/analysis/images/summer-winter2years.png
    http://www.acebots.co.uk/analysis/images/summer-winteryear1.png
    http://www.acebots.co.uk/analysis/images/summer-winteryear2.png

    I’ve also included the number of betting days for each system over each period so we can compare performance.

    Looking at each system individually we see that Bali 01 places a lot less bets in the summer, it’s an AW system so we would expect that with less AW races. When we look at the profit per betting day over the full 2 years we have 0.67pts in the summer and 0.82pts in the winter. Although the number of bets in the summer is low and so statistically less reliable there isn’t a major difference suggesting it performs around the same all year. Maybe being just AW we should expect that.
    2015/16 shows a slight favouring of summer with 2016/17 a favouring of winter but again the number of bets in summer makes it hard to compare. I certainly don’t see anything to suggest we should look at it as seasonal apart from the lack of races in summer.

    Our first noticeable system is Luxor 09. A return of 0.79pts per betting day in the summer but only 0.01pts in the winter over the 2 years. Exactly 165 betting days in each period so reasonable data for each period.
    2015/16 is actually pretty even but it’s 2016/17 that shows the big difference. Summer with 0.75pts per day and winter with a very poor -0.69pts per day. Was last year a one off or should we be looking at this over the summer only ?

    Luxor 10 is similar to 09 in that it shows over 2 years a preference for summer but with far less a difference in the figures. Summer on 0.82pts per day and winter on 0.55pts per day. Both acceptable and far less noticeable than 09.
    The problem is when you split it again with 2015/16 showing a preference for winter with 1.15pts per day against 0.67pts per day for summer but like Luxor 09 2016/17 goes the other way in a big way, 0.94pts per day in summer against -0.04pts per day in winter. The same question applies that applied to 09, was last year a one off ?

    Luxor 17 has big differences. Over the 2 years summer shows 0.09pts per day but winter shows a much different 2.70pts per day. Quite a marked difference.
    Unlike 09 & 10 this difference does translate into the yearly splits. 2015/16 showing 1.21pts per day in summer but 2.61pts per day in winter. 2016/17 with -0.83pts in summer but 2.80pts per day in winter.
    It seems from these figures at least that Luxor 17 is more suited to the rigours of the winter season.

    Luxor 19 is very similar to 17 and seems to prefer the winter weather, at least from this 2 year data. Summer shows 0.21pts per day over the last 2 years where winter comes in at 2.70pts per day.
    Again this is copied when splitting the years with summer in 2015 returning 1.30pts per day and winter 2015/16 showing 3.34pts per day, summer 2016 fails at -0.71pts per day while winter 2016/17 succeeds at 2.02pts per day.
    Last summer was very poor for both 17 & 19 but generally summer hasn’t been as good as winter over the full 2 year period.

    Paris 07.1 at first glance also seems to prefer winter with a loss of 0.16pts per day in summer and a profit of 0.31pts per day in winter over the 2 years. This is complicated by the fact it lost in both summer and winter in 2015/16 and made a profit in both in 2016/17 although winter being the better performance. The smaller overall profit makes this harder to decide on.

    Venice 08.1 again performs better in winter but summer doesn’t seem to be a problem. The 2 year table shows 1.04pts per day for summer and a better 3.00pts per day in winter. The yearly splits show 2015/16 with 1.24 pts per day in summer and 2.78pts per day in winter with 2016/17 showing 0.87 and 3.24.
    The figures suggest winter is better but summer is also fine. No reason to look at this as seasonal at all.

    Venice 10.2 is pretty clear in it’s figures that it prefers summer. The 2 years data showing 0.39pts per day in summer but -0.29pts per day in winter. This is split the same in each of the yearly periods with summer showing a profit and winter showing a loss.

    Venice 17.1 is the opposite of 10.2 with profits in all 3 periods in winter but a loss in all 3 periods in summer. The same is also true of Venice 18 so you could argue both these systems should be only used in the winter months.

    All the figures used are taken from Bethawk Config and so anyone wanting to do any sort of further analysis does have the data to hand.
    It covers only a 2 year period and so just how reliable that makes our data sample you can decide for yourself.

    The rough conclusions are that:

    Bali 01 is fine all year round but will have far fewer bets in summer.

    Luxor 09 struggled last winter but has had 2 decent summers and an ok previous winter so could possibly be best in summer, or not.

    Luxor 10 also struggled last winter but was also ok in the 3 other periods, not enough to commit it to summer only in my opinion.

    Luxor 17 does better in winter it seems, summer may also produce a profit but not as much as winter.

    Luxor 19 is similar to 17 with winter providing a better return to summer although like 17 only last summer was poor.

    Paris 07.1 seems to prefer winter but as it’s not consistent over the yearly periods it’s hard to say what to do with it.

    Venice 08.1 does better in winter but fine in summer so overall it does ok all year ( apart from the big losing days which can happen anytime it seems )

    Venice 10.2 prefers summer, but then are the returns big enough to worry about it ?

    Venice 17.1 and 18 prefer winter.

    Total profit across all the systems was 688pts in summer but 3036pts in winter, quite a difference.
    Last May/June being particularly bad. ( previous May/June was fine so does any of the above actually mean anything other than more than 4 times more profit in winter ? )

    This isn’t a “this is what you should do” post, it’s simply some figures with a narrative from me. How much notice you take of it and how you interpret the figures is for you to decide :-). Most of the systems don’t come out very conclusive anyway so I may just have wasted a few minutes of your time lol.

    Keith

    1. Hi Keith,

      Although the time horizon is only 2 years, the volume of bets is quite significant, so I will definitely take notice of your seasonal findings, as they seem very valuable to me! Particularly in terms of which system to disable and also in terms of staking.

      So it was not a waste of time, in my opinion!

      Cheers
      V

  25. hi Sue,
    Well the “recovery” myth never ceases to amaze me. Nearly all punters seem to think that you can magically turn losing systems into winning ones using it, or that you can make fractionally profitable systems heaps more profitable using it. Both are completely mathematically false. Recovery staking is completely neutral – as per probability theory of independent events. All that recovery staking does is (usually) make the average stake higher and make the bank size / bank risk calculations much much more complicated (thus causing users of it to actually get these wrong most of the time). Think of it this way… it does not matter what has gone before… each time you bet on a dog that individual proposition is either “value” or it’s not. If the method means it is value on average then you will make a profit. If not then not. Altering stake sizes does not affect this truth (^_^). [Obviously recovery staking can make more profit in the short term, but these more profitable periods are EXACTLY balanced by the losses made when a bust occurs. This, I guess, is the bit people don’t get!] Ok, rant over, grin.

    1. Well, Little Acorns keeps getting plaudits and that system wouldn’t work without using recovery so, right or wrong, some people are making money (though I’m sure plenty have lost as well).
      If I had a bot and decided to lay all the greyhounds in each race using recovery on the loser I’d probably be aiming for about 5 – 10p return (I am super cautious, in case you hadn’t realised 😉 ) so the recovery stakes wouldn’t get too high too fast – lots of races each day so even at 5 – 10p it would add up in time. Employing a stop loss would also seem sensible.
      I do take your point though and with the way my luck has been going of late it would be the last thing I’ll be contemplating in the near future. And don’t tell me off about luck being a figment of my imagination/outlook!!!

  26. And on your dogs suggestion – the problem there is the liquidity in the greyhounds markets is very poor compared to the horses. Also, since there are only 6 dogs in the race, and the favourites sometimes clash at the first bend, it is a bit tougher laying the least favourite dogs who will pick up the pieces of the first corner mayhem sometimes! (^_^)

    1. With greyhounds I’d be tempted to lay the lot and use recovery – but I take your point on liquidity. I have never bet on that market (re matched betting offers etc) as there is so little liquidity and what there is often coming in a few seconds before the off..

  27. Hi Sue,
    Glad you are enjoying following the roller coaster- and it’s nice to hear from someone who is! Yes I do have faith in it long term, and the subs so far since the start of Feb is only 75 pounds so not hugely significant compared to the daily moves! (eg today it is up 114 pounds as I speak!).
    A volatile ride is what we expect – remember that in the 1 year trial I ran, months 4,5,6 were all negative and we lost most of the profits we made in months 1,2,3… but then after that all months were positive and the trial ended up by 696 points based on an 800 point starting bank. But of course it is quite possible that this won’t go that way and after a year I might be down, especially considering the 300 quid of subs that the year will have cost. But this would be a surprising outcome considering all of the history data, both before my trial and from the trial itself. We shall see !
    cheers,
    Stephen

  28. Boo- BH ruined its recovery today with a failed win lay at 60 and a failed place lay at 22.
    Minus 310 pounds on the day
    To take the bank to now
    3869 (start was 4000 near the start of Feb)

    Have a great weekend all !

    1. I have no interest in purchasing Bethawk (not good with bots etc!) but have been following your posts out of interest.

      Surely, after subs you must be well down now? You seem to be on a really yoyo ride, neither making or losing much money – so far. I’m assuming that you must still have faith in the product for the long term.

      I wonder how this might work with greyhound racing where the odds don’t get so high?

      I do wish you good luck, am very impressed that your posts remain quite cheery despite not the best of results.

  29. Two good days in a row have taken the bank quickly up to 2179 !

    Btw, this current “Craven Meeting” is not one of the “festivals” that I am excluding.

    Keith analysed the following list of main festivals for me for Luxor10 and Luxor19 which is my portfolio, and as a result these are the ones I will be manually excluding:

    Cheltenham Festival
    Aintree Grand National
    Newmarket 1000 Guineas
    Epsom Derby
    Royal Ascot
    Newmarket July Festival
    Glorious Goodwood
    Ebor York Festival
    Doncaster St Leger

    Luxor10 was down 51 points total for years 2013-2016 and Luxor19 down 131 points total.
    (Aside: I notice that Venice08.1 put in an excellent performance across all these with 268 points profit !!)

    If anyone wants the festival analysis detail (which covers all systems) then email me at [email protected] and I will send.

    cheers,
    Stephen

  30. A good performance today from my BH portfolio with plus 65 pounds, taking us at last back up above the 4000 starting bank to

    4024

    Onwards and upwards !!

    Stephen

  31. Hi Ed

    There’s no auto way to do this but if you look at the Meetings list, bottom left of Bethawk Bet, you will see each race has a tick box next to it that is ticked by default. Manually unticking the races you don’t want to bet in prevents them from being bet in.

    Bethawk Config will still show figures for the whole selection list of each system so you have to remember that by omitting some races your figures will not match up with those in Config.

    Keith

  32. My portfolio had made it back up to 3976, but then today it hit Willoughby Hedge in the 14.40, laid at 44 and also for place.
    Considering this was a loss of 276 pounds on this race, it then did well to claw itself back to the loss of only 75 overall for the day !
    (This selection was a lay in 2 of my own high odds laying systems as well, so not a good day at the office!)

    Happy Easter!
    Stephen

  33. Well prior to today the bank had crept back up to 4039, but then in the last race at Aintree today Luxor19 managed to lay Lalor matched at 55, to give us a losing day of -224 and the bank pegged back to 3815 !

    At this point I have now resolved to exclude all the races of all the big festivals from now on as they seem too dangerous !

  34. There was one small losing day during the week, but yesterday BetHawk managed a fine score of plus 188 pounds, to take my bank up to 3929 (start was 4000)… so we’re almost back in the black !

    cheers,
    Stephen

  35. BetHawk managed an excellent plus 118 pounds yesterday, to take the bank to 3718, so I thought I’d report something positive after the tribulations of Cheltenham, grin!

  36. Well… ouch again… Special Tiara laid at 36.0 in the 15.30 Cheltenham meant the day ended down 122 pounds.

    BH author Keith has now done an analysis of Cheltenham for all the history years of BetHawk, but the results were “1 bad year, 1 good year, and 2 neutral” (prior to this year), so not very conclusive.

    For safely just in case I’ve decided to manually disable BH laying at Cheltenham for the rest of this festival !!

    Stephen

  37. Ouch! TWO nasty losers for Luxor_19 today at Cheltenham…
    Labaik in the 13.30 laid to win at 46.0
    Tiger Roll in the 16.50 laid to win at 27.0

    Minus 284 pounds on the day.

    Total bank now 4000 > 3706
    Start date 6th Feb 2017,

    cheers,
    Stephen

  38. Hi Bertie,
    No you’ve misunderstood – let me clarify! This has been a trial in two parts.
    The official trial for LBAGR was run from 5 Feb 2016 to 5 Feb 2017.
    In that trial my points bank went from 800 to 1496. I suggest reading the trial conclusion post!
    (You’ll note that there were 3 consecutive months in the first half where it was significantly negative, but it still ended up nearly doubling its bank at level stakes over the duration of the trial)

    Now, since 6 Feb 2017 I have been a live user of BetHawk and have been posting my updates here.
    So I started with a GBP 4000 bank on 6 Feb 2017, and yes at this moment it is slightly down.
    As you say, this is the up and down nature of the beast, but I’m fully expecting my 4000 to be well over 6000 after 1 year… which will more than cover the subscription cost of 25 per month.
    Time will tell!

    cheers,
    Stephen

  39. Hi Stephen,
    If the original start was 4000, does that mean that over a 12 month period the system is showing a loss?
    Then if you include the monthly subscription it appears well under water…
    I was an original subscriber in 2012 (Jeff and the Mutt, Ekins etc ) and have followed with interest ever since.

    Good luck with your endeavours, but sadly betting is completely random, it is what it is…

    Cheers, Bertie

  40. For completeness – there was another nasty loser on Saturday, for a day total of minus 121 pounds, bringing the bank down to below its start point… 3945. Then back to Business As Usual on Sunday with +21. So it’s now standing at 3966. (And today it’s up 23 so far)

    Since losers are relatively rare, I will post each time there is a loser, so then readers can infer that if there has been no update then have been no further losers!

  41. I promised I’d report anything eventful, so here’s the next update!

    The bank had climbed its way back up to 4336 (original start was 4000), but then yesterday we hit a nasty loser on the Lay Win stream:
    Goodbye Dancer won the 15.40 Sandown, laid at 48 and matched at 50.
    This gave the day an overall loss of 270 quid, to bring the bank back to 4066.

    Have a good weekend everyone!

    Stephen

  42. STEPHEN’S LIVE BETHAWK UPDATES:

    Hi everyone- I said I’d update whenever anything interesting happened, so I have two things to report:

    Firstly yesterday there was an unplanned outage to BetHawk (well planned in only the last few hours before racing)- due to a third party making significant changes to their website / data feeds, such that BetHawk software changes needed to be made. [once this was known an email was sent to subscribers informing them of the outage and reasons]

    Secondly – the changes were successfully made and BetHawk was back up in time for Saturday’s racing- but I wish it had taken another day off instead because it ended up my first down day since going live, with not just one but TWO nasty losers! A failed win lay at 34.0 and a failed place lay at 55.0. Ouch! Funny how they come in bunches eh!

    Since my start on 6th February, every day had been positive and my bank had risen slowly but steadily from 4000 to 4426.
    Now this losing day is a retracement of -263, leaving my bank now at 4163.

    So, it’s nothing to be alarmed about – all just business as usual – and it is the very nature of the high odds laying systems I’ve chosen that they don’t have losers often (hence my 18 positive days in a row), but when they do they are big and nasty!
    [As an aside, many who like laying horses believe that you cannot be successful unless your system has a low odds limit such as 4.0 or 9.0 or whatever. That’s a big myth! It’s simply about the number of winners you get to the number of losers and the average losing odds, and whether or not the overall sequence is profitable. Purely a bank management exercise…!]. BetHawk is living proof of this particular pudding- if we looked at all the odds of all the horses laid in the successful one year trial I’m sure we’d find the average was very high indeed, but it was those laying systems that made just about all of the profit.

    Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
    Stephen

    1. Here’s a bit of interesting data that isn’t shown in Config so I’ve dug it out of the raw data in response to the what are the average odds of each of the lay system question.
      These figures are taken from 5th Feb 2016 until 25th Feb 2017 and are based on the odds available at bet time so each individual users achieved odds will vary a little. I also looked at percentage of bets above and below the mid point in the betting range just because I have :-).
      These figures are pretty useless from an analysis perspective but I thought they were interesting after your post Stephen.

      Luxor 08 – Betting Odds Range 1.01 – 100 – Mid Range Point 50

      Highest odds laid at – 100
      Lowest odds laid at – 1.04
      Average odds laid at – 7.78
      Bets above mid point – 1%
      Bets below mid point – 99%

      Luxor 09 – Betting Odds Range 1.01 – 50 – Mid Range Point 25

      Highest odds laid at – 50
      Lowest odds laid at – 7.20
      Average odds laid at – 22.34
      Bets above mid point – 28%
      Bets below mid point – 72%

      Luxor 10 – Betting Odds Range 10 – 100 – Mid Range Point 55

      Highest odds laid at – 100
      Lowest odds laid at – 10
      Average odds laid at – 21.50
      Bets above mid point – 5%
      Bets below mid point – 95%

      Interesting that Luxor 10 although having a higher odds range returns a lower average odds than Luxor 09. Only 5% of bets above the mid point of 25 too.

      Luxor 17 – Betting Odds Range 25 – 60 – Mid Range Point 42.5

      Highest odds laid at – 60
      Lowest odds laid at – 25
      Average odds laid at – 37.86
      Bets above mid point – 27%
      Bets below mid point – 73%

      Luxor 19 – Betting Odds Range 25 – 60 – Mid Range Point 42.5

      Highest odds laid at – 60
      Lowest odds laid at – 25
      Average odds laid at – 37.80
      Bets above mid point – 27%
      Bets below mid point – 73%

      Again interesting that both 17 & 19 come out around the same for average odds and above/below mid point. Yes they share a lot of selections but there are over 800 more bets in Luxor 19 that seem to match exactly the make up of the shared selections.

      Venice 08.1 – Betting Odds Range 30 – 300 – Mid Range Point 165

      Highest odds laid at – 300
      Lowest odds laid at – 30
      Average odds laid at – 68.20
      Bets above mid point – 6%
      Bets below mid point – 94%

      As I said, useless data in some ways when on it’s own but possibly interesting to the geeks out there regardless lol

      Keith

      1. Hi Keith

        Personally, that’s the kind of stats I like!
        The place Lay Luxor 10 looks awesome as no more than 5% of the selections went of higher than 25.00. Except last Saturday when a 60.00 went placed. The luck of the starter!

        Cheers
        V

        1. I need to make a correction there Vincent.

          Luxor 10 has an odds range of 10 – 100, the mid point is 55 not 25 as I posted. The 5% is correct but it is 5% above 55 not 25. My error. Sorry.

          I can’t edit the post, maybe Lucy can, so hopefully people read this bit with it.

          Keith

          1. Keith

            Apologies for delay in doing this, only just seen your comment.

            Have modified mid-range for Luxor 10 to 55 not 25.

            Please confirm it now reads correctly.

            thanks Lucy

  43. Hi Luke/Stephen/everyone else lol

    Bethawk will work in a variety of currencies, Australian Dollars being one of them. If you look at Bethawk Config you will see a currency drop down list, simply select your currency from the list.

    If you have looked into Bethawk you’ll be aware that we use a credit system to limit stakes so we can offer the starter version cheaper than the full version for those wanting to start with lower stakes. Each credit allows a stake up to the minimum Betfair stake in the currency you use. You’ll normally see this mentioned as £2 as most posters are from the UK but if you are working in AUD then I think the minimum stake is $5 which would mean 1 credit would allow stakes up to $5

    There shouldn’t be any timing issues as Bethawk Bet syncs with our server so no matter where you are in the world Bethawk Bet will always know UK time.

    Sadly I don’t have direct experience of using Bethawk from Australia but I know we have certainly had Aussie subscribers before and quite probably do now so if anyone can give some first hand experience of Bethawk from down under I’m sure it would be appreciated

    Keith

  44. Hi Luke,
    I don’t believe that betfair needs to be in pounds, although since BetHawk works in pounds I’m not sure what that will mean. (Keith?) I’m not sure whether betfair will apply the currency translation or not. Since mine is on my UK VPS I’m afraid I also can’t tell you whether there will be any timing issues if you are running it on a PC with Australian time. Try it and see! If there are timing problems then one simple solution might be to change your PC clock to be on UK time !

    Sorry to not be much help here!

    cheers,
    Stephen

  45. Hi Stephen, thanks for the write up. I’m also based in Australia, do you have a guide for us down under to set this up? I just noticed all your amounts are in pounds, do you need to connect with the UK betfair service?

  46. Very interesting reading this trial Stephen and if I had more cash I’d subscribe but you obviously need a substantial bank to withstand those tough months. Good luck and shall watch with great interest.

  47. BETHAWK – Continuing updates!

    Having trialled it for a year for LBAGR, and having made 87% capital growth with 9 profitable months out of 12, it would be silly for me not to become a real subscriber and user of BetHawk, so I have joined up! I’ve agreed with Lucy that I will provide regular updates here as to how I am progressing. (These will be much less formal than the trial !)

    WHAT PORTFOLIO / SYSTEMS DID I CHOOSE ?

    The author Keith provided this useful summary at the start of January (this information is readily available using the BetHawk Config application, for any date range that you choose)
    Results from the LBAGR BetHawk trial period of 6 Feb 2016 up to 8 Jan 2017:
    Luxor 09 18 pts
    Luxor 10 224 pts
    Luxor 19 393 pts
    Venice 17.1 14 pts
    Venice 18 minus 2 pts

    So we can readily see that it was Luxor10 and Lucor19 that were responsible for the vast majority of the profit made during the trial.
    In conjunction also with the most recent systems performance report from Keith, I therefore chose to go with just these two LAYING systems, and so using a standard subscription at 25 quid per month this gave me 5 x 2 pound points to allocate and I’ve divided them thus:

    2 points (ie 2 x 2 pounds stake) on Luxor10
    3 points (ie 3 x 2 pounds stake) on Luxor19

    Keith also gave me some helpful calculations on minimum bank sizes, and from that I went with a 4000 pound theoretical bank. This we consider to be a “fairly aggressive” bank for this set of systems and point size! (ie if you wanted to be super-safe with this portfolio, I would advise an 8000 bank instead!)

    RESULTS SO FAR (Yayyy!)
    I started this immediately after the trial finished, ie on 7th February, and so far every single day has been nicely positive (with the best day being plus 93 pounds)!

    Initial bank = 4000
    Current bank = 4270

    STAKE GROWTH
    I think I will keep my stakes constant until the bank reaches 5000+, at which point I’ll think about increasing the stake proportionally (although to do so I would then need to increase my BetHawk subscription, so maybe I’ll wait longer!)

    That’s all I can think of to say at the moment, but if anyone has questions please fire away!

    Otherwise I will post more comments whenever anything interesting happens, and at least quarterly with my updated results!

    Cheers,
    Stephen

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