Punting for profit- what not to do

I'd like to start a thread listing all the things I don't do - list yours maybe we can all learn a thing or two.
1. Don't drink and punt(I have done oodles of profit after winning early in the day and having a celebration)
2. Don't back every race.
3. Don't develop a dislike for any trainer/jockey/horse as this clouds your judgement.
4. Don't back a horse straight out of the maidens.
5. Don't back three-year-olds against their elders over ground early in the season.
6. Don't back horses over ground coming back from a long break.
7. Don't follow stable's/jockeys/horses blindly (loyalty will break your bank)
8. Don't back stable's that are off form - jockeys returning from injuries in their first week or two.
9. Don't listen to oncourse rumours.
10. Don't try to beat every favourite use those that you like to enhance your chances to earn.
11. Don't turn down any chance of a profit no matter how small(call me a fool but I'd rather take 3-10 the fav a place than 5-2 a win)

Thanks Mr H, a bit of a mixed answer

1 I do punt and drink, they are part and parcel of a good day out, but agree more disciline at the house, however I do also drink at the house.

2 Its great not having credit with a bookie deposit what you can afford and play.

3 Dont post on the Forum, gave my selections for 2 days favs fell or ran second, yesterday said nothing and the money on shots came home lonely, best day for ages.

4 watch the money on Interbet, very good guide

5 Agree never punt every race, still find it madness the way the tellytrack guys talk about playing P6/Jackpots/exotics/flat/jumps/harness, impossible
Select your 3 or 4 for the day have a bet win/lose/draw dont chase, there is always options the following day.

Its a lot easier to post than stick to the 3 D's Discipline/Discipline/Discipline

the three P's Profit/Profit/Profit (my new mantra) as opposed to my previous one Risk/Risk/Risk.
I'm having one bet today maybe 5-10 a tote place. Studied the race cannot make it a win bet (struggling maiden but youg horse so it should still have room to improve)

Don't take bets on the UK with SA bookies, the prices are a joke to say the least.

Personally I pretty much only back horses in the 4/1 - 10/1 band, pick races when the fav. looks out and try maintain a strike rate above 15%, it works for me.

Anything over 10/1 tend to back them a win and place.

Nice posting Mr H, I have printed a A0 poster with your eleven commandments and stuck it up in my study....

When it comes to point 4 especially I think that a distinction between plate races and handicaps needs to be made. There can be value in low rated horses on handicap debut, especially for place, swinger etc purposes. Do not be married to the notion that maiden plates are ALWAYS the weakest races. Handicaps level the playing field to a great degree, even with all the restrictions and rules that the system has been lumbered with in SA.

Oh I forgot to add NEVER follow any of your own rules religiously(One of my biggest wins - a % of a P6 worth 800k ) was made up on the spur of the moment flounting almost all of my own rules!! (I just got a feeling to take one maybe only the second P6 i'd ever taken - one of my rules was never take a P6!!!)
Sometimes a little bit of insanity can yield results!!

Found following Claiming /Maiden winners moving into poor quality Handicaps quite profitable..

The Golden Rule- never say never and never say always!

trust your instincts...

Always stick to your first choice..

Don't expect to make a profit every day you punt; know when to quit (especially if you're behind); never be scared to sacrifice some potential profit to cover bets.

I agree with Mr H in a sense, smaller more regular 'wins' is the way to go.

But I still keep chasing that big P6; otherwise it just gets too boring being so disciplined all the time.