What advice would an experienced punter give to a request for some assistance to a self confessed "I know absolutely nothing about horseracing" newbie going to the track with a betting bank of $500 he wishes to double. During the week I received a call from a non punting journalist who has been given this task to perform as part of an article to be written on his experiences at the races this Saturday.At last years corresponding Underwood Stakes meeting there were 9 races so let us ass

What advice would an experienced punter give to a request for some assistance to a self confessed "I know absolutely nothing about horseracing" newbie going to the track with a betting bank of $500 he wishes to double. During the week I received a call from a non punting journalist who has been given this task to perform as part of an article to be written on his experiences at the races this Saturday.

At last years corresponding Underwood Stakes meeting there were 9 races so let us assume an average of $55 per race but my suggestion was to bet more heavily in the better class races and a little less in the others. For instance, he will still meet his criteria of a bet in every race if he bets $20 in three of the toughest looking races (big field size could be his way of working this out remembering he is not a form man), $40 in the next three toughest which totals $180 thus leaving around $100 per bet for the three easiest races (smallest fields).

However, his brief is to turn $500 into $1000 and he may well struggle to do this by having larger amounts on favourites in small fields so I am suggesting he reverse the strategy and having the largest amounts in the toughest fields. This way one winner at the right price could return $600 plus and have him well on the way to achieving his target.

After being asked about the selection side of things I suggested he concentrate on last start winners in the first four lines of betting (regardless of how many runners in each line) and to make sure his bets are drawn in the first half of the field in races run at 1400m or more, as there is only one turn in the shorter races. I also suggested he could include last start seconds as well and he could extend the selection process to horses quoted at 8/1 or 10/1 and less in the prepost market. This strategy ensures he is betting on well fancied, in form horses not drawn badly.

This man has a tough brief and I will be quite interested to see how he goes.