Darky.

No, it just complicates things for no practical reasons whatsoever [unless your system revolves around running style and field strength of course ]. Swings and slides come into play regarding filtering in general, and to achieve a better POT from a system using more filters can decrease the number of bets to the point that they no longer represent the majority of them.

With specific regard to running style and field strength, I'd point out that if a good system throws up a selection it is showing that it's running style and field strength are doing fine thank you, or it wouldn't be a selection.

The first question that affects filter numbers that I would ask myself would be: 'How many bets a week I am happy restricting myself too and especially on Saturday '?
The second question would be with regard to what $$$ amount per selection am I comfortable outlaying ? Too few bets would require too large an outlay for the same profit so I need a minimum of about 25 bets a week with about 6 or 7 on Saturday for the system to stay viable and maintain my interest. We all have to set our own comfort zones in this area however, so maybe more or even less filters would be required but avoid filters that do what another make unnecessary. An obvious eg. would be: 1. No maiden races. 2. Must have won it's last start. etc.

As I have my system now, if a selection makes it through to the betting stage it already has a top chance of winning with the filters I already have in place. The variables that are left are mostly in the hands of the gods or represent poor handicapping benefits anyway and further filters would only leave me wondering what day or perhaps even what week it will be before I can actually have a bet. We all know what happens when we put ourselves in that situation.

Cheers.



[ This Message was edited by: crash on 2004-01-02 13:37 ]