At around 4.05pm on Saturday afternoon the last batch of disappointed faces will stroll around the mounting yard at Caulfield. The disappointed faces will belong to some of the connection of the enormous number horses having their first start this campaign because it is odds on several of the well fancied runners will flop badly. This is to be expected as the track will be akin to a quagmire if anymore rain falls and most of the best horses in the land prefer dry tracks.As punters we must step b

At around 4.05pm on Saturday afternoon the last batch of disappointed faces will stroll around the mounting yard at Caulfield. The disappointed faces will belong to some of the connection of the enormous number horses having their first start this campaign because it is odds on several of the well fancied runners will flop badly. This is to be expected as the track will be akin to a quagmire if anymore rain falls and most of the best horses in the land prefer dry tracks.

As punters we must step back on Saturday and be brutal with our approach to the day. We must be happy to admit some of the well fancied first uppers might well win, and even win easily, but if we wish to protect our wallets from monetary fallout we must not bet on any of them this weekend. Make a pact with yourself and your friends, if you need support, to adhere to the no bet on first uppers strategy this weekend.

The names Star Witness, Toorak Toff, Master Harry, Crystal Lily, Shaaheq,, Avenue, So You Think, Heart Of Dreams, Predatory Pricer, Irish Lights and Lady Lynette will most likely all be seen again this Spring so what's the hurry to jump in now? Wait and watch their runs and wait until they return to a drier track because there is every chance a couple of these horses will win better races at better odds within a run or two or maybe three or four. Be patient and wait.

If you are going to bet first up make the sure the odds are commensurate to some sort of value. After a look into the first up and wet track ability of all runners in the JJ Liston Stakes I will back two first uppers whom I believe have a chance of toppling the more favoured runners. Neither of the pair are outstanding in this field but they have me thinking their odds are fair and are worth throwing a few dollars at but nothing higher than a low denomination note They are Monaco Consul ($17) and C'Est La Guerre ($21). Both like the sting out of the ground and both are fair to middling first up. I suspect I will be obtaining a better price about both than what is currently on offer and that will do me fine.