No, I'm not saying the intelligent money goes on first, but 80% of the money goes on in the last few minutes and the reason why it's 80% is that the large punters try to stop the TAB punters following the big bets, because they know the general punters will follow the money rather than the formguide.

This is why it happens for the big punters this way. The TAB punters simply bet race to race at the last minute (the majority, not all).

No I don't lean over people's shoulders, I'm sure I'd cop a fair whack if I did, but you get to know the regulars at all TABS in the local area over many years, and most of them are creatures of habit, who do the same thing day in day out, making the same decisions and mistakes over and over.

Have a look at discarded cards on the counter and you'll see what I mean, or stand behind a window and most mistakes are punters picking scratchings by not even looking at the fields!!!

I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard this converstation:

TAB AGENT: "Number 6 is a scratching mate."
CUSTOMER: "Oh sorry, ummm (turns to odds screen) I'll take 5 instead."

I'm saying 80% of people in TAB agencies don't.