Product Description

Enemy Number One is the sensational inside story of Patrick Veitch, the UK's most feared professional punter, and how he overcame adversity to take the bookmakers for more than £10 million over an eight-year period.

Enemy Number One offers an often controversial but utterly fascinating insight into Veitch's life of punting. For anyone who likes the occasional bet or who takes gambling seriously and has both the 'brain surgeon' and 'mad axeman' capabilities to do it there is more to be gleaned from this book than probably any other betting book.

Veitch is no ordinary punter. Enemy Number One documents an eight-year period of profits in excess of £10 million. It also chronicles the tactical headaches of placing bets with the bookmakers using Veitch's vast network of agents and sub-agents.

Veitch has had no comfortable ride, though. Just a short while after becoming a full-time punter he was the victim of an extortion attempt by a dangerous criminal who was subsequently tried twice for murder and later convicted of attempted murder. Veitch was forced to flee and go into hiding, returning to Cambridge to testify in a bulletproof jacket with police protection.

With the criminal behind bars, Veitch, in dire financial straits, resolved to take on the bookmakers in his comeback year on a greater scale than ever before. Enemy Number One details his role as the man behind the famous Exponential coup, winning the Scoop6 and his success as an owner/punter. He describes his Fundamental Principle of Betting Theory to explain why the approach of most punters is fatally flawed and details the approach that is needed in order to succeed. He also provides in-depth coverage of a full day in his work as a professional punter.

Told in Veitch's own candid ice-cool style, with an intelligent wit throughout, this is quite simply a compelling read.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1716 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-16
• Binding: Hardcover
• 304 pages

Review
A fascinating insight into the mind of someone whose brain ticks a whole lot quicker and more precisely than most --John Francome

Patrick has one of the sharpest minds in racing. His book gives a fascinating insight into the discipline of punting --William Haggas, Derby-winning trainer

The mega gamble was orchestrated by Patrick Veitch, one of the shrewdest and most organised gamblers in the country ... Timing his strike with military precision, Veitch crept under the radar --Sunday Times

About the Author
Patrick Veitch did his A-levels at 16 and secured a place to read maths at Trinity College, Cambridge. Already punting (illegally) at 16, Veitch swiftly immersed himself in the world of betting and became a major-league punter running a highly successful racing advisory service. He left university without completing his degree to concentrate on his betting activities.

The world of professional punting requires many attributes, including intelligence, discipline and sheer bloody-mindedness. Veitch has all these characteristics and more. His personal winnings alone are in excess of £10 million. He now runs his racing operation from his country house, travels to the races in his own helicopter and is a successful racehorse owner, winning two races at Royal Ascot. He is single and lives a bachelor life that most people can only dream of.

Customer Reviews

Good book
This book really takes you inside the life of a professional gambler. There is a huge amount of detail about Patrick Veitch's betting and the major operation needed to get his bets on. He also takes the reader through one full day, from the selection process in the morning to precise details of the betting in the afternoon and evening. Finally he covers betting theory, explaining what is needed to be successful, both in terms of the method and also the mental side, coping with the pressure and periods of losses.

A must read for anyone who likes a bet.

Secrets Revealed!
The 'Secrets' are the same 'secrets' that are behind anyone who excels in their chosen field: extreme focus, profound knowledge of the subject, total belief in your own ability and expertise, and plain hard work and determination! Mr Veitch's approach is similar to that exemplified by the legendary american 'gambler,' Pittsburg Phil. He too used a network of agents to put on his bets, and had such a profound knowledge of his horses that he could 'visualize' how a race was going to be run. It's easier now with videos available, but in order to have that absolute confidence in your selections, you need to have done the groundwork and investigated how races are run, how horses are trained, and how they are placed - and why they lose! Mr Veitch describes how he devoted hours studying the form book - and ruefully acknowledges that now - with so many data bases available - that work can be done in a fraction of the time. But it still needs to be done. Basically, anyone can accumulate the required knowledge - how you use it is paramount.
Mr Veitch's approach also reminds me of the one outlined in Stewart Simpsons's book 'Always Back Winners,' in that one notes horses which indicate they have greater ability than the bare form suggests.
If you take his many examples and access the data available at the Racing Post website, you can follow some of Mr Veitch's thinking and planning. He is undoubtedly a very astute and intelligent 'gambler,' but he has the characteristics that would have made him a success in whatever field he chose. For anyone who has a serious interest in backing horses, this book is a rattling good read - entertaining and informative. The only thing is - he reminds me of Jerry Seinfeld!

Enemy number one
Being a relative novice when it comes to anything to do with racing and the racing industry, I took a relative punt on Enemy Number One, as I am a lover of all books sporting.

Well I am glad to say that my punt paid of handsomely, Enemy Number One was both insightful and entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and got the much desired "I cant put this book down" effect I long for in a book. I am sure it will appeal to people of all walks of life from John McCririck types through to people like me who are looking for a basic insight into the sporting world.

Well worth a read
J Bicknell