Bhagwan and Placegetter,
Thanks for your input.
With the place component of a bet, my maths tells me that the shorter the price, the better the place return as a ratio of the win component.
For example, backing a 10/1 shot each way. The win component is 9.1% and the place ( 5/2 ) is 28.6% or 3.14 times shorter.
Backing a 2/1 shot each way, the win component is 33.3% and the place ( 1/2 ) is 66.7% or 2 times shorter.
Assuming a proportional improvement in strike rate you would do a lot better on your 2/1 bets each way than your 10/1 bets. I think this mathematics is the very reason it is difficult to get set each way with a bookmaker on the shorties but they don't mind letting you on when the odds are 4/1 or better.
Apparently the Pommie bookmakers pay 4th as a placegetter in fields of 16 or more. Such innovations would help the bookies cause in this country no end I would think.
Cheers.