Crash,
quite bemused by your comment about how Sportsman can't supply live TAB odds.Tell me a paper that can.
As for cost as against paying for a service,I wouldn't know what a decent (or bad)service was,as I have never payed for one,but some that I have seen advertised or recieved the"glossies"in the mail far outweigh my cost of the Saturday Sportsman.
I don't bet midweek,only Saturday Sydney and Melbourne.
I don't go back 10 starts,5 is enough for me.
You get Zipform ratings Zipform liftout with all sorts of valuable info at a glance,jockey/trainer s/r,sectional times,and a comprehensive trackwork section.
What is the"heaps of other stuff you need?"
Not having a dig at you here,so please don't take offence.
If you subscribe to a decent service and it works for you,good onya.
I just prefer to put in the hard yards and back my own judgement,not someone else's that I have to pay for.
I don't bet with the TAB anymore,so I don't need their live odds anyway.
As any serious punter knows(and I'm sure your'e one)if you don't put in the time and effort you will never win long term.
Which also to me means keeping meticulous records of every bet.
How many punters do you know who do that?