HORSETRADER STRATEGY

Selective Betting

It is crucial if taking our betting seriously to be disciplined. We will choose our bets carefully in order to maximise profits. Most of our selections will be geared towards the bigger racedays when the markets are at their strongest. This will give clients a better chance of getting their money on at the advertised prices.

There will, of course, be losing days as well as winning days. It is important to be calm about both outcomes. Discipline is the key, as there will inevitably be peaks and troughs in the course of the betting year. It is long-term income we are interested in achieving, not short-term gains.

We will make our recommendations to a points system. So, as an example, we might recommend 2pts to win at 4-1 (William Hill) on Silver Arrow. Let us explain each element of this:

Each Horsetrader member should have a 100-point betting bank, say for example £10,000. If we recommend 2pts to win, it is our suggestion that you should invest £200 on the selection, Silver Arrow. If your bank is £5,000, a 2pt bet would require an investment of £100.

We also recommend a bookmaker with whom you should try to place the bet. We will suggest the bookmaker with the best current available price, but we will be realistic about this and will not advise prices that we think might not be obtained. It is important for clients to open accounts with leading bookmakers in order to ensure that the optimum prices are obtained.

Inevitably, your betting bank will alter with results. We recommend that you always keep the points system in ratio with your current bank. Thus, if your bank reaches £15,000, then a 2pt bet will be worth £300.

Exchange Trading

It is our firm belief that exchange trading can be a lucrative sideline to conventional betting. However, we need to make clear the fundamental differences between the two forms of investment, as they make different requirements of the client.

Horseracing exchange markets are wildly fluctuating. A horse which trades at 4.00 one minute (3-1) may be 7.00 (6-1) two minutes later and, of course, vice versa. It is obvious therefore that the trader who has a good record at predicting the fluctuations - the "highs and lows" - can make a profitable income from such predictions, in exactly the same way as a stockmarket trader would. We are experts in this area and can advise clients of likely fluctuations so as to ensure a long-term profit.

Our advice would take the format of:

Back Silver Shadow at 4.50 (7-2) for 2pts: or
Lay Silver Shadow at 5.00 (4-1) for 3pts.

In the first case it would be our belief that Silver Shadow would shorten from 4.5 and in the second case that Silver Shadow would lengthen from 5.0.

Once you, the client, had acted on this advice, however, it is then that the different requirements we spoke of earlier come into play. It is now the responsibility of the client to make a decision as to the next move. We believe that our clients will make money by simply following the above advice and doing nothing further.

However, for those of a more risk-averse mind, it should be possible in most circumstances, time permitting, to hedge your position later in the day by taking back a better price than was laid (or by laying a shorter price than was backed). This has to be the client's choice as the decision will be determined by time factors and access to speedy computers. We emphasise, though, that simply following the first advice will, in our opinion, be profitable in the long-term.

Ever fancied owning a racehorse? Well now you can for just a one-off, all fees-inclusive payment of £1,500. Horsetrader is off to the sales this year and, as a result, will be offering 20 shares in each horse we purchase. For your £1,500 you get a 1/20th share in the horse for a year which entitles you to 5 per cent of any profit it makes from prize money earned and its subsequent sale, if applicable. All training fees and associated costs are included, so once you've paid your £1,500 you won't be asked for another penny. In addition, you will receive – free of charge – all the benefits of being a member of Horsetrader's exclusive racehorse ownership club. These include regular stable visits to watch your horse working on the gallops, guided tours of other top yards, plus organised trips to the races. You will also be privy to our expert tipping service which, since the beginning of September, has returned a 257-point profit for clients. At the recommended £100 per point, that equates to £25,700 in exactly a year – that’s over £2,000 a month, tax-free.

To find out more about Horsetrader's exciting racehorse ownership venture, simply e-mail horsetrader

Get your betting-related racing questions answered by our team of experts. Simply e-mail horsetrader and we will get back to you with an answer, in most cases within 24 hours.

Please note we will not answer any queries relating to betting disputes. Instead contact IBAS, the betting arbitration service.