Hi Feather,
Melb. was 'slow', That's the problem with pp odds. Not much help in the wet as they are all over the show and next to useless. Then there are the scratchings to stuff them up further.

Your right about the system needing a bit of work. 3rd. or 4th start in might be worthwhile if I reduce the age to 5yrs. and add a distance rule that works with 3rd or 4th up. It all fits together in Handicapping terms. I've thrown in a bit of an early form clause for one of the 2 or 3 starts from a spell for good measure.

Days since last start was designed to avoid large class jumps from country to city but on reflection the odds priceline rule takes care of that, so that rule is now changed.
Obviously the system can be used any day of the week now so that is a bonus.

....................Newspaper and Coffee......................

1) No Maidens, 2yr. olds, hurdles, stakes, cups, or group races.
2) 1100m to 1850m for C2 and up races only.
3) 3 to 5yr olds racing on a good track only.
4) No more than 100m down in distance or won at distance if up.
5) Pe-post on the first 3 betting lines only [newspaper or whatever].
6) Must be the 3rd or 4th start in from a spell and won or placed in at least 1 of them.
7) Last start 16 days or less.
8) Must have won at the track or distance [+/- 50m].
9) If more than 1 selection choose the lower TAB number.

Cheers.