Chris Maclean: horse trading

Sunday sees the start of the point-to-point season in the South East. For those who follow the horses this is the entry level competitive racing event and thousands throughout the country enjoy these sporting weekends.

For the past few years I've been responsibility for the public bars at these events in Kent, Sussex and Surrey. I've a sale-or-return arrangement with the brewery and on each race day the brewery dray turns up at the tent with my stock, bars and tables and within a six hour period it is my sole purpose to take as much money as possible. The pressure is immense.

I operate about 14 of these bars. Some are pretty quiet and the three staff and I idle the time eating Flumps and studying the form. But for three or four key days the volume is massive.

In order to cope with the sheer demand I have my own refrigerated van, coolers and generators and a routine that is executed with military precision. The staff know what they are doing and we do it in virtual silence. Everybody knows the consequences of failure.

We have checked the stock order and double checked. The coolers have been running for days. All the pipes have been cleaned. Gases re-stocked. Taps, spiles hammers, washers, glasses tills, change. The list is huge.

The prize for succeeding by delivering drinks to all the customers and collecting their money is, potentially, a nice profit.

I cannot even comprehend the cost of failure. If a vehicle fails. If a washer is missing. If the generator will not start.

We build in back-ups. I have as many spares as I can.

But if I cannot deliver the drinks on demand customers will not return the following week and say "Can I have the four beers I couldn't get last week?" Those sales are lost into the ether.

It can be stressful but I have a good team with me. I need to get the first under my belt and then I can enjoy the season.

Iif things go well, who knows, maybe I'll even get myself down a little bet!