Me too.
They may not do any offers but you should really take a close look at Betfair before you open an account anywhere else. 101 per cent books, back or lay anything, you can lay off to cover a bet if you get a good price about something that's backed, you can bet or lay off in running, even bet at SP these days. Only thing you can't do yet is multiples, but they're what keep the traditional bookies going anyway.
Wanderer
Think you may be confusing it with spread betting, which can get very hairy if you're on the wrong side. If normal betting can be compared to a quiet spliff with your mates, then spread betting is more like mainlining heroin. It is certainly not something to start out with, anyway.
On Betfair, you can't risk (or lose) more than you have in your account. If you lay a horse rather than backing it, you will effectively be backing at odds-on, but if you have £25 in your account and you try to lay someone £10 at 5-1, it won't let you.
Not any more Hannibal - they now take phone bets from £2 (though during the Festival it's probably best not to ring up 30 seconds before the off).
Glad you liked the Jones book, he really puts some work into it and while you have to use your brain too, some of the trends are impossible to ignore. Backed Sublimity at 25-1 for the Champion last year basically because, according to him, everything else was either too young or too old, and the result was never in doubt.
Agree about Oscar Park fwiw, was at Fontwell when he won and was really impressed with his jumping. The Festival Preview circuit is so huge now that it's not often something slips under the radar, but this could be one that has.