We’ve read in the pages of InsideEdge how dangerous the lure of patriotic punting can be. Engl¬and’s price to win the big football competitions is always artificially low as a direct factor of that. People get that surge of patriotism, that “Of course we can win it!” optimism that causes them to part with their hard-earned wedge. Of course, the winners have almost always been the bookies.

Patriotism and optimism, you see, are two of the most dangerous emotions to enter a sports punter’s head. The minute your hopes and dreams begin to enter into your thought processes, you’re a goner.