I definitely also agree that gear has a significant impact.

It's interesting to note the worse the class of race, the more gear changes seem to be applied.

I've posted it before, but I found this article to be extremely useful.

http://www.justracing.com.au/thoroughbreds.php?catid=26

If you like a particular commodity, it's always worthy to check for any significant gear changes.

A contributor last year advised never to back horses with bar plates in the wet for instance.

If you check out trainers on the R & S website, there is a stat down the bottom showing how their horses go first up with blinkers.

Thanks wesmip1 for again adding some food for thought. You have the technical nous that can only be good for us old school punters.

Keep up the the work and have a cracking Saturday one and all!

The Schmile