Betting on big days, such as the upcoming Durban July, is akin to being at a buffet feast. There is so much on offer to tempt us that indigestion is a common consequence.

Likewise, undisciplined bettors who dive indiscriminately into every betting pool may also be left with an uncomfortable feeling afterwards.

The act of betting is deeply personal so any advice, no matter how well intentioned, can miss the mark entirely. That said, a few basic guidelines may help avoid an unhappy ending and instead prompt an enjoyable/profitable day @ Greyville.

The P6 pools are heavily marketed, and the prospect of a life changing score beckons. But these are low probability, all- or- nothing bets and allocating too big a proportion of your daily loss limit to such a difficult to hit wager is misguided.

If you’ve got good opinions in at least three of the six Legs, then fashioning a lean and assertive ticket around your strongest convictions makes sense.

If it all just looks too difficult/costly, the options are either to abstain, or take Jackpots instead, as there are far fewer combinations to cover than in the P6.

Be aware that going “obvious- to- obvious” is not going to cut it – you need to throw out a vulnerable favourite or two along the way to make Jackpots worthwhile.

Big fields are enticing for single race exotic players chasing Trifecta and Quartet riches. Haphazard spreading is not the key to success though, as these pools are more efficient nowadays than they used to be, and the 25% take out tax remains hard to overcome.

Keys/bankers are needed to reduce the cost of these bets to manageable limits and whilst going wider in the lower slots is reasonable, you generally need to focus on something specific happening in the top positions to make it rewarding relative to outlay.

Horseplayers who love taking multiples are in their element on July Day. There are so many opportunities across the card to hitch up high class, fit and well- intentioned horses to Win and Place. The frustration comes when one horse lets you down and it blows out all the other sharp work. But, if you get the sequences and combos to somehow click right, a handsome pay day can ensue.

Fixed odds punters are often amazed at the stretches on these big days, especially if they are going for horses other than hot favourites. Whilst those market springers tend to shorten significantly with the weight of money they carry, the prices of less popular picks can balloon closer to the off.

As always, Interbet will offer the full range of fixed odds, multiple and Tote bets. There will also be special previews, offers and price boosts during the build up to the 6th July showdown.

Be sure to check out the Interbet website for further details. Then dive into the pools and markets that best suit your pocket, gambling temperament and skill level.