A look at how our recommended bets performed in January 2017.
January fixed-odds total = -12.32pts
January ante-post total = +19.50pts
January overall total = +7.18pts
Racing:
Ben Linfoot Value Bet (Jan 28) - 1pt win Dark Flame in 12.35 Cheltenham at 14/1 (General); 1pt win Annacotty in 1.10 Cheltenham at 20/1 (bet365); 1pt win Top Gamble in 1.45 Cheltenham at 11/1 (General); 1pt win Ziga Boy in 3.40 Doncaster at 12/1 (General); 1pt win Caid Du Berlais in 3.40 Doncaster at 14/1 (General). PROFIT=8pts
Simon Holt (Jan 28) - 1pt win Champers On Ice in 12.35 Cheltenham at best morning price; 2pts win Drumcliff in 4.35 Cheltenham (VOID); 1pt win Southfield Royale in 3.40 Doncaster at best morning price. LOSS=2pts
Ben Linfoot Value Bet (Jan 21) - 1pt win Otago Trail in 3.15 Haydock at 12/1 (General); 1pt win Bishops Road in 3.15 Haydock at 14/1 (General); 1pt win Krugermac in 2.25 Ascot at 12/1 (VOID). LOSS=2pts
Simon Holt (Jan 21) - 2pts win L'Ami Serge in 2.40 Haydock at best morning price; 1pt e.w Bishops Road in 3.15 Haydock at 16/1 (1,2,3 1/4 BoyleSports). PROFIT=1pt
Ben Linfoot Value Bet (Jan 14) - 1pt win Sam Red at 11/1 (General) in 2.40 Kempton, 1pt win Fountains Windfall at 14/1 (General) in 2.40 Kempton, 1pt win Sego Success at 12/1 (General) in 3.35 Warwick, 1pt win Spookydooky at 20/1 (General) in 3.35 Warwick. LOSS=4pts
Simon Holt (Jan 14) - 1pt e.w Fountains Windfall in 2.40 Kempton at 14/1 (General 1,2,3 1/4); 1pt e.w Shotgun Paddy in 3.35 Warwick at 10/1 (General 1,2,3,4 1/4). LOSS=0.5pt
Ben Linfoot Value Bet (Jan 7) - 1pt win Orbasa in 2.05 Wincanton at 13/2 (BetVictor, Stan James, Ladbrokes), 1pt win Chalonnial in 2.25 Sandown at 9/1 (Boylesports, Paddy Power), 1pt win Shuil Royale in 3.00 Sandown at 14/1 (BetVictor, 32Red, 888Sport). LOSS=3pts
Simon Holt (Jan 7) - 1pt e.w Loose Chips in 3.00 Sandown at 20/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4); 2pts win John Reel in 3.35 Sandown at best morning price. PROFIT=2pts
Simon Holt (Jan 1) - 2pts win Cole Harden in 3.10 Cheltenham; 2pts win Call To Order in 2.35 Cheltenham (NR). LOSS=2pts
Football:
Tuesday Premier League (Jan 31) - 1pt Chelsea (draw no bet) to beat Liverpool at 11/10 (BetVictor, Betfair); 2pts last goal from 76th minute onwards in Arsenal v Watford at 17/20 (Betway); 2pts Burnley to beat Leicester at 2/1 (General); 1pt Swansea to beat Southampton at 12/5 (Betfair Sportsbook). PROFIT=4.4pts
Sunday FA Cup (Jan 29) - 1pt Millwall to score first v Watford at 6/5 (bet365, Stan James); 1pt Leeds (-2) v Sutton United at 19/4 (Stan James, Coral); 2pts Fulham to beat Hull and over 2.5 goals at 28/11 (188Bet). PROFIT=5.29pts
Saturday FA Cup (Jan 28) - 1pt Wolves/Draw double chance v Liverpool at 3/1 (Bwin); 1pt Ashley Barnes to score anytime v Bristol City at 8/5 (bet365); 2pts both teams to score in Crystal Palace v Man City at 5/6 (BoyleSports, Stan James); 2pts Arsenal/Arsenal in half-time/full-time v Southampton at 5/2 (Coral) PROFIT=5pts
Weekend EFL (Jan 28) - 1.5pts Walsall to beat Bury at 21/10 (bet365); 1.5pts Crawley to beat Notts County at 23/10 (bwin, Marathon Bet, William Hill). LOSS=3pts
Friday FA Cup (Jan 27) - 1pt Leicester to beat Derby at 9/5 (Stan James). LOSS=1pt
Thursday EFL Cup (Jan 26) - 2pts Man United to win by exactly one goal at 11/4 (Sky Bet, Paddy Power). LOSS=2pts
Wednesday EFL Cup (Jan 25) - 1pt Liverpool to score exactly two goals v Southampton at 12/5 (Stan James). LOSS=1pt
Sunday Premier League (Jan 22) - 2pts Leicester to beat Southampton at 17/4 (betway); 1.5pts Burnley (+2) to beat Arsenal at 7/5 (Stan James); 1.5pts Chelsea to beat Hull by three or more goals at 13/10 (Coral, Betfair Sportsbook). LOSS=1.4pts
Saturday Premier League (Jan 21) - 2pts Watford/Draw in Double Chance market v Bournemouth at 11/10 (bet365); 1pt West Ham to beat Middlesbrough at 23/10 (BetVictor); 1pt Henrikh Mkhitaryan to score anytime v Stoke at 12/5 (Paddy Power); 2pts Tottenham to beat Manchester City at 11/4 (Betfair Sportsbook). PROFIT=1.5pts
Weekend EFL (Jan 21) - 2pts Leeds to beat Barnsley at 13/10 (betway); 2pts Carlisle to beat Accrington at 2/1 (bet365,Betbright, Betfred). LOSS=4pts
Wednesday FA Cup (Jan 18) - 1pt Birmingham to qualify at 100/30 (William Hill, Betfair Sportsbook); 2pts Southampton/Southampton in HT/FT betting at 31/20 (Coral). LOSS=3pts
Tuesday FA Cup (Jan 17) - 2pts Burnley to beat Sunderland at 21/20 (General); 1pt draw/Crystal Palace in ht/ft at 18/5 (BetVictor); 1pt double both teams to score in Lincoln v Ipswich & Fleetwood draw no bet v Bristol City at 3.4/1 (32Red, 888sport). PROFIT=4.7pts
Sunday Premier League (Jan 15) - 1pt under 1.5 goals in Liverpool v Manchester United at 3/1 (BetStars); 0.5pts no goalscorer in Liverpool v Manchester United at 9/1 (Coral, Marathon Bet). LOSS=1.5pts
Saturday Premier League (Jan 14) - 2pts West Brom (+2) to beat Tottenham at 19/20 (Betfair Sportsbook); 1pt Burnley to beat Southampton at 5/2 (General); 1pt Middlesbrough to beat Watford at 21/10 (Hills, BetVictor, Betfair Sportsbook). LOSS=0.5pt
Weekend EFL (Jan 14) - 2.5pts Blackburn to beat Ipswich at 13/5 (bwin). LOSS=2.5pts
Wednesday EFL Cup (Jan 11) - 2pts Liverpool to beat Southampton at 5/4 (William Hill, BoyleSports). LOSS=2pts
Tuesday EFL Cup (Jan 10) - 1pt Manchester United to win both halves v Hull at 11/8 (sportingbet). LOSS=1pt
Sunday FA Cup (Jan 8) - 3pts Liverpool to keep a clean sheet v Plymouth at 4/6 (bet365, Betfred). PROFIT=2pts
Saturday FA Cup (Jan 7) - 2pts Norwich to beat Southampton at 5/2 (bet365); 2pts Marcus Rashford to score at anytime v Reading at 23/20 (888sport, Unibet, 32Red); 1pt Draw/Arsenal in HT/FT market at 19/5 (BetVictor); 1pt Burnley to beat Sunderland at 9/4 (General); 1pt Draw/Huddersfield in HT/FT market at 10/3 (BetVictor); 1pt Burton (draw no bet) to beat Watford at 69/20 (Marathon Bet). LOSS=3.7pts
Friday FA Cup (Jan 6) - 1pt West Ham to beat Man City (draw no bet) at 16/5 (Marathon Bet). LOSS=1pt
FA Cup outright - 1pt e.w. Everton at 28/1 (Coral, Betfair Sportsbook); 1pt e.w. West Brom at 66/1 (sportingbet). LOSS=4pts
Wednesday Premier League (Jan 4) - 3pts Tottenham (+1) to beat Chelsea at 1/2 (Stan James). PROFIT=1.5pts
Tuesday Premier League (Jan 3) - 3pts Stoke to beat Watford at 5/6 (General); 2pts both teams to score in Bournemouth v Arsenal at 8/11 (188BET); 1pt Crystal Palace (-2) to beat Swansea at 13/2 (Betfair Sportsbook). PROFIT=2.95pts
Monday Premier League (Jan 2) - 1pt Everton and Southampton to draw at 12/5 (bet365, sportingbet); 1pt Andy Carroll to score anytime v Manchester United at 3/1 (bet365, Paddy Power). LOSS=2pts
Sunday Premier League (Jan 1) - 2pts Harry Kane to score anytime v Watford at 23/20 (William Hill); 1pt draw/Arsenal in HT/FT betting v Crystal Palace at 18/5 (BetVictor). PROFIT=1.3pts
Golf:
Farmers Insurance Open (Jan 26-29) - 1.5pts e.w. Phil Mickleson at 40/1 (Coral 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7); 1pt e.w. Jamie Lovemark at 90/1 (Stan James 1/4 1,2,3,4,5,6). LOSS=6pts
Qatar Masters (Jan 26-29) - 2pts e.w. Thorbjorn Olesen at 35/1 (BetVictor 1/4 1,2,3,4,5); 1pt e.w. Thomas Aiken at 45/1 (bet365, sportingbet 1/4 1,2,3,4,5); 1pt e.w. Callum Shinkwin at 125/1 (Paddy Power 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6); 1pt e.w. Anthony Wall at 125/1 (Paddy Power, BoyleSports 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6); 1pt e.w. Edoardo Molinari at 175/1 (bet365 1/4 1,2,3,4,5). PROFIT=0.25pts
CareerBuilder Challenge (Jan 19-22) - 1pt e.w. Adam Hadwin at 80/1 (Coral, Paddy Power 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7); 1pt e.w. Brendan Steele at 40/1 (Coral 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7); 1pt e.w. Kevin Streelman at 66/1 (Paddy Power 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7); 1pt e.w. Johnson Wagner at 175/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3,4,5). PROFIT=18pts
Abu Dhabi HSBC (Jan 19-22) - 1pt e.w. Danny Willett at 50/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3,4,5); 2pts e.w. George Coetzee to be top South African at 6/1 (Sky Bet, Ladbrokes 1/5 1,2,3); 1pt Peter Uihlein to be top American at 12/1 (Sky Bet, William Hill). LOSS=7pts
SA Open (Jan 12-15) - 1pt e.w. Paul Maddy at 200/1 (Betfred, Stan James 1/4 1,2,3,4,5); 1pt e.w. Justin Walters at 80/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3,4,5). LOSS=4pts
Sony Open (Jan 12-15) - 1pt e.w. Chris Kirk at 50/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3,4,5); 1pt e.w. Russell Knox at 50/1 (Sky Bet, BetVictor 1/4 1,2,3,4,5); 1pt e.w. Brian Stuard at 150/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3,4,5); 1pt e.w. Chez Reavie at 150/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3,4,5). LOSS=8pts
SBS Tournament Of Champions (Jan 5-8) - 1.5pts e.w. Brandt Snedeker at 20/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4 bet365, Ladbrokes, Betfair Sportsbook). LOSS=3pts
Cricket:
India v England 1st T20 (Jan 26) - 2pts England to win first T20 v India at 6/5 (General); 1pt Eoin Morgan top England bat in first T20 at 6/1 (Sky Bet). PROFIT=8.4pts
India v England ODI series - 2pts India to win series 2-1 at 11/8 (General); 1pt Eoin Morgan top England series batsman at 8/1 (Stan James); 1pt Amit Mishra top India series wicket-taker at 8/1 (Ladbrokes). PROFIT=0.75pts
Tennis:
Australian Open women (Jan 16-28) - 1pt e.w. Johanna Konta to win the title at 22/1 (BetBright); 1pt e.w. Elina Svitolina to win the title at 40/1 (General); 2pts Agnieszka Radwanska to win the third quarter at 7/2 (Sky Bet); 1pt Daria Kasatkina to win the first quarter at 11/1 (Paddy Power). LOSS=7pts
Australian Open men (Jan 16-29) - 1pt e.w. Milos Raonic to win the title at 20/1 (General 1,2 1/2). LOSS=2pts
ATP Apia International - 1pt e.w. Benoit Paire to win the Apia International at 22/1 (Sky Bet). LOSS=2pts
ATP ASB Classic - 0.5pt e.w. Yen-Hsun Lu to win the ASB Classic at 33/1 (General). LOSS=1pt
ATP Brisbane International - 1pt e.w. Bernard Tomic to win at 22/1 (General); 0.5pt e.w. Kyle Edmund to win at 100/1 (General). LOSS=3pts
ATP Chennai Open - 1pt e.w. Aljaz Bedene to win at 66/1 (Sky Bet). LOSS=2pts
American Football:
NFL conference championship play-offs (Jan 22) - 1pt double Atlanta (-5) and Pittsburgh (+6) at 2.65/1 (Betfred, sportingbet). LOSS=1pt
NFL divisional play-offs (Jan 15) - 1pt win double Green Bay and Kansas City at 5.31/1 (Hills). LOSS=1pt
NFL divisional play-offs (Jan 14) - 2pts Atlanta to score under 28.5 points v Seattle at 10/11 (Stan James); 2pts Brock Osweiler to have under 216.5 passing yards v New England at 5/6 (Paddy Power). LOSS=0.33pts
NFL wild-card play-offs (Jan 8) - 2pts Jay Ajayi to have under 74.5 rushing yards v Pittsburgh at 10/11 (BetVictor); 2pts Paul Perkins to have over 56.5 rushing yards v Green Bay at 5/6 (Paddy Power). LOSS=0.18pts
NFL wild-card play-offs (Jan 7) - 2pts Houston to score score over 20.5 points v Oakland at evens (Sky Bet); 1pt CJ Fiedorowicz to score a touchdown anytime v Oakland at 23/10 (bet365); 1pt Golden Tate to score a touchdown anytime v Seattle at 9/4 (Hills). PROFIT/LOSS=0pts
New Year's Day NFL (Jan 1) - 2pts Geronimo Allison to score a touchdown anytime v Detroit at 8/1 (bet365). PROFIT=16pts
Boxing:
Carl Frampton v Leo Santa Cruz & Lee Selby v Jonathan Victor Barros (Jan 28) - 4pts Carl Frampton to beat Leo Santa Cruz on points at 13/8 (Betfair Sportsbook); 2pt double on Carl Frampton and Lee Selby to both win on points at 2.93/1 (Paddy Power). LOSS=6pts
James DeGale v Badou Jack (Jan 14) - 4pts James DeGale to beat Badou Jack by unanimous points decision at 11/8 (Ladbrokes). LOSS=4pts
Snooker:
The Masters (Jan 15-22) - 3pts Ronnie O'Sullivan to win the Masters at 3/1 (Betfair Sportsbook); 1pt Ronnie O'Sullivan to play Mark Selby in Masters final at 7/1 (sportingbet). PROFIT=8pts
Darts:
Unibet Masters (Jan 27-29): 1pt Peter Wright to reach the final at 10/3 (General), 1pt each-way Raymond van Barneveld to win the Masters at 33/1 (General, 1/3 1,2). LOSS=3pts
BDO World Championships (Jan 7-15): 3pts Glen Durrant to win the World Championship at 7/4 (Sportingbet, bwin); 1pt Scott Waites to win the World Championship at 12/1 (General). PROFIT=4.25pts
Long-term or ante-post previews which came to fruition in January:
Football:
EFL Cup outright - 4pts Liverpool to win the EFL Cup at 15/2 (Marathon Bet); 1pt e.w. Everton to win the EFL Cup at 16/1 (General 1/2 1,2); 1pt e.w. Newcastle to win the EFL Cup at 66/1 (Betfred). LOSS=8pts
Rugby union:
European Champions Cup outright - 1pt Northampton to win the European Champions Cup at 50/1 (Stan James, William Hill). LOSS=1pt
Darts:
World Darts Championship (Dec 15-Jan 2) - 2pts Gary Anderson to win the World Championship at 13/2 (Boylesports), 1pt e.w. Peter Wright to win the World Championship at 11/1 (General 1/2, 1, 2), 1pt Raymond van Barneveld to win second quarter at 6/1 (William Hill). PROFIT=2pts
American Football:
Super Bowl LI outright - 3pts win Carolina at 10/1 (Betfred); 1pt e.w. Minnesota at 33/1 (Coral 1/2 1,2); 1pt e.w. Oakland at 40/1 (General 1/2 1,2). LOSS=7pts
NFL most passing yards - 1pt e.w. Derek Carr at 33/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3); 2.5pts Drew Brees to have under 4,835.5 passing yards in the regular season at 4/5 (bet365). LOSS=4.5pts
NFL most rushing yards - 2pts Todd Gurley at 11/2 (Coral); 1pt e.w. Isaiah Crowell at 150/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3); 1pt e.w. Carlos Hyde at 35/1 (bet365 1/4 1,2,3). LOSS=6pts
NFL most receiving yards - 2pts win Julio Jones at 11/2 (General); 1pt e.w. Demaryius Thomas at 40/1 (bet365 1/4 1,2,3); 1pt e.w. TY Hilton at 40/1 (bet365 1/4 1,2,3); 1pt e.w. Jarvis Landry at 50/1 (Hills 1/4 1,2,3,4). PROFIT=44pts
