Hi Barny,

Apologies if my initial post in this thread was a bit over the top.

I am wondering though, why you didn't at least have a look at Garyf's offer of the wizard ratings for Eagle Farm on Saturday, as in this race it did have the winner as 3rd top pick, streets ahead of the bookies openers. Are you not curious?

Ratings can be used like gear changes, stewards reports or any other angle that could possibly highlight a runner that is undervalued in the market.

Granted, they will rarely outperform the bookies openers race to race but if you follow bookies openers blindly every race you will also head on a one way track to the poorhouse.

Without wanting to degenerate into a petty argument, my genuine question is:
Were you actually seeking an answer to your initial query or were you just having a crack at followers of ratings?

I thought all I did was put an opinion forward ..... I'll go back to the sandpit now.

Hi Barny & garyf,

The answer is there is not ONE only holy grail!

Each of you have your own method to eke out a profit - salutations to you both!

Many of us are hopefully down the right path to doing the same. I have looked at the El Greco rating method (with modifications) recently with some amazing results albeit last weekend was a loser.

Last start winners, and horses resuming or having had 1, 2 or 3 starts from a spell are also giving great returns (with the right elimination rules -haha).

I hope you guys continue to have healthy debates and keep educating all and sundry!

TTA, thanks, it's not too hard to see that garyf is a scientific analyst of the horses. His posts are insightful and have helped me tremendously, but like most things in ,life there's always another way to skin a goat. I've got one system that just keeps winning, year in year out, go back 100 years and it would win. It's been discussed on here in general terms, and one of our better posters wondered if horses are subject to the Peter principle, promoted beyond their ability. They are! Horses can strike a rare vein of form, that's the time to get them, their momentum can get them up in races where they're "out of their class" (anyone define class in ADVANCE of a horses record ????). The old adage that winners keep winning is true to form, combine that with the Peter principle and you have a couple of strong elements of a winning system.

Forget winning form in GR2 races and higher .....

I do accept that garyf got his knickers in a twist when he realised he was putting forward facts to back his argument against an opinion, an opinion nonetheless gained through years of experience, meticulous record keeping, and an unerring sense of how the odds can be manipulated, but still an opinion. garyf offered up "you can decide who to believe", well I actually voted for garyf myself ..... lol.

..... backgammon is a great game and long hose with shorts will make a comeback !!!!!

Perhaps, my friend Barny, you should change your CP to 'The Riddler'........:D

" long hose with shorts will make a comeback "

Mine never went away.

It is necessary to incorporate Roman sandals with that attire.