One key piece of advice for aspiring punters - from the man bookmakers feared more than anyone

Patrick Veitch, the professional punter behind some of the greatest gambles in British racing history, has revealed what he would advise a young follower of the sport looking to follow in his footsteps: forget the data and watch the videos.

Veitch, whose 2009 autobiography Enemy Number One labelled him "Britain's most feared professional punter", was speaking to the Racing Post for an unmissable interview in Sunday's newspaper in which he reflects on his most astonishing triumph 20 years ago, the way British racing's rules are putting off punters and his exciting new venture into the world of bloodstock and ownership.

Veitch also offered words of advice for aspiring punters about how to make money in an increasingly data-driven environment, suggesting the best policy is to go against the grain and take on the market.

"Provided you're not someone who needs to play for very high stakes, the value is probably swinging back round to a very good video analyst," he said. "Because the data crunchers are heavily affecting the market. 

"Studying the form with a few clicks, you're going to struggle to beat them. But if you can make yourself a good enough video analyst, you will spot things that those programmes won't.

"You need to have your own opinion. That doesn't work by simply taking the opinion of a form organisation – that will have been fed into those computers.

"You need to develop your eye. You listen, you watch. Dare I say it, you take a share in a horse, you learn the business and you get to the point you can form your own opinion and take on the market."

Read more from Patrick Veitch in The Big Read, available in Sunday's newspaper or online for Members' Club Ultimate subscribers from 6pm on Saturday. Click here to sign up.

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