Once
a Betfair market is reasonably well-formed (ie the Book% is less
than 110%), then the behaviour of bookmakers' prices can be
confidently anticipated.
Generally
speaking, bookmakers' prices will mirror trends on Betfair. If a
Betfair price starts to shorten, bookmakers' prices will follow suit
and vice versa (or at least when a Betfair price drifts, bookmakers'
prices will either be held or lengthen, but they generally won't
shorten). Betfair trend graphs (Price/Volume over time) are useful
for monitoring exchange price patterns and fluctuations.
Knowing
when to snap up an early price
Sometimes
you can be confident that a bookmaker's early price is unlikely to
get any bigger and may, in fact, shorten fairly soon. Here's an
example: You have decided to bet at 6/4 (2.50) or bigger. The
Betfair market is reaching a reasonably well-formed state (less than
110%) and is currently showing a Back price of 3.10. In addition,
there is plenty of backers' money waiting to be matched at 3.15, 3.20,
and 3.25. There are four bookmakers currently quoting. Three of them are
offering 2/1 (3.00) and the other is offering 9/4 (3.25). The
Betfair trend graph (Price/Volume over time) shows a recent downward
trend (price contracting). This situation cries out for the 9/4 to
be taken. It is likely to disappear shortly and so might some
of the 2/1 (3.00).
Knowing
when to wait
Sometimes
it is far from obvious that a bookmaker's early price is the best
you are likely to be offered. Here's an example: You
have decided to bet at 6/4 (2.50) or bigger. The night before the
race there are two bookmakers offering 2/1 (3.00). The Betfair
market is reaching a reasonably well-formed state (less than 110%)
and is currently showing a Back price of 3.20. This is a waiting
time. If the Betfair price drifts to say 3.50, then at least one of
the bookmakers may go 9/4 (3.25) or a new bookmaker may come in at
9/4 (3.25) or even 5/2 (3.50). Later, the Betfair price may swing back
the other way, down to 3.20 again. I would then take the 5/2 (3.50)
straight away and probably the 9/4 (3.25) too, remembering that my
lowest value point is 6/4 (2.50).
Sometimes
it is better to wait than to immediately snap up the best current
price.
Heavy
Support
Heavy
support for a runner, particularly when it occurs over a short
period of time during the early stages of a market, can result in
its price being cut to an artificially low level. Once that burst of
support has dried up, the price will begin to drift back out again
as layers recognise that it has become too short.
Consider
betting in stages
The
very top price for any bet will almost always appear at
Betfair, but knowing when that peak has been reached is difficult
because you can never know when it has arrived. For this reason, many investors like to
make their bets in stages. You don't always need to stake your
intended amount in one go. The trend graphs at
Betfair (Price/Volume over time) are useful when you can't sit and
watch price developments.
Be
ready early
The
reason I prepare my bets very early (they are ready early evening
for the following day's racing) is to
give investors every chance of hitting the top prices. Bookmakers
are now pricing up virtually every race the night before, thereby
presenting investors with more opportunities to exploit. Being
ready early provides options of going in straight away, waiting or betting in stages.
Practising these techniques, then assessing the wisdom of your
decisions with the benefit of hindsight, will improve your performance greatly.
Your anticipation will become much keener and you will start to hit
bigger prices on a regular basis.
The
main objective
Come
race time, everyone likes to be sat on the biggest price that was
ever available, especially if the horse is going off at far
shorter odds. However, the important thing is that you have secured a
price which is bigger than your minimum value point. Regardless of
whether that happens to be the very top price, if you are
achieving this basic but crucial objective with every bet you make, your investment
will thrive.