For plenty of punters there are unfortunately many pitfalls in having selections that should do well over the long term and actually doing well with those selections.

Too many punters will be put off if a horse eases in the betting ring. Others will be put off by odds. "It can't win."

I remember some years ago a member phoned me to complain that he was not making any money backing the top selections. I asked him if he backed a certain horse in Brisbane that was on top. The reply was, "No. I missed that one."

It won at $33.00.

The punter did not renew his membership.

Many punters will blame a tipping service if they don't win, and not even take the blame themselves for deciding a selection from the tipping service "Can't win" and then miss a big winner.

In my opinion plenty of punters join tipping services but continue doing pretty much their own losing thing. But joining a tipping service gives them a convenient scapegoat when they continue to lose.