Help with placing quick bets through API

[tsunamijon]

Generally, I'm trying to follow this pre-event strategy and automate it:

1) Find out the exact time when a market opens
2) Place a bet immediately (according to certain criteria, e.g. only in certain markets, lets say only at certain racecourses)
3) Ensure my bet is first in-line (if not, how much is up before mine)

My main questions is:

How best to execute this strategy?
Quickest way?
Hardware?
Software?
Operating system?
Code/Script?
Internet connection?

From what I understand, using the Gruss Betting Assistant, I can access the API and automate such a strategy using a script in Excel/VBA. But I'm not sure if this is the quickest way to execute my strategy, and how i can improve the speed and efficiency of placing the bets. Is Excel the only way it can be automated? Do other pieces of software offer other methods over the Gruss Betting Assistant? Sorry for all the questions! Any help much appreciated,

Thanks,
Jon

[Captain Sensible]

3) Ensure my bet is first in-line (if not, how much is up before mine)

Alot depends on how important 3 is. If you're looking to get yourself at the front of the queue laying the 1.01's you've probably missed the boat as the 1.01 slot seems to be filled as soon as the market goes up.

If speed is the main criteria you need to look at a vps connection close to the exchange and get a bespoke app written or code something yourself.