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How do we all (members here) assess/evaluate what ‘value’ is, when placing a bet?

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  • How do we all (members here) assess/evaluate what ‘value’ is, when placing a bet?

    Having recently joined this forum, it has been so enlightening and educative to read the many posts, ideas and betting principles of people. There are so many topics ripe for discussion, and the knowledge within is fantastic. Once again, kudos to those who have created this forum, such a great idea and very user friendly. My hat off to you.

    A topic that is always key (and I guess should be for nearly everyone here) for me, but which I hadn’t noticed under a ‘banner’ was the one of how each and everyone of us actually assesses value. How do we interpret if an evens money shot is great value or the worst bet in the world? I’ve always been fascinated by what value means to each and every person. And in nearly every instance, it means something different.

    A good example, as I’ve touched on in my ‘ante post ‘22’ diary is the current price differential between Shishkin & Energumene for next year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase - it fascinates me. And I know it gets many punters talking. Both horses are rated identical, and yet one horse sits at 6/4 general (though 2/1 is available) and another at 5/1 available at several bookmakers. Both horses have proven they are genuinely a class above their peers, and on several occasions. But the bookmakers don’t have any information nor evidence of Energumene running at Cheltenham yet, on that specific course where Shishkin has once won a race despite looking in desperate trouble before the turn for home, and on the other occasion, hosed up by 12 lengths jogging the final furlong whilst all others are very hard off the bridle.
    So though I’ve heard many conversations about why on earth both horses aren’t sitting around the 5/2 mark currently, the bookmakers have to surely assess what they know currently, and not what they don’t? And with Cheltenham course evidence?

    It’s one that really intrigues me, and I’d love to learn of people’s thoughts.

    As mentioned, I have a very unique approach when it comes to the festival - I hardly place any bets, if at all post Christmas, a few during the preceding Summer, but a very large majority before the festival 12 months in advance of the festival I’m actually wanting to place bets on. It serves me well. And it where I gain (despite 25% of bets being lost, I’m totally at ease with this) tremendous value.

    When it comes to ‘value’ and betting on the festival (say, for 2022), I try to think like this -

    *A fortnight before the 2021 festival, why take 4/9 on Monkfish (eventually went off 1/4) when you can take 8/1 on him winning a Gold Cup just 12 months later? Surely if all evidence and money making him a 4/9 shot over 3 miles and fences, then I don’t want that price. I want the 8/1 (and 12/1 a month earlier) readily available for a year later. We know which race he’s going, and if he’s 4/9 to win an ‘RSA’, surely the 8/1 halves over 5 mins later?

    * The identical same with Shishkin. Why take 1/2 on an Arkle when the 5/1 at the very same time for 12 months later is readily available? We know where he’s going, and we also probably admit to ourselves that Shishkin might even win a Queen Mother a year in, advance if he didn’t run his Arkle. It was a possible result, for sure.

    There are many, many examples of these type of ‘easy win’ bets I feel - Bob Olinger for the Marsh at 25/1 the day he hosed up in the Ballymore, and though I do spend an INCREDIBLE amount of time every day searching for value,most of many months in advance, it admittedly is a bonkers and brave way to do things, but just for me at least, is a sensible way of attaining value.


    So I’m really intrigued - what represents value to people when they are placing a bet? What do they look for? How do they assess if a 1/2 bet is rubbish value, or if that 1/2 bet within days might become a 1/6 price and this attaining 3 times the price?

    I’m fascinated by this subject matter. And will be totally intrigued to learn of everyone’s thoughts.


  • #2
    If you think a horse has a better percentage chance of winning than the odds suggest you are getting value

    Say a horse is 4/1 that suggests if the race is run 50 times it wins 10 of them

    If you think it wins more than the 10 the odds suggests that's value

    If you think it wins less than the 10 that's a poor price

    That is how I think about it in my mind when putting a bet on anyway

    Personally I would almost never back odds on shots and rarely back shorter than 2/1 whether ante post or on the day as I do better in the long run with the horses I like at bigger prices

    I'm happy just to watch them win at short prices
    Last edited by FinalFurlong91; 9 September 2021, 10:57 AM.

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    • #3
      'Value' is a word used by losing punters when convincing themselves afterwards that it was still a good bet.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by archie View Post
        'Value' is a word used by losing punters when convincing themselves afterwards that it was still a good bet.
        Whilst this may be true on occasions. This isn't the definition of value in the context of gambling on horse racing. It may be an example of when the word is used on occasions though.
        Therefore, it's not the best sentence you've ever put up.

        Value is everything.
        But value in race betting terms is often rated by an individuals opinion, based on the evidence (limited or not) they have gathered.
        It's the evidence that is more important than the opinion. And that's the hard part. As there are a lot of factors and grey areas. Which leads to a differing of opinion on value more often than not.

        Value is achieved when a punter backs a selection at odds that are better than the probability of the horse winning the race.
        If you can do this more often than not then you won't be a losing punter.

        And welcome back Envoy !

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        • #5
          'Its only Value if they win' something which stuck with me

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          • #6
            Originally posted by archie View Post
            'Value' is a word used by losing punters when convincing themselves afterwards that it was still a good bet.
            Couldn’t agree more.

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            • #7
              And Envoy.
              The type of bets you're making are based on a contingency factor. In that they will likely only become really good value after another event has gone in your favour.
              They are effectively win doubles in value terms. That don't lose if the first leg dips, but may no longer be as good value.

              So value has to assessed at the prices available to win each event first vs the long term bet.

              What also needs factoring is the loss of value when the contingency race goes against you (like Envoi this year)
              So the strategy has it's own specific risks which will all help to reduce the profitability in the overall method.

              Not saying it's not workable by any means, as value is value. And Good discipline and evidence based selections/stakes is paramount in any strategy.

              Had someone based their long term plans around Shishkin, Envoi Allen & Monkfish last year, then they would be fairly happy post Cheltenham 2021.
              However, had Shishkin faced Energumene and got beat.
              You might have been starting from scratch, with the value harder to find.

              Shishkin 6-4 vs Energumene 5-1

              If they were racing tomorrow at Chetlenham or anywhere over 2 miles on good to soft ground. I'd say Energumene is value, and I'd bet accordingly.
              However, that's not the case and lots of other factors then come into this.
              Therefore I'd say it's close to being about right although I'd have Shiskin a bit bigger, as it seems too short for a horse that hasn't stepped out of Novice company yet. IMO

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Run4Home View Post
                'Its only Value if they win' something which stuck with me
                That's not true though.

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                • #9
                  Was always told a 6/4 winner is better than a 50/1 loser.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by somer1 View Post
                    Was always told a 6/4 winner is better than a 50/1 loser.
                    Not if you've backed it at 50-1 and laid it at 6-4 it isn't.

                    And the old coin toss example.

                    Heads or Tails is even money.

                    If someone offers you 11/10 or more on heads than that is value, and even though you will lose on average 50% of the time, you would be in profit in the long term.
                    And every bet you've made would have been VALUE.
                    And you should be proud of that choice.

                    If you take the 4/6 on Tails.
                    And win, you're a twat.
                    Just a lucky twat.

                    That's value in a nutshell.
                    Not the same in horse racing though as the odds of winning are not always as clear cut as in a coin toss.

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                    • #11
                      I'd expand the definition to "it's only value if you make money out of it". A place at the right ew price or a cash out for profit can be defined as value. A losing bet cannot.

                      In those terms, it can only be a retrospective definition.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by somer1 View Post
                        Was always told a 6/4 winner is better than a 50/1 loser.
                        I hope you didn't pay any attention

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by archie View Post
                          I'd expand the definition to "it's only value if you make money out of it". A place at the right ew price or a cash out for profit can be defined as value. A losing bet cannot.

                          In those terms, it can only be a retrospective definition.
                          Only an idiot would value a bet made, after the result.
                          Value is fluid, and time relevant.

                          My home may be worth ?350k today, but fuck all if it burned down tomotrow.

                          Obviously a lot of bets get burned down.

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by archie View Post
                            I'd expand the definition to "it's only value if you make money out of it". A place at the right ew price or a cash out for profit can be defined as value. A losing bet cannot.

                            In those terms, it can only be a retrospective definition.
                            Thats still not true

                            Thats not what value is

                            Its not just about winning every race its about winning in the long run by backing horses at prices that are too big

                            Whether thats a 10/1 you think should 7/1 or an evs shot you make 4/6

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                            • #15
                              Anetpost: Substantially higher than what I reckon their SP will be on the day (substantial being relative - while Bob Ollinger isn't huge "value", if he does what I think he can, I'd estimate he is very unlike to be 4/1 come Thursday)

                              During the week: Balancing what I deem the likely winner vs their odds as a percentage chance

                              My myopic way of thinking about it

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