A Q and A with Melissa Jones, Racing Journalist and Chief Tipster for the Daily Express.

Hi Melissa, and many thanks for joining us this month, first off would you start by telling our readers a little about yourself and your background?

Hello everyone. I'm Melissa Jones, racing journalist and chief tipster for the Daily Express. I have worked in my profession for over ten years, having studied at Birmingham and Staffordshire universities.

I have a Masters in Journalism from the latter, which covered print and broadcast, as well as NCTJ qualifications.

I started out in a news role at the South Wales Argus, reporting on a range of events, court hearings, inquests and so on. An opportunity came about to write a piece on the Welsh Grand National, which I took as racing was my hobby and I hoped to diversify later in my career. That led to a weekly column and a first involvement in the Racing Post Naps table, with a second place on debut. I subsequently became the Gloucestershire Echo's racing correspondent, a newspaper which is in the same group as the Express.

I moved to the nationals almost four years ago, helping to relaunch the Mirror's online racing section and was honoured to be appointed to my current position at the end of 2022.

Would you say that you have a “typical” working day, and how would you describe it?

It normally starts with a nice cup of tea, which warms you up nicely to study a card at Wolverhampton!

I go through all of the races for the following day, making a selection for each one. This involves watching replays and studying form lines, pace angles, draw data and stats. I have to nominate a Nap, next best and treble for the paper.

After the tips are submitted, sometimes with written reasoning, I turn my focus to news. We always try to get a fresh line.

In the build-up to major meetings, I write feature articles for the Daily Star racing supplement and still contribute to the website when time allows.

What do you think of the world of sports tipping in general and what do you think

people are in search of when it comes to their hunt for a successful tipster?

With social media, it is fairly easy to build up a platform as a tipster. It just depends what people are looking for.

Some want quick results; others are more interested in long-term profit and value bets.

I always strive to be consistent, but it is a constant challenge. Sometimes you will have a day when races won't just work out for you.

Like a jockey, it is important to stay level and not let disappointments affect you.

There is always the chance to start afresh the next day and get the ball rolling again.

Do you regularly bet yourself? What style of approach do you take to your betting? What do you think of staking plans, loss retrieval systems etc.?

Usually on a Saturday and if the racing is good enough, sometimes in the week, often low grade races are best left alone, similarly sprints where the key players meet frequently.

I keep it simple, usually a single on a horse I am particularly keen on.

Occasionally I will have a multiple bet, with a maximum of four fancies.

I also like to find each-way value for small stakes, but the key is to keep it in proportion to what you usually bet with.

I think limiting yourself to a certain amount is important and sticking by it.

What attracted you to the world of horse racing and what do you enjoy most about the sport?

As a child I used to horse ride and my parents used to go racing as a hobby. They took me along to look at the horses and by my teenage years I found the intricacies of a race really interesting. It all spiralled from there.

Nowadays, as much of my time is spent working on a week off I have been known to tick a new racecourse off the list.

I'm trying to visit all of the UK tracks and recently found Musselburgh delightful. Still the rest of them in Scotland to go!

We have to mention your success in the Press Challenge, without giving away the trade secrets what do you look for in a runner when making your selections?

Also, in your role as tipster for the Daily Express, how do you come up with a selection for each race, and how do the deadlines work for you with regards to the Press Association.

I don't really have a step by step formula, like most punters my picks are based on form research and assessing whether the horse is capable of winning a particular race at that stage of its career.

There are some trainers whose horses don't really run for me (mentioning no names!), so I always try to give them a swerve. Also, they are very much creatures of habit and their race records are important.

There are a couple with smaller yards whose runners I always respect as they are excellent at placing their horses. I also like to consider strike rates in the past 14 days and in-form jockeys, as they thrive on confidence.

As for tipping deadlines, I usually set mine at lunchtime. As my role is varied it is important to get the selections for the next day done and dusted as early as possible. It is tricky with regards to the going and weather, but you just have to hope that the forecast is right.

New and old punters alike can struggle to make a success of their betting. If you could give them just one piece of advice to improve their profitability, what would it be?

Set an amount that you are happy winning and whenever your betting account gets to it, bank it.

Although it is nice to see a profit, upping your stakes to try and win more from it is never a good idea. It can be easily whittled away and then you lose the sense of achievement from getting the winners in the first place.

What would you consider to be a highlight of your racing experience to date? Do you have any personal racing / betting experiences which when reflecting back brings a smile, or for that matter any which bring a grimace; you can share with our readers?

Thinking of an answer to this question makes me realise how long I have been in the industry!

Overall, I do feel lucky to work in it, amongst such fantastic people. Although it has taken a lot of work to get to where I am, I always appreciate the time interviewees have given me over the years. Sometimes working up an introduction for a feature article is the hardest part, as you want to do it justice. It is an honour to have the chance to tell someone's story.

I have a couple of highlights to share.

Interviewing AP McCoy on my own when I was working for the Gloucestershire Echo would be one, likewise a piece I wrote about sprinter The Tatling for the South Wales Argus. He was a great horse, and I spent a few hours sitting on the late Milton Bradley's sofa hearing all about him.

More recently, becoming the first female horse racing correspondent at a national tabloid.

On the grimacing front… finishing placed in the Racing Post Naps table on several occasions!

And on a visit to a stable, I almost got my old car stuck down the side of the gallop. Thankfully a press room colleague was there to rescue me!

What about the gambling industry, is there anything you like to see changed there?

Responsible gambling is important, but like many I believe affordability checks are going too far. In my opinion, the average punter should not be punished because it has unfortunately become a problem for some.

If I went to a shop to buy a handbag, I wouldn't be asked if I had the money for it. We should be able to spend money as we choose.

What do you do to relax and unwind? What interests have you outside the world of horse racing?

Fitness is one of my main hobbies. I like to get the endorphins flowing ready to pick the winner of a Class 5 at Chepstow! I enjoy walking my dog, foreign holidays, cooking, nice restaurants and spending time with those closest to me.

Working within an all-male team on the racing desk, who are great colleagues may I add, I often crave a spa treatment at the end of a busy month!

We’d like to thank Melissa for taking the time to talk to us this month and wish her every success.