Better Betting Days?

[conundrum]

Okay guys, a new day, a new dawn. I’m putting recent events behind me and focussing on the nitty gritty.

My question to forumites is this:-
(Preamble: In past years when confined to the betting shop I always detested Saturday betting simply because the shop was too crowded and there was so much racing happening that for the most part form went out of the window and it was just a case of pin-picking. I seem to recall that most of my decent winning days, though few and far between, tended to be mid-week. However in the last couple of years I just bet online)

Because there are so many races of a Saturday, contrary to what I used to believe, is Saturday in actual fact the best day for finding value rather than any other day of the week? Do more good things slip under the radar on Saturday simply because there is far more money being bet and it is spread so much more widely? Or am I kidding myself and the basic fact is that there is no one better day for finding value?
For those still speaking to me, I’d welcome your comments.
Thanks
Ken

[Burrough Hill Lad]

For me, Ken, value invariably comes from assessing the more competitive races so festival weeks such as Royal Ascot, Cheltenham, Aintree, Goodwood, Galway, York etc ., are a great source of entertainment.

Of course, this also means it’s much harder to get a return and it perhaps says more about my personality that I get greater enjoyment from the challenge of evaluating the tricky races … I just think they offer increased opportunity for finding the each way value … and I will often cancel plans on attending a meeting if the races cut up to single figures

Given that I lay out fairly modest sums, I have never been a fan of backing favourites and would much rather find a 10/1+ each way shot than throw money at an 11/8 fav.

I guess Saturday tends to be the day that throws up the more competitive events in the main (outside of the festivals) so that tends to be when I choose to have a bet although I still keep my eye on the midweek stuff just in case one of my "follow over a cliff" horses tries to sneak in under the radar.

Backing in the big handicaps invariably throws up a dilemma of choosing between horses that you’ve been following (and I don’t like splitting bets) … 2.10 at Goodwood today being a case in point … Previous course winner Moynahan (being backed this morning into 10’s from 14’s) who got trapped on the rail at Sandown last time … and Changing The Guard (16’s generally), not quite fulfilled his promise of last year but down to a very tempting mark and 3lb lower than his win in a decent York H’cap last June.

[conundrum]

Thanks BurroughHill Lad. I, too, prefer to look for the prices outside the first four or five in the market though have always rigidly stuck to straight wins. The downside being that more often than not they lose, albeit many run into a place. People have often suggested I should back each way, especially when I’m backing long prices, but somehow I just can’t get my head round it. Fear of backing each way and losing twice my stake should it be unplaced is the difficulty but then I’m advised to split my stake and though that seems the sensible option I have a mental block in not getting the same ‘kick’ from only winning half as much as if I’d bet all or nothing. Decisions, decisions. The racing today looks great and with three jumps meetings this evening I’m set for a serious day of hard work.
Cheers
Ken

[Cav]

Blindly backing all favourites at BFSP between Monday and Thursday from Jan01 2008 to Jul25 2010 would have provided a level stake profit of 232 points before commission. Gets harder from Friday onwards though.

Day No. ….. Profit ….. Wins ….. Runs ….. SR%
1 ….. 67.52 ….. 1094 ….. 3425 ….. 31.94%
2 ….. 19.21 ….. 1038 ….. 3195 ….. 32.49%
3 ….. 121.82 ….. 1288 ….. 4033 ….. 31.94%
4 ….. 23.55 ….. 1375 ….. 4162 ….. 33.04%
5 ….. -97.4 ….. 1399 ….. 4439 ….. 31.52%
6 ….. 3.13 ….. 1568 ….. 5170 ….. 30.33%
7 ….. 0.17 ….. 852 ….. 2650 ….. 32.15%
Grand Total ….. 138 ….. 8614 ….. 27074 ….. 31.82%

[Burrough Hill Lad]

Interesting, Cav … so the pro’s make their money in the week and then leave us mugs at the mercy of pure chance at the weekend

Ken … for the record, I don’t always practice what I preach in respect of ew betting … it’s easy to get caught up in the day when you’re actually there on-course and not stick to your original plan … I’m sure we’ve all been there and fatally changed our minds at the last minute.

My mantra these days when having to make a choice between 2 or more fancies in a race is to figure out which one would p**s me off the most if it won and wasn’t carrying my money … that way .. a) I’m not surprised when it loses .. b) you’re spared the pain of seeing it win when you’re not on, and .. c) at least it partially dilutes the irritation of seeing one of your other fancies win !!

I hate that sinking feeling when one of "your" horses swoops through to lead and this is the one day you decided not to bother … and you spend the last furlong willing something to come from the clouds and beat it !!

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