Strange question, but with most shops now offering best odds guaranteed is there any advantage anymore to backing a horse early at Betfair? I think in the long run you're probably best off taking the odds with the bookies and if the horse increases in price you get that; if it decreases you get the higher price.
There were 3 races I bet early at BF for Goodwood that I could have gotten better odds had I wagered at William Hill or Bet365.
I backed Namibian ew yesterday with 365 at 8/1. On the show, it opened 9/1, went 10/1 and finished up at 7/1. So, no, it's not as clear-cut as you make it sound. It's all about timing and guessing what the market will do, at the end of the day. Namibian went 13 on BF. Even at 11's, I would have been better off going Win Only on BF, risking only 0.7pts instead of a total of 1.4pts. However, if the insurance of the place is important to you, I couldn't have beaten the 2/1 I got from 365; it was never better on BF, even when they bet 10/1 on course.
If your happy to bet win only, it's difficult to beat BF, but I wouldn't say early is when to get the best price.
Similarly, I backed Song of Parkes at 10/1 ew, and you could never get 5/2 the place on here, although the market was distorted by being 4 places v 3 places with the bookmakers.
I backed Namibian ew yesterday with 365 at 8/1. On the show, it opened 9/1, went 10/1 and finished up at 7/1. So, no, it's not as clear-cut as you make it sound. It's all about timing and guessing what the market will do, at the end of the day. Namib