Betting column: Meet Vinny Fitzpatrick. He could be you, or me. Vinny, you see, likes to bet. Gambling is his passion. Not wine; although he enjoys a pint; not women, for he is a confirmed bachelor; not song; for he hasn't a note in his head. Betting is Vinny's vice. It doesn't matter whether it's the nags, dogs, football, GAA, golf, rugby, cards, or American sports, which he dislikes - "too much emphasis on the hand" - Vinny can't resist a punt.
Not that he bets big. On a bus driver's wages, he can't afford to. Vinny enjoys "having an interest", as he puts it. Always has done. Ever since his aul' lad took him to Fairyhouse in the 1960s and told Vinny that every time a Dreaper-trained horse won, he would be bought a 99. Vinny was hooked; on ice-cream and Tom Dreaper. Arkle was his first hero. He cried the day the great champion was put down. They were both sired in the same year, 1957; Arkle, by Archive out of Bright Cherry; Vinny Fitzpatrick, by Finbarr Fitzpatrick out of Bridie Gavigan.
Home was, and is, behind the bus garage in Clontarf. When his parents passed away a few years ago, Vinny, living under the roof he was born, got the gaff. By then, his older sisters, Mary and Bernadette, had moved on. Vinny has a short walk to work; and a shorter one to his local, Foley's, next door to Boru Betting, where he is greeted as quasi-royalty. And why not? His beaten dockets have paid for its upkeep over the years.
Vinny can recall the 1970s when Boru Betting was a smoke-filled, spit 'n sawdust kip. There was nowhere to sit, no information on runners, on betting, and only one cubicle to place a bet. Most Saturdays, not all, there was live racing. Thirty years on, Boru Betting is fitted out with plush seats; plasma TVs, wall-to-wall piped sound. There is free tea and coffee; free bets, a huge glass-fronted counter behind which fine fillies parade. You can even punt on imaginary races! Still, no toilets mind you - the bookies don't want you in all day.
This week Vinny needs a result. He's checked his 2007 betting ledger and noted the gloomy returns.
On the credit side, are the highlights: Kauto Star (Gold Cup), Silver Birch (Grand National), AC Milan (Champions League), France (Six Nations), Sligo (Connacht SFC), Padraig Harrington (British Open).
(He enjoyed bragging rights in Foley's on the strength of Silver Birch's Aintree win without admitting to the lads his niece, Sarah, aged five, predicted the winner would have something to do with wood).
On the flip side, Vinny winces at the losers: Pittsburgh Steelers (Super Bowl), Brave Inca (Champion Hurdle), Archipenko (Epsom Derby), Tiger Woods (US Masters and US Open), Dublin (All-Ireland SFC), Razldazl Billy (Irish Greyhound Derby), All Blacks (Rugby World Cup).
Desperate for a change of luck, Vinny fancies Ireland against Germany on the Asian Handicap at Croker on Saturday. Now, when Vinny first heard of the Asian Handicap, he felt it had something to do with racing in Hong Kong. He's more clued in now and feels Ireland, at almost evens, with half a goal start, are great value. They've beaten Wales and Slovakia at home and should have beaten the Czechs. Germany only need a point to qualify and without Ballack, Lamm and Klose, they may play for one, he reckons.
Golf being one of his great passions - he's a former president of Foley's Golf Society - Vinny can't resist a nibble on Swede Niclas Fasth in the World Matchplay at Wentworth. "Notso" is a rarity in golf; he's even more deliberate than Harrington. Vinny reckons if his birdies don't do the business, he'll bore his opponents to death.
On his way to work yesterday, Vinny skipped into Boru Betting. No time for a chat, not even with Angie who always gives him a smile. He was late for his shift on the 27B. The bets were placed; the game's afoot.
BETS OF THE WEEK:
Ireland 5 points (+0.5 goals on Asian Handicap) v Germany at 1.9 (Betfair);
Niclas Fasth one point each way in World Matchplay at 14 to 1 (Paddy Power)
VINNY'S BISMARCK
Lay Ernie Els in World Matchplay, 2 points at 9 to 2.
The "Big Easy" can be twitchy on short putts these days.
