I totally agree Chrome Prince, but it works both ways, e.g. if someone puts on a message that could be termed as 'provocative' then there is a strong chance someone will respond in as equally a 'provocative' manner and then the bun fight starts, usually until a moderator steps in.

As you've learnt CP, as anyone who has a few years of experience of the punt has learnt in all probability as well, there are many paths to Damascus and what may work for some will not work with others, meaning that no one can rule out (or rule in) any particular system, method or any other way of profiting from horse racing.

P57's longshot system obviously works for him/her while your systems work for you just as my ratings work for me as they do for other rating devotees.

Following the crowd is not necessarily bad if you can beat the crowd to the punch in obtaining value.

As an illustration of how different people using the same information can end up with very different outcomes: recently two friends of mine in using the same ratings ended up with one winning and one losing.

The latter simply bet the top-rated selection only to win and lost, while the former bet up to four horses per race as a Dutch Book and won - the difference between the one winning and the one losing was substantial.

The loser could well have adopted an attitude that the ratings were a load of crap, but that wasn't the case as it was more one of knowing the product and adapting an approach that benefited from the product, which was indeed the approach adapted by the one who won.

Sometimes the top-rated selection is NOT the BEST selection to have a wager on