This is the second of a three-part series in which George 'Barker' Bellfield reveals the private collection of greyhound systems compiled over 40 years by a British professional punter known as Mr Money.

Mr Money, the man who drew up the greyhound selection plans you are now reading. about in P.P.M., was a great believer in 'price' being a guide to class. I learned much of my knowledge from him, and price and class factors are well to the fore in the method I outlined in this year's P.P.M. Annual for rating and pricing greyhounds.

THE SHORTENERS
One of Mr Money's best systems relates to using price as a determining pointer to next start winners and placegetters. In his notes on this system - called The Shorteners - he writes: 'The essence of this plan is to find dogs dropped in class, and receiving much more support than at previous start."

Mr Money used this particular plan at all the big London tracks, and had tremendous success, I recall, at Haningay and Mite City, where the best dogs clashed. The checks I have made in Australia-mostly at Wentworth Park and N.S.W. provincial tracks, clearly show that it is just as effective here.

Basically, the system revolves around one simple rule. You back the dogs which firm in price at least HALF of their previous start. It doesn't matter where they finished last start (1st or last!) but what matters is how much more they are fancied this time around.

Let me give you an idea of what I mean: A dog starts at 10/1 and finishes 5th. At his next start, he is a 3/1 chance. Under the Mr Money plan, he becomes a bet. With a previous start price of 10/1, a dog would qualify as a bet if he was 5/1 or shorter next start.

If a dog started 3/1 at his previous start, he would need to be 6/4 or shorter to qualify. The plan, as you can see, is simple but brilliant. You are looking for dogs that are much more strongly fancied this start than they were last start.

I've kept a list of these dogs in recent months, so here are some real examples: Monwonga Zulu was sent out at 12/1 at Wentworth Park on May 1, and finished 5th. At his next start, he was a 6/1 chance and won at the same track. Signature was a 16/1 chance at Wentworth Park on May 4, and finished 3rd, and at her next outing was a 3/1 winner at Wentworth Park. Clever Hombre was 4th at 10/1 in a cup race at Richmond on March 3, and then was an 11/4 winner at Wentworth Park on March 25.

Get the idea? I think it's a great idea for punters looking for solid value bets. Of course, it is best if you're at the track and can take advantage of last minute prices, but the method can also be operated from home or from a Skychannel agency where you see tote odds available.

THE TIME MACHINE
The next plan from the Mr Money collection is called The Time Machine, and it concentrates on sorting out 'specials' from dogs which ran very well at their most recent outing. Mr Money says he made thousands of pounds from backing these Time Machine best bets.

You look for dogs which ran 'best of the night' time in winning at their most previous start, or those dogs who finished within three lengths of a 'best of the night' time. Usually in your form guides (like the Greyhound Recorder or Victoria's Cold Guide) you will find the 'best' time listed as 'Best' or 'B'.

It indicates that this time was the fastest for that meeting over that distance, and is a very good guide to pinpointing smart greyhounds.

You'll find, over a period of time, that dogs which win in 'best of the night' times often go on and run well again next time out, and for at least two more runs after that.

Example: Zippy's Glider, won in best time of 43.86 at Wentworth Park on April 24, then next start was 6th (badly checked) and at her following start won at 7/2, again in best time of the night. After that run, she finished 2nd at 7/2.

Lilac Livery is yet another example. She won in best time at Goulbum, then won next start at Dapto, before being badly hampered when last at Wentworth Park. She then went on to win next start at 9/4 in equal best time of the night. This was followed by a 2nd at 7/4.

BOX ON
The final Mr Money system is aimed at those punters who like to follow box numbers-and who like to 'gamble' a bit. It's not a method I'd play, but Mr Money says it can produce a big run of winners.

Mat you do is wait until the second race and then mark down the winning box number. From then on, you follow that number through the rest of the meeting, backing on an each-way basis, until it loses two races (unplaced). You then drop it. My check of the records shows that it can give you some terrific winners, and as well you'll enjoy yourself.

Just as an example: A recent Wentworth Park meeting; the second race went to Box 8. Then the Box 8 bets went as follows: 3rd 20/1, Ist 7/2, lst 5/1, Lost, 3rd 20/1, Lost; betting ceased on Box 8.

Next issue: The final three systems from the Mr Money private collection. More will be published later in the year, when we will also publish full results of the methods.

Click here to read Part 1.

By George ‘Barker’ Bellfield

PRACTICAL PUNTING - JULY 1989