"Everything," was the simplest answer he knew of to start with. "It's not just about this race or the hippogriffs," Blaise started, taking a drink. "You have to know about their pasts as well, if you want a winning chance." A grin spread his lips.
"Hippogriffs are also proud and feisty, as you know, so the jockeys matter too. If a hippogriff is new, you shouldn't pick it. It's harder to win money on one that's well favored, even if it does win more." Blaise shrugged and stood, giving one last glance to the empty track.
"Follow me," he said a bit sneakily as he started off in the way Theodore had entered. After going up some steps, he led the way to the betting booth but didn't step up right away. "Put money on numbers 2 and 7, a quiniela," Blaise ordered, not overly commanding, just more of a suggestion for him to start out with.