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Jack Houghton

My Dad assures me I was present to see Nijinsky win the triple-crown, but I don't remember it.

And as I wasn't yet born in 1970, I'm guessing his memory is a little off. Nonetheless it's true to say that he took me racing at an early, if not quite pre-birth age, and that racing has dominated most of my waking thought since then.

On that basis it was an easy decision to accept a job at Betfair, where I worked for four years, before heading off to work with racehorses in the flesh. I've written about racing and betting for a few years now, winning the Martin Wills Award for racing journalism in 2002 and writing Winning On Betfair For Dummies, first published in 2006.

Jack Houghton's Betting Challenge Week 15: Notre Pere for the Betfair Chase? Don't be silly, Kauto's still the daddy

20 November 2009 / Leave a comment

Jack Houghton has a funny feeling about the Betfair Chase (don't ask) but it leads to one thing - a very simple bet. Find out which way he's going in Saturday's big one by reading on...Read more »

X Factor betting and odds

19 November 2009 / Leave a comment

Punters are convinced it's curtains for young Welsh wizard Lloyd DanielsRead more »

X Factor Week 7 Betting: Lloyd isn't necessarily go-going anywhere in Wham! week

19 November 2009 / Leave a comment

Punters are convinced it's curtains for young Welsh wizard Lloyd Daniels and that makes his price very lay-able for Jack Houghton...Read more »

Betting Challenge Week 14: Can our man unravel the Paddy Power Gold Cup?

14 November 2009 / Leave a comment

Jack Houghton attempts to launch himself back into profitability with a stab at the big one at Cheltenham...Read more »

X Factor betting

14 November 2009 / Leave a comment

Surely the twins can't survive another week?Read more »

X Factor Week Six Betting: Jedward heading for bottom two again

14 November 2009 / Leave a comment

Jack Houghton's finding the X Factor waters tricky to navigate especially with that Pirate Cowbell floating around, but those twins are worth chancing to hit the elimination stage once more...Read more »

Betting Challenge Week 13: Revolutionary punting at the Breeders' Cup

07 November 2009 / Leave a comment

This week, punting-deity-extrordinaire Jack Houghton's going to San Anita - not with a flower in his hair but instead baring a bumper batch of bets......Read more »

X-Factor Betting: Keep the faith

07 November 2009 / Leave a comment

Some would say that betting on the X-Factor is like bad medicine. Not if you follow Jack Houghton's advice......Read more »

Betting Challenge Week 12: Brown's exit may come later than you think

29 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Common consensus about Brown's departure from the labour leadership may be wrong, suggests Jack Houghton, who thinks he's found the 'bet of the century'. While looking around the politicss markets he had a peak at the Glasgow North-East By-Election odds too...Read more »

X Factor Betting: Big tongued Danyl's just gotta go...

29 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Arrogance outweighs talent with Danyl and Jack Houghton will be opposing him in the X Factor odds until he's voted off...Read more »

Betting Challenge Week 11: Every dog has its day and Tuesday will be mine

26 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Jack Houghton reminisces about the days when he pretended to be a greyhound expert in front of the Eurosport cameras. And it is to dog racing that he turns his attentions in week 11 of the betting challenge....Read more »

X Factor Week Three Betting: Bye-bye Rachel?

24 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Rachel continues to perform horribly, back her for the bottom two this week, says Jack Houghton...Read more »

Jack Houghton's Betting Challenge Week 10: The Scattergun approach

17 October 2009 / Leave a comment

After a tense and TV-less afternoon, the arrows provided another winning week for Jack Houghton last time out. However, our man remains in hottish water, so this week he's resorting to desperate measures......Read more »

X Factor Betting 2009: 'Stars' defend Dannii as Rachel prepares for Sunday showdown

17 October 2009 / Leave a comment

With the show's integrity called into question and 4000 complaints about homophobic remarks, Jack Houghton endeavours to restore the lustre to the X Factor. And of course, turn a profit......Read more »

X Factor Betting 2009: For whom the Cowbell tolls...

09 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Simon's chosen badly and Walsh is a no-hoper which leaves the girls as likely top managers... Jack Houghton has the early take on this year's X Factor betting landscape...Read more »

Jack Houghton's Betting Challenge Week Nine: Thoroughbred Taylor will show his class again

07 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Our master bettor is trying his hand at darts betting this week and it's quite simple really, back Phil...Read more »

Jack Houghton's Betting Challenge Week Eight: Think you can win Chicago the Olympics? No you can't, Obama

02 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Our man Houghton is moored up in Copenhagen watching the Olympic bidding where he confidently predicts misery for favourites Chicago in the host city betting. Read why in another hilarious hit from his betting challenge...Read more »

Jack Houghton's Betting Challenge Week Seven: Let me be profitable again

26 September 2009 / Leave a comment

Jack Houghton explains why conversations with the betting gods can be a step on the road to ruin. Our man assures us he hasn't lost it yet before describing the England ODI cricket team as "the bet of the century."...Read more »

Jack Houghton's Betting Challenge Week Six: Valery the value call

18 September 2009 / Leave a comment

After the demise of Roger Federer sunk his balance, Jack Houghton dusts himself down and dives headlong into the heady world of horseracing handicaps......Read more »

Jack Houghton's Betting Challenge Week Five: Small men and big engines

12 September 2009 / Leave a comment

Well-endowed with recent winnings, bettor extraordinaire Jack Houghton heads to the Italian Grand Prix for the latest instalment of his weekly betting challenge.....Read more »

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