Interesting conundrum for the pre race experts

Its called discipline, temping though those bets were, I doubt professional punters would get involved. They are always looking for an edge using their inside knowledge. We as punters do the best we can, my edge is a contact in Ireland with racing connections and my experience acquired over 45 years. In the 90's I used to run horse racing tipping competitions with about 12 punters entering (one tip a day for 100 days, one comp per NH & Flat season). I used to analysis all the results in an Excel spreadsheet and try and apply trends to by betting.

Grouping the prices as follows: Odds on, Evens to 15/8, 2/1 to 9/2, 5/1 to 17/2, 9/1 to 14/1, 15/1 to 22/1, 23/1 & above. The most profitable was Evens to 15/8, followed by 5/1 to 17/2. The least successful was Odds on and then 15/1 to 22/1. A few trends I noticed was that all punters seemed to pick winners in little runs of form and when the ground stayed consistent during the flat season lots of short priced winners won. Things are very different nowadays (especially with smaller fields and watering in the flat season) but I suspect Evens to 15/8, 2/1 would still be the most profitable group.

Looking at the spreadsheet it was between 1988-95.

Thx for the comments Storm Alert,as u say it is tempting to back these short priced horses,although I thought the mention two horse were good things I didn’t back them as I had been burnt getting involved the previous week on two shorties ridden by Tudhope.
After having a good two months betting I seemed have struck a flat spot last 2/3 weeks so I thought to stop betting and just observe.

Interesting SA. I haven't run the numbers, although I could do as I have a record of every bet I've made going back years, but I have a strong sense that the least profitable grouping would be 2/1 to 9/2. Alongside that and related to it, is an instinct to be wary of horses that I sense should be much shorter than they actually are. Value is rarely so obvious..

My own data, covering a period in 2022 and apool of a few thousand races, revealed that the most profitable price range was between evens and 4/1 - for LAYING purposes - at BF lay prices

Henry Longfellow 5/4 watch race like a professional or back,think it’s gona win

Potts said only  a few weeks ago that an even money winner only pays for one loser.  Look at if you backed  the last 4 favs at Ffos Las yesterday. 2 winners but you are losing money.  Laying isn't easy either. It's all judgement on how good is the fav NOW ( last run may signal improvement ) and if the opponents are a good deal worse. Lurking among the deadwood could be a backclass horse ( watch late market ) or lightly raced improver. If they are all exposed deadwood the fav will likely shorten.

Yes Howard,and I am sure he knows what he is talking about,but it’s so tempting.

Anyone any good would have been on the 2 mentioned by OP at Evens.

TTT both 3 yr olds with a big WFA advantage

Biggest issue I have these days is reading the movement. There was a time when positives were good, drifters were bad. Many of my losers these days have been longer at some point, and my 10 biggest winners this year have started longer than the price I took. Driving me mad!