partypooper, you're one of those who's posts I've read and taken on board. What is it that you mean "by default", and a little proof too so that I can understand where you're coming from.

By default means to me, an opportunity that fell into my lap when I wasn't lookingh that way. If that's the essence of your post then you are 100% correct.

I guess the more work you do, and the more open minded to anything you are ..... the luckier you get. I'm not suggesting throwing a dart here, or using just one rule. I think fitness is paramount, understanding the uniqueness of each horse, of each race, and dismissing all those things that others take as gospel, 'coz they have to be overbet and under the odds. Some of the comments of the "experts" in the papers are so underwhelming on some runners throughout the day, uyou'd swear they were trying to put people off. eg; this horse has failed over this distance before ..... simple throw away line BUT.

1) fitness ..... add too many more rules to this and you'll end up with what everyone else ends up with.