Robbie Waterhouse barely needs an introduction.

As well as his own career as a bookmaker he is the son of a legendary bookie, is married to one of Australia's greatest ever trainers and is the father of the CEO of one of Australia's biggest corporate bookmakers. So there's plenty to learn from someone with decades of experience in the racing industry.

Punting Insights

Why the basics of form study have remained the same throughout his career

The relative importance of various form factors such as sectionals, speed maps, weight, jockeys and trainers.

Why he doesn't watch race replays himself but does employ a consultant to do so

The best advice he can give to aspiring punters including recommended reading

Today’s Guest:

Rob Waterhouse

Dave Duffield: Hi, Rob. Thanks for joining us today. I want to have a chat about quite a few things, so we'll get stuck into it right away. In terms of doing the form, are you more from the data and analytical side or is it gut instinct and experience?

Rob Waterhouse: Look, I'm very old fashioned the way I do the form, a la Don Scott. It's the way I've always done it, and the way my father did it. So I'm very much a fundamental analyst, I suppose.

Dave Duffield: And so as new information comes along, how do you try to incorporate that into the way you do the form?

Rob Waterhouse: I'm not sure what you mean by new information. I suppose rider changes, of course you have to make the adjustments and gear changes you have to make adjustments. But I deliberately don't look at what anyone else thinks or what the markets are, virtually until I go to the races.

Dave Duffield: By new information I just mean, technological advancements. It might be speed ratings, sectional data that you can get now, anything like that.

Rob Waterhouse: I've always kept time ratings as well as class ratings, and I've always kept speed ratings. I sort of regard that as being a fairly normal thing to do, rather than the modern-day thing. For 30 years I've kept those three sets of ratings.

Dave Duffield: Quite a few people I've spoken to over the years have had to evolve the way they do the form. You haven't had to make wholesale changes in recent times?

Rob Waterhouse: If I looked back to what I was doing 30 years ago, I don't think it's changed much at all. Perhaps I think some factors are a bit less important than they used to be; other factors are a bit more important. I think I've been pretty constant in the way I've done it.

Dave Duffield: Okay. I'd like to run through a few of those factors then.

Dave Duffield: Sectionals on their own, how important are they in the form that you do?

Rob Waterhouse: I find them of little use to me. I know some people love sectional times, but if the overall race time is slow and the sectional is fast, I think it's of little use. If the sectional is fast and the overall time is fast, that's a good horse. I think the overall time is much more important than the sectional.

Dave Duffield: What about the speed maps themselves? From Gai's perspective, I know she likes them to be up on the speed. Are you the same from a punting or bookmaking perspective?

Rob Waterhouse: I think all analysts and all punters love their horses to be near the lead. The horse that leads wins 25% of races. The closer you are to the lead in a race the more chance you have of winning.

Dave Duffield: How much does that vary by track and just by race shape, say for example if there looks to be a hot speed?

Rob Waterhouse: Look, it does vary by track. At the long straight at Flemington, leaders have less chance than they do at say Moonee Valley. The point is this: you get a better price in the long straight for the leader at Flemington and a much worse price at Moonee Valley. From a punter's point of view, the advantage is always to be on the horse near the pace.

Dave Duffield: Trainers? What importance do they play when,