I'll take a stab.

Look at what the trainer is doing with the horse.
Has it got gear on, gear off.
Has it been trialled.
Has he entered in duplicate races and scratched it for this.
Has he entered any other stable runners.
Is he repeating a successful lead up last season.
Is he putting on a jockey who won a few starts back.
Has he for some reason dramatically changed the horse's distance.
Is he gradually reducing or increasing distance.
Is he gradually increasing the grade, or is he massively jumping grade.

What's the market saying?

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