No1 wins: 10261
No2 wins: 8644
No3 wins: 7408
No4 wins: 6463

Bit hard to work out average price for the above[?], but I bet they all show a small loss.

What about No. 1 when it's a favorite [only] and ridden by D. Beadman in Syd. metro:-)?

Perhaps the 20% strike rate was in reference to races in which number 1 was not scratched? In that sample of 103,000 where #1 won 16% of them, perhaps the remaining 4% were races from which it was scratched?

Duritz!
I did a quick query only, what I was looking at were the TAB results only. Now I added the scratchings as well.
All races including non handicap races!

If the Tab No1 was scratched then
Races 63017 wins 10785

If the Tab No2 was scratched then
Races 63396 wins 9405

If the Tab No3 was scratched then
Races 63365 wins 8138

If the Tab No1 was scratched then
Races 63409 wins 7345

The trend is clear No.1 wins more often the rest.
I did not check the ave. divi, I may do it later.

SORRY folks "WAS" should read "WAS NOT" scratched, I hope you have more sense than I do!
Also Tab No.4 it is, following Tab No.3 not No.1
good luck with your projects!

Thankyou Marcus, my pontifications have been recindered, and my astletations much alleviated.

Duritz, sounds like were on the same medication !

Marcus25, great stuff this, it's amazing to think that 1 race in 3 is won by no 1 or 2.

Just as a matter of interest can your box of tricks tell what was the AVERAGE no of runners in each race over that test?

System as I see it so far
Handicaps only.
bet no 1 & 2
Providing that
(a) was within 3.5 lengths of the winner last start
(b) racing within 21 days OR 1st up over 1200m OR less)
(c) is quoted 1st, 2nd or 3rd Fav in the pre-post market)

Ditto!

Can do all of that party, except (c), I am afraid you would have to look at that info yourself from race to race on the day, unless you know someone who kept records of it, and is willing to share it with us. Even so, it would depend which prepost market you are looking at.
If instead, the starting price would be OK, I do have that.
As to 1 race in three won by the 1 & 2 I can only call them as I see them. I suppose I could print out the results or turn them into a spreadsheet (not really good at that) for other people to check the accuracy.
Just for interest
All races
No1 wins 16043
No2 wins 13774
No3 wins 12070
No4 wins 10740
No5 wins 9514
No6 wins 8706
No7 wins 7025
No8 wins 6049
No9 wins 5125
No10 wins 4099
Does not take scratching or field sizes into account.

Cheers

And the word "astletation", Crash - I made that word up. It doesn't really exist.