[QUOTE=DR RON]
1. lots of 7 8 9 or zeros in form
2. unfashionable jockey or trainer
3. WIDE BARRIER
4. SUPPOSEDLY unsuitable distance/going/track
5. not in most favoured column of tipsters panel

My tongue-in-cheek response to these factors is:
1. The trainer's a ********** - he/she's been running it cold
2. Both the trainer and jockey are ************
3. All the jockeys inside the winner were incompetent
4. The trainer doesn't have a clue what his horse really wants
5. The tipster's seeing-eye dog pee'd on the selections before publication

Hmmm, we might have to try that one day.

Okay, I've been going through the last few months form guides looking for an angle on the tipster polls. I decided to look at ALL of the top 3 in the most favoured column of the Friday Courier Mail and then apply some strict rules that I like to use in my other systems. It did very well in the test period but I think I'm going to have to look at it some more before I could be confident that I have something to go on. I'll see if it comes up with any selections this week.