For the hard copy baby boomers like myself...a simple tip I discovered that made my punting life a lot easier, some years ago.

Before beginning the huge task of going through all the fields (in my case that's Sydney Melbourne Brisbane and Adelaide) which probably average around 350 horses for most Saturdays.

Spending just 20 to 30 minutes putting a line through the horses that you believe could not win or in my case, could not be in my system. That usually eliminates 60% to 75% of the fields. This narrows the main task of selecting winners much simpler.

As I said very simple and not only time saving but reduces the chances of missing a winner.

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When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back... Omar Khayyam-1099

Absolutely agree Dave,
One could also just concentrate on the top 6 in the betting.

Nice one Dave.

I have one leg in the boomer camp and the other in the neXt gen, depending on which definition of a baby boomer you use(yes, there are several versions!), which makes me somewhat borderline + confused at times. Means I do a lot of scribbling/ticking/doodling on paper but also like to fiddle about online, muck about with spreadsheets, flip around between multiple resources etc

First job was in a bank with those IBM green screens and mainframes with jumbo backup tapes that took a while for the IT boys to load, printouts that go into folders with lots of holes on 'em, 5" floppies(if you were lucky) and microfiche records etc which was 'cutting edge' back then! Early punting days for me were scribbling all over the templates in Don Scot's Winning More book (pencil / rub-outs / pencil / photocopy - a major break-thru!). Didn't quite make it to applying the magic of Lotus 1-2-3 to Don's worksheet - was too busy getting educated, promoted, making babies and getting some sleep etc etc

I like your process of elimination as a starting point, however. Which is why I made an attempt on here early days to ascertain what has a poor / zero chance of winning from the 'lay-side boys' = a good place to start, I thought. Also makes sifting thru the rest of the nags less time consuming, confusing etc

At the end of the day, I came up with my own broad parameters for what can't / probably won't win. Every now and then a roughie gets up which lies outside these parameters but no point trying to change the bigger picture to allow for them because i have found that most winners come from one group of horses, and quite a few of the outsiders which get up are at the outer limits of this group i.e. just inside/outside the group. Sometimes there are 'pricing irregularities' which mean that good priced winners can also be found within the main group; Therein lies a 'value proposition', I guess.

Each to their own I guess.

Cheers LG

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The trick isn't finding profitable angles, it's finding ones you will bet through the ups and downs - UB

Ah we have more in common than just punting LG

The scratching of the old dot matrix printer going a million miles an hour, the signature cards, the old blacklight signature which was the stuff of "The Matrix", and the steel cheque book drawer which always jammed.

I'm from the same era and started off in the same profession.

The next generation is the Baby Bonus generation :P

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And my generation was the "Never worked in their Life" generation.
hehehe

Yes, all those things and sounds and lights, too. And a stack of memories trapped in time and space on cassette tapes and black vinyl - Have lost every last one of them over several life journeys here and there, more than a lifetime's worth I reckon. We move on with new technology, at least I try. Tom W on the dog n bone and electronic winnings(and losses) cyber-surfing in and out of an invisible wallet.

Still remember the smell of autumn and crispy air at Headquarters(could've been early Spring)... Dazzling Duke, Rory's Jester and the long climb up high in the grandstand with bookie docket in back pocket, waiting for my first winner to salute.

Some things shouldn't change!


LG

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The trick isn't finding profitable angles, it's finding ones you will bet through the ups and downs - UB

That groin pain must be painful at times LG. (lol)

Glad to hear you're leaning toward the pen and paper era and having the banker experience would be invaluable when working out mathematical equations, percentages etc.

Cheers and good luck tomorrow
Dave

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When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back... Omar Khayyam-1099