I've just been reading one of my early betting heroes in the September edition of Racing Ahead magazine.

Mark Coton gives his 20 rules to betting, to be honest some of them went right over my head. But below I've shared the ones that I think are significant.

Below each I've added my thoughts or translation in italics.

1. Don't bet, but if you do make it a good bet!

Don't mess around with small stakes, you are either in the game or not. I'm not sure I 100% agree as I always test something new with small stakes!

2. Scared money never wins.

When you need to win, you won't. Same with most things in life, the more you need an outcome the more likely you are to screw it up

3. If you “just new it” why did you back it?

4. If you “Can't see beyond” a certain outcome. Look again.

There's no such thing as a certainty

5. What are you seeking to achieve across a given time frame? Is your aspiration in due proportion to what you are prepared to put at risk in the game?

Don't expect to make a grand a week from £50 and 10 minutes a day with the Racing Post

6. To take up the game for real. Well you'd better be fearless, hadn't you?

7. Don't get carried away by how you feel about something. This horse for instance.

8. Honesty and humility are essential requirements, alongside the ability to retain a sense of humour when it all goes wrong.

9. Bet for a purpose

10. The losing run is an inevitable part of the game.

Learn to live with this fact and keep your head

11. Let your results do the talking.

Todays Selection courtesy of Colin Leafe (Colin has just opened up a few new places on his tipping service, Click Here for full details)

8.20 Kempton Refractor 1 point win 9/2 with ladbrokes paddy power bet
victor bet fred boyle sports bet365