A huge welcome to the wonderful world of the punt!!
You've done well by selecting a class jockey like the pumper. He loves the big occasion and is extremely experienced. You'd do a lot worse than just waiting for his rides and cherry picking those that you feel are the best value.
Shaun has given you some excellent advice and I'd like to add a few more tips:
- You don't need to be a mathematician but you do need to understand how bookies run their books. I won't go into it here but look up as much as you can and understand that generally, the early prices offered will be unders.
- If backing for the place, look for WINNERS, not placegetters. When I started on the horses, I was much like you, I loved the place bet, however over time I realised that I was getting lots of 4th's and 5th's because I was looking for 'value' in the place market,
INSTEAD, of picking the best runner who I felt was also the BEST VALUE, then backing for the place.
- In regards to doubling up place bets, realise that
you must be making a profit at level stakes FIRST, otherwise you will simply be doubling your losses. Your strike rate will also come downas a result of doubling up.- Realistically if you're good at picking value, you'll make 2-6% POT on your place investments. Anything more than that and you're a GOD!!
- I'd recommend choosing the fixed odds races put up at the start of each day, or sticking only to Metro races if you're going to bet places, due to the higher liquidity in the market. I hope this is of some assistance calceti and
BEST OF LUCK!!!