People are always crowing on about ’systems’ for backing winners. Most of them are completely useless and have as much chance of success as the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest! writes Elliot Slater.

There is though one tried and tested rule that year after year can help punters in their ongoing battle to get the better of those bookie chaps. If punters latch on to an up-and-coming trainer or jockey before they hit the headlines and become ‘fashionable’, there is every reason to believe that a sound profit can be shown, perhaps even at high-profile meetings like Cheltenham

Amongst the eye-catching conditional jockeys this season, Peter Toole has been worth his weight in gold, riding plenty of winners at decent prices and making the most of his now 5lb allowance. In the training ranks, Paul Midgely did particularly well during 2009 and looks one to follow again next season, particularly with his sprint handicappers. In National Hunt racing, Martin Keighley is a man you should take a close look at, if you haven’t already.

The former David Nicholson jockey and work rider has based his string at Condicote in Gloucestershire and so far this term has a tremendous 30% strike rate with his chasers, and a more than respectable 18% strike rate with his hurdlers. The talented Warren Marston has ridden most of Keighley’s winners and the pairing boast a £55 profit to level stakes this season.

Now, people are beginning to sit up and take notice of Martin Keighley. News broke earlier this week that no less than the Princess Royal is to send three horses to be guided by Keighley and it must be long odds-on that plenty of other decent horses will follow.

If he continues in the same vein as the last 12 months, Martin Keighley, whose Wolf Moon is being targeted at the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, could very soon be a name on everyone’s lips.