Riccardo

This months Forumite of the month is “Riccardo” who tells us about the sporting moment that made him cry and the one thing in the forum that really riles him!

1. So tell us a bit about yourself? What do you do, when did you find Betfair and is there a story behind your chatname?

I am an options broker in the city. I found Betfair very late, a recommendation from a friend whom I laughed at when he said such-and-such a test match would be a draw. It was the Eng vs SA 1st test 2003, I think.

The chatname was the first variation on "Richard" (my actual name) I tried that hadn't been taken. I know there is a one "c" Ricardo out there (on Golf, I'm told) but I've never "met" him.

2. Okay, you’re probably best known in the cricket forum so we’ll start with a couple of cricketing questions. Put simply, can England do “the business” in India?

Yes, of course they can, but it won't be easy. An away win in Asia is the hardest ask in the game... Eng are (rightly) longer odds to win the series in India than the Ashes in Aus.

3. Australia has rebuilt a lot since the summer, who are the new “Baggy Greens” that England should be wary of?

Mike Hussey! A slip of a lad of 30+... I'm glad he didn't play last summer.

4. What’s your view of the football World Cup? Who do you think will make the Tournament Final?

I don't try to predict stuff like that. I have a couple of bets on overpriced countries... Czech Rep, Mexico and a couple of African teams. Small stakes only, football, by admission, isn't really my best betting sport.

5. Do you bet in-play? Why and on which sports?

Yes. Cricket, especially test matches... and a little Rugby and Soccer. Cricket markets over-react like mad, I love it.

6. Have you ever cried because of a sporting result?

Yes, of course... what true sports fan hasn't? The worst was probably Aus beating Ireland in the 1991 Rugby QF. We'd been hammered for most of the game, but I really thought we had it won, for two cruel minutes.

7. If you knew you had 24 hours to live how would you spend your last day?

Sex 'n' drugs 'n' rock 'n' roll. What else? Unless there's an Ashes test or an Everton championship in the offing...

8. What is your favourite sporting/ betting quote?

Don't bet what you haven't got.

9. If you could re-live one sporting day which one would it be?

Depends what you mean... Result changed, Ire vs Aus rugby as above. Result unchanged... Sunday, 2nd Ashes test 2005. Heart-stopping, almost literally.

10. Do you find the forum a useful resource when planning your betting? Which posters in your opinion are particularly knowledgeable?

Too many to name. Actually, knowledge isn't really the point... it's nice debating cricket with people who know their stuff, but far nicer to read "I'm in Brisbane and it's chucking it down" from someone you know is reliable. Which brings me on to weather rampers, the bane of a cricket bettor's life... I HATE them.