Against the odds:It usually took a lot to get Macker inflamed. Monosyllabic, except when alcohol loosened his jaw, he never uttered two words when one would do; which made him a rarity among Dublin taxi-drivers.

When you sat in beside Macker, you weren't afflicted with non-stop jabbering by a driver with several chips on his shoulder; such as road works, the M50, and deregulation.

You didn't become "Pal" or "Mate" or, worst of all, "Bud". It was strictly Trappist-monk stuff with Macker. Yet, here he was in Foley's on Sunday night holding court in full flow on one of his favourite subjects - betting in running, especially on golf.

As Macker recalled the implosion of Ernie Els in South Africa earlier that day, Vinny Fitzpatrick sat opposite, a meaty paw curled around a pint of stout. He had a contented, almost far-away look, on his face. Vinny's eyes were fixed on the Foley's Golfing Society board of honour, which had been updated to include the 2007 Golfer of the Year winner: one Vincent Finbarr Fitzpatrick.

Vinny tried to follow Macker's diatribe but he was repeatedly drawn to the shining lettering on the mahogany board. He was, he knew, like a dog smelling his own droppings.

The inner glow didn't stop there. The previous day Vinny had been in Boru Betting cheering Twist Magic to success in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown. It was the third successive big-race win on a Saturday for Paul Nicholls, following Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase and Denman in the Hennessy, and Vinny, who had missed the first two after vowing to follow Nicholls all season, was up a few bob.

As he collected his winnings, Vinny was startled when Angie, the vivacious assistant manager at Boru Betting, asked him what was he doing for Christmas.

For Vinny, his Christmas schedule was as traditional as turkey and ham: he worked a double shift on the buses on Christmas Eve, spent Christmas Day, and night, with his sister Mary in Laytown, and hooked up with the lads for the races at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day.

He quickly told Angie his plans and had turned to leave when she piped up: "If you fancy something different, why don't you come around for Christmas dinner?"

Vinny froze. His heart did somersaults. His fingers and toes began to tingle, something they also did when he was betting apace. He tried to think straight but couldn't. What could he possibly say?

Since his da, Finbarr, passed away 10 years ago, Vinny had never missed a Christmas at Mary's. He enjoyed the Brussels sprouts, the crackers, the board games, the cards and the walk by the strand after dinner.

He quite liked his two teenage nieces, Maireád and Niamh, and could even tolerate his brother-in-law Dermot, a boring pen-pusher with the Civil Service, but a man who always produced the finest Glenfiddich around 10 and left Vinny alone with a large, cut glass.

It was a safe, secure day in Vinny's safe, secure life. He couldn't pass it up. Could he?

Vinny glanced down at his scuffed black slip-ons when, suddenly, he heard a voice, which couldn't possibly be his, say, "Thanks for the invite, Angie, I'd love to. What time do you want me there?"

As Angie smiled and told Vinny to come around any time after the last Mass in St Gabriel's, Vinny was already making for the door, eyes fixed on some imaginary point in front of him. Whether it was the shock of being asked or the shock of saying yes, Vinny wasn't sure, but he felt good about life all weekend. He even found himself nodding in agreement with Macker as the taxi-driver stood on his soapbox in Foley's.

Vinny had watched the golf on Sky earlier too. Els was one of his favourites but after being let down in the Nedbank Invitational, Vinny had given the Big Easy a wide berth for the Dunhill Championship, even though the field was modest and the price, 7 to 2, was inviting.

When Els stood on the 18th tee, two shots clear, Vinny was cursing himself. For fun, he checked the Betfair website to see what Ernie was running at. He was 1 to 100 on and, incredibly, a few bets were being matched. Vinny couldn't see the logic of putting on €100 to win just one but there you go.

What unfolded was farcical. Els, a three-time Major winner, played the 18th like Vinny on a bad Society day, twice finding water and running up an eight to lose.

The little-known John Bickerton won, and one punter, much to Vinny's amazement, had backed him in running at 299 to 1 to win before Els drove off the last.

For Macker this was the second event in a few days where a dead cert had gone belly up and betting-in-running had provesuch a risky business.

At Leicester races last Thursday, I'm A Legend had opened at 150 to 1 but bets rained in and he was just 20 to 1 before the off.

Approaching the final hurdle, I'm A Legend was cruising and had been backed down, in running, to 1 to 2 when, incredibly, a loose horse carried him and the favourite out of the race.

"I'm telling ye, lads, this in-running stuff has changed the face of betting. Unless you know what you're doing, to paraphrase Bamber Gascoigne, 'keep your fingers off the buzzer', warned Macker, flecks of saliva flying from his lips.

While Macker had a point, Vinny knew that for every punter placing a bet in running, someone was laying that bet too.

And so, if the odds-on golfer or horse didn't win, at least the layer did. And that layer could be anyone. It could even be me, thought Vinny, as a cunning plan came to mind. Christmas was coming; it was time to fatten the goose.

3pts Arsenal to beat Chelsea (6/4 Paddy Power)

1pt ew Jim Furyk (right) in Target World Challenge (11/1 Paddy Power)

2pt lay Sublimity in Boylesports International Hurdle (2/1, Liability 2pts)