Each week we will feature tables showing just how successful the "smart money" was in Adelaide. We have decided to include Adelaide despite the high percentages the bookmakers bet to, because:

1. The plunges get accentuated. It doesn't take much money for the Adelaide bookies to dramatically turn in the prices.

2. In our opinion many of the plunged horses were under the odds before the plunge even took place. It will be interesting to see what return there is on these horses at the top odds available. We believe they will definitely return a significant loss at the plunged starting price, which are the odds tote punters end up taking (often shorter). So much for "tips from the track".

To qualify a horse must have firmed 5% in the betting market. For example if a horse was backed in from $5.00 (4/1 or 20%) to $4.00 (3/1 or 25%) it will qualify. Odds calculator gives you tables.

When the horse wins, so you can judge for yourself how sensible or silly it is over the long term to "follow the money" on the tote, we will also include the worst tote price available. Plenty of tote punters will have collected that tote dividend. Most of them would have "followed the money" on the tote.

Are they getting big enough winning dividends when they "follow the money" on the tote to cover themselves for when "following the tote money loses"?

The jockeys and trainers are also important. You may see some jockeys and trainers consistently bringing home plunges whereas others regularly fail to deliver.

This edition of Punt to Win:
Make money betting first fours
Watch out for these betting tips
Melbourne/Brisbane bookmakers' betting odds
Betting favourites in small fields
Handicapping tips - weight and class
Money talks - Rosehill, Sandown betting tips from the track
Money talks - Doomben betting tips from the track
Money talks - Victoria Park betting tips from the track
Future winners - unlucky horses
Punt to Win 13/6/2003
Punt to Win index

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Betting packages

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Warning
Short Priced Tote Favourites
These are losing bets.

It is just about impossible to get a high enough strike rate backing short priced tote favourites to make up for the big unders on the tote.

If you regularly get poor tote odds you must lose.

Short priced tote favourites
are losing bets.

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