The Tipsters Toolbox
If you’ve ever wondered what tools a horse racing tipster uses – then it’s time to take a look!
Ican’t speak for every horse racing tipster out there but I’m sure, like me, many enter the eternal battle against the bookies armed with a set of tools that give them the maximum chance of picking winners and making a profit.
SPEED RATINGS
Whether you want to compile your own,or use one of the many services out there such as Timeform, it’s good to have speed-ratings that give you a good indication of how fast a horse can run. However, it’s not quite as easy as simply picking the horse that has the fastest rating, as you must factor in what effect criteria such as the going or the draw may have had on past performances,and what they may have on the race you’re looking at. I especially like speed-ratings in races where you have one or more consistent front-runners in the line-up, as you can often rule out several runners who have failed to run that fast in the past.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Looking back through previous races to make your own formbook is always a good idea, but it’s pointless if you don’t understand weights and measures. The handicapper allots each horse a rating, and these are used in handicaps.The different weights each horse carries are meant to bring them closer together,so its paramount that you understand how many lengths each pound a horse carries equates to over certain distances.
STATISTICS
No statistic is ever set in stone, and patterns are frequently changing. However, some races throw-up very similar win- ners time and time again regarding weights-carried, age and draw. Checking back through the archives can also show which trainers have decent records in certain races. In many instances, these statistics can help you narrow down the field to a select band of horses.
VIDEO ARCHIVES
Watching a race once is likely to leave you with just one impression, usually of the horse that you had your money on. However,watch a race back several times and you will likely notice several instances that may have cost a horse a length here or a length there, and that could make all the difference next time if the same mistakes or misfortune can be avoided.
TRACKERS
One of the best tools of recent times is the Tracker, and this tool is perfect for making notes about horses and their ideal conditions. Of course, you can also program a tracker to notify you when a horse is running,which can save you a lot of valuable time. You can also see your notes and, if the horse has its perfect conditions, then you just have to check its opponents haven’t got an even better chance of winning.
JUDGEMENT
Whilst everyone can use the tools highlighted above, there’s no doubt that the best tool of all is your own judgement. Speed ratings tell you how fast a horse can run, but not how fast a race will be run.Weights and measures tell you which horses are well-handicapped but not whether the trainer is in good enough form for his horse to take advantage. Statistics offer a guide, but it’s the person who can recognise the new pattern that’s forming that will gain a value-angle. Meanwhile, anyone can watch a winner on a video archive, but spotting the unlucky horses is the way to picking future winners.
Luckily, at Betting Gods there are a stable of successful tipsters who back their judgement with their money, and yours if you let them. So, if you like to bet – bet like a Betting God!