Akin to the forum hoodoo (we post system selections or tips which have worked well on paper, but as soon as we post them for all to see, it falls over in a screaming heap) I have noticed a trend on highlighted horses by The Sportsman.

It would seem that whatever horse they highlight on their front page, more often than not puts in a shocking run.
It might be interesting if anyone has back issues to post results of their front page "specials".

Dash For Cash this week - UNPLACED

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Treat your selection and staking methods not with optimism, nor with pessimism, but with realism.

Your observation is well noted in a system I saw some years ago .

The idea is to create a stable of front page runners to be followed for 3 starts not including the day the horse appears on the front cover.

They claimed a very high strike rate at very good odds

Check it out.

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Cheers.

Thanks Bhagwan,

Now that's some food for thought!

I never heard of that system before but I guess it relies on the fact that the front page specials don't do so well the weekend they are "touted".

i have found i have a tendency to view past results more positively than they really are. in practice much more patience is needed to follow a system whereas checking past results tends to imply a more positive strike rate.
a bit like the anti-cyclical investment theory. when the papers start to tout it, its time to leave.