13 Greyhounds / Betfair Education / 01 December 2008 / Leave a comment

Dogs expert Mark Sullivan takes a long, hard look at greyhound racing and how to make the most out of it.

Everyone has their own method of locating winners, all of which will have their good times and bad. My own way is based on a myriad of factors.

Essential is the likelihood that the dog you have decided to back has got a better than average chance of getting a clear run - a clout from the traps has put-paid to the chances of many a "good thing".

When analyzing the trap draw make a note of the preferred style of your selection's neighbours, where have they started from in the past and how have they fared? Also make sure your selection has a good record from his or her draw.

Decide how you think the race is going to be run. Will if be won from the front - e.g. are there runners in the race that have the speed to lead and hold on. Check out sectional and end times. Has anything in the race got the ability to make all or is it going to be the type of race where the winner is going to come from off the back?

Plenty of profit can be obtained from following youngsters. Keep an eye on puppies new to the track. If genuine they must improve and should win a handful of races before the handicapper catches up with them. Currently, at Hove, the March 2007 litter by leading Australian sire Brett Lee out of Arun Sky is perfect case in point of a litter than is improving quicker than the grader can keep up with them.

Always study replays of races. Look out for the unlucky dogs and make a note of them for next time. Keep a careful eye on how dogs take the bends. Dogs that may not be feeling 100 per cent will manifest their fragility by checking off at the turns or rapidly rotating their tails when negotiating the bends.