Right, am after everyones ideas of the racing rules they are taught when they first become interested in punting. As a rule, I generally find that yes they may help you pick winners, but ultimately they are poor value due to everyone else backing them as well. From my years of punting, I am finding that most of these supposed 'winning' rules, are actually better to look to lay......

Let me start with some of the rules I learned when I first looked into punting:

1-Must have placed 1,2 or 3 last start
2-Must be near the top of the race book ie low TAB numbers
3-Barrier 1-6
4-Racing within 21 days
5-Running within 200m of todays distance
6-Won/placed at course
7-Won/placed at distance
8-Won/placed in track conditions

As I posted probably a year or so ago now on these forums, heres a system that I thought would have to be a winner, but ultimately its a cracking lay system:

Tab #1
LS finish 1-3
Barrier 1-3


Thats a start there anyway, anyone able to add any more of these so called rules??

G'Day Thorns,

I think that what many people conceive as "System" building is actually Handicapping in many ways i.e. that's exactly how a bookie would form his market i.e. based on past performance with a few other variables thrown in, breeding etc.

So it follows that the nags that stack up are the shortest quoted (and probably bad value) hence a losing proposition.

But as far as winner picking is concerned its still probably the best way. % wise.

In a nutshell, if we BACK all favs. we lose about 15% on T/O, so........ if we LAY them................ we should win shouldn't we?????? mmmmmmmm.

Thorns, I've been looking at a similar Lay system with TAB no.1 but haven't kept any records because there isn't too much action. The rules are

1) TAB no.1
2) Won last start.
3) At least 1 kilo heavier than the next horse.

There were two selections today.

Warwick Farm 6/1 - beaten. (Started $3.40 TAB)
Belmont 2/1 - beaten. (Started $2.80 TAB)

There were no selections yesterday or Monday.


Party, I'm under the impression that if all faves were backed "at the jump" on Betfair then the loss would generally be about 5%, so too with laying them because of Betfair's commission.

michaelg, so we either need to back em at overs or LAY them at unders ....yes?

Yes...if only we knew if they were overs or unders. Or even whether they or any other horse will firm or ease.

Now where's my crystal ball???

hahahah! yes that's right I was referring to a "rated" price of course from a reliable source.

Michaelg
Why not use the Don Scott asessed price and bet all the Favs at or over the asessed price.

Lay method

Must be Fav

Race must be 900 - 1100

Horse must be a Backmarker.

Hi, Darky,

some time ago I thought of taking his top 3 or 4 selections and betting or laying them. My idea was to use his rated prices to bet the overlays and then reduce his prices by 20% to obtain the max Lay price. In this way I would be almost assured of 3 or 4 bets per race.

I never did it because my preferred way of betting on Betfair is to lay just one horse, nor did I check any results from the method. However, its possible one day I might change my mind and see how it goes. I know there have been some excellent overlays.