My suggestion is the opposite to your's truckie. If you are going to take the risk on horses coming back after VERY long spells (ie these horses have had problems) then you've got to be well rewarded for taking that risk. I would demand 20-1 or longer at least. While some might say that such odds indicate that the horse has little or no chance, I reckon long odds show that the punters think they know more about the horses condition than the trainer himself (ie the trainer believes the horse is worth taking back to the races despite the PROBLEM, why not US?). Well....who do you think is the better judge,truckie???
Another point with odds is this: when a longshot comes in, most punters are groaning and rubbing there eyes in disbelief. The bookies, however, are cheering themselves hoarse. This suggests to me that SOMETIMES the bookies might be messing us around,deliberately trying to FRIGHTEN us off with long odds on good things!!!! Cheers