Part 1.
This thread will be the first in a series of tutorials with the aim to find an edge in racing statistics. You could use it for Dogs, Trots or Gallopers. It is aimed at newbie punters, without the benefit of a searchable database of past results, and will arm you with both the discipline and techniques to improve your win strike rate, be it Backing or Laying. I am passing on everything I have learnt in the past six months since deciding I wanted to make an income out of punting.

You need to decide on a Price Range that you want to investigate. It might be odds/on, mid range or longshot prices. In my examples I am looking at 1st favourite odds/on gallopers, price range $1.00 ~ $2.00. The techniques I will pass on will empower you to exploit any price range of results and find if there are any profitable niches.
These niches are not found looking at a racebook or the racing sports page. Once armed with the knowledge gained from your examination of results you will be able to write your own filters and rules to guide you through each day of your punting life.

Firstly you need to gather at least 300 race results that included a horse within your price range. You can source all this information from Betfair & Racing & Sports, I have attached an excel spreadsheet view to guide you. The data you'll need:
Date of race
Venue
Race No.
Number of runners
Horse No.
Horse name
Betfair Start price
Last 3 starts recorded as: if first start 'FS', if 2nd start 'SS', if returning from spell 'RFS', if 2nd or more times returning from spell '2RFS'. if horse has had a min of 3 starts in current campaign then record numerical finish position of last 3 starts.
+ or - weight change of rider since last start in kgs
+ or - distance change since last start in metres
Class change since last race recorded as either 'up in class', 'down in class' or 'no' change in class.
Result of race recorded as 'Won' or 'Lost'
Maiden race or not?
2nd Favourite's Betfair Starting price
Win strike rate as a %
First up strike rate as a %

In the 2nd part of this tutorial we will begin to analyse what we have recorded for profitable filters.

Attached Thumbnails