Free horse racing tips and Oz Idol boost bankroll

Thanks to our guest tipster Grant Stockwell who joined aussiepunt on Friday, the bankroll has taken a healthy rise.

We also collected on Australian Idol last night, predicting Stan would outlast Sabrina - yes, I know, it was like tipping the league leader to knock over the favourite for the wooden spoon, but we'll take the $1.60 with sheepish glee.

Stocky, Brisbane's racing correspondent for Australian Associated Press newswire, gave us four tips - two best and two each way.

At aussiepunt, we suggested 10% of our bankroll on each of Grant's four tips. Things weren't looking real good when Grant's best bet was caught well behind the running of the race before hoop Craig Williams managed to make a late run down the short straight.

The horse didn't win but it's definitely one to watch, particularly if it can get an extra 200m or so on Friday night's 1200m run.

His next best was in the first at Randwick - still no joy.

But then things started to happen with his two each way chances both running first past the post. Little Surfer Girl in the third at Randwick paid a very nice $10.50 for the win and $3 for the place. That meant a return of $67.50 on a $10 investment.

McClintock in the fifth paid a little more modest $4.60 and $2.15, making way for a $33.75 return.

Add that to a $32 return from the Idol bet.

That meant our total $100 bankroll rose nicely to $173.25, up 73.25% in seven days.

Thanks Stocky, you are a champion!

Feel free to follow aussiepunt's ups and downs, whether or not you decide to follow our tips. We'll certainly tell it how it is warts and all. Our formula is simple: We'll put 20% of our total bankroll on a good thing, 10% on a good chance with some value, and 5% on a speculator.

Some punting sites charge for tips. We will never do that here.

* Be sure to punt for fun and don't outlay more than you can afford.