THE only thing better than hearing a story about a big winning bet is hearing a punter’s hard luck story. You know the sort of thing - a final fence faller that cost your friend a life-changing sum. You tell them how bad you feel about it, but secretly you kind of enjoyed their pain and suffering.

If that resonates then you are going to love Punting Feats and Bad Beats, a new book which brings together 100 of the sharpest minds in the racing and gambling industries, recounting their most entertaining betting tales, whether it be an incomprehensible bad beat or enlightening punting feat.

The stories have been compiled by Paul Jones, author of the popular Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide, and proceeds go to the children’s charity Action For A-T.

Most of the stories relate to racing but there are also tales about bets on football, golf, tennis, cricket, snooker, darts, harness racing, flapping, American football, rugby union, basketball, poker, speedway, boxing and politics.

Among the well-known names in racing to have contributed are David Ashforth, Andrew Black, Nick Bradley, Tony Calvin, Ian Carnaby, Ed Chamberlin, Neil Channing, Matt Chapman, David Cleary, Chris Cook, Robert Cooper, Rory Delargy, Johnny Dineen, Brendan Duke, Eddie Fremantle, Nick Goff, Frank Hickey, Richard Hoiles, Andy Holding, David Johnson, Mark Johnson, Paul Jones, Anthony Kaminskas, Ben Keith, James Knight, Donn McClean, Lee Mottershead, Garoid ‘Icy’ Norris,

Simon Nott, Steve Palmer, John Parrott, Rishi Persad, Alan Potts, Paddy Power, Henry Rix, Simon Rowlands, Alex Steedman, Ash Symonds and Gary Wiltshire.

Priced at €18.95, the book can be purchased through the Weatherbys Shop website.