Does luck exist? Can trinkets or magical items change the outcome of of events? Of course not, no, but it is worth a HIGHLY SCIENTIFIC investigation by myself on behalf of Ladbrokes? YES.

Ladbrokes sent me a box of lucky bits & bobs, armed me with Casino credit and set me loose on Ladbrokes.

Unfortunately I can't get my head around poker, but I spied Roulette & reckoned I could manage 'red or black' easily enough.

First up was the lucky golden cat. Will kissing his shiny brow bring me a winning bet? I put a bet on red and won.

Conclusion: lucky cats DEFINITELY work. I didn't repeat the experiment but obviously this ground-breaking scientific result will be the subject of papers for years to come.

NEXT! Little teeny, tiny horseshoe necklace.

I placed my bet, spun again & lost.

Conclusion: although lucky, this horseshoe was freakishly small, so didn't contain the full strength of magical powers. Obviously.

The next lucky item was a box of Lucky Charms. You know I love my imported American food, so this was my favourite item in Ladbrokes' box of tricks.

My luck was out though. Because the goodies arrived last week, it seems a certain five year old has eaten all my Lucky Charms. Maybe rubbing his belly would bring luck, but he's at school, so I held the enchanted cardboard box & placed my bets.

I won again this time.

Conclusion: no idea. Cardboard boxes are lucky?

Last spin, and it's the turn of the lucky four leaf clover. Although not planted or grown, the seeds must be lucky too, right?

Conclusion: nope, the seeds aren't lucky. Unless maybe you combine holding the seeds with stroking a Leprechaun's beard at the same time to condense the luck.

Do lucky charms work? Not in my eyes.

Does my son like Lucky Charms cereal? Too much.

Is playing roulette on Ladbrokes easy for a beginner like me? Certainly.

Do I have a career as a professional gambler? No.

Maybe if I'd had a lucky rabbit's foot.....

Next time.