A strategy is a general plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim whilst a system is a fixed set of rules.

The Racing Horse bins all betting advice systems and strategies found in our inbox in 0.027 seconds - sometimes quicker! Very few deserve scrutiny as most are not fit for purpose. They tend to enlist flawed or less important features supplying false credence, others are bogus procuring false hope, whilst there are those designed by authors who seek to raise their own profiles. Our best advice is find an affordable and sensible information source and filter from there.

The Racing Horse uses a strategy and systems but both are borne out of the same progenitor. The essential and common sense rationale of our Pacafi has stood the test of time and make up the four corners of our betting slip. This raison d’être was essential in 1950, vital now and will be relevant in 2029.

We take this opportunity to reaffirm the quadripoints in order of importance! They are:

1: TRAINER FORM

2: REQUISITE CLASS

3: OPTIMUM GROUND CONDITIONS

4: JOCKEY COMPETENCE

Proven mathematical laws are the governing force of horse racing betting and it must be reasonable to accept/acknowledge current trainer statistics and the mathematics that accompany them. What logical reason is there for anyone to back a horse when the trainer is out of form? Trainer form is a decisive and indicative test and removes a concatenation of random factors, opinion and bias. In a general sense it confirms/proves the well-being of the stable’s horses delivering an up to the minute litmus test on readiness to run well. Conversely, and assuming one does not have specific inside information which contains an edge, backing the horses of trainers on the cold list is unwise. 

There are times when a trainer's horses are returning to form but without winning, so his/her 7% strike rate mean they can fly under the radar, at least as far as most punters are concerned. On those occasions we will get involved as long as there is perceived value attached. This is not a contradiction to the views expressed above. VALUE IS EVERYTHING IN BETTING, or at least perceived value is because no one can say for sure what value is at any given time and not even a bookmaker!

There are any amount of random factors that can affect a result and it takes small margins to win most races. These issues are more likely to be compounded if the horse is not fully wound up or prepared! Furthermore, if one accepts that handicap racing forms more than half of all races on the cards of UK race meetings, a few pounds of improvement or decay can mean the difference between winning and finishing down the field.

Each horse has a potential ability level, whether they achieve that is another matter. The better the horse is trained and looked after the more it is likely to achieve, but it is accepted that genetics and skeletal soundness are factors outside the trainer’s remit. Finding the bandwidth to which each horse can aspire needs the trainer to be totally in tune with his charge and, whilst some achieve, most fail in this regard. Based on this incongruity we only trust recent form.

Unless we have a clear edge or trustworthy information we tend to put a line through Class 5, 6 & 7 Handicaps. Our preferred option on the Flat is backing 3yos in non-handicap races, our Racecourse Template Data prove this is the best frequency for our style of betting.

We were fortunate to spend the day with Monty Roberts (The Horse Whisperer) where he gave us the benefit of his profound knowledge. One area included the ground conditions where he reminded us that every horse ever been born or ever will be born, has optimum ground and racing conditions. The onus rests solely on the bettor to find out before making an investment what that is!

Some racing people/trainers including trainers like Mick Channon for example, irrationally spout good horses go on any ground – they do not, some just handle it better or have something in hand of their rivals - it is not the same thing! A problem for systems is they are unlikely to recognise/weigh/measure optimum or deteriorating conditions against the class the horses are racing in! Lots of bets are lost before the race has even started!

Let's suppose our intended wager has a tick in every box and a winning chance looks obvious, why would anyone compromise the bet once the horse arrives at the course after weeks/months of schooling/training? Trainers are not duty bound to give the ride to the best jockey available! They might use an apprentice, someone who is contracted, rides work or a favoured son. The owner might have input or the decision might be political. But the bettor has no such restrictions. It is impossible to measure or be scientific about the importance of jockey-ship, but they are the trainer’s connection/conduit to the horse and it is often their split-second decisions that ultimately dictate the result and our profit and loss.

The quadripoints listed probably represent 90%+ in importance towards a winning bet. Of course stable shenanigans, course configuration, draw and track bias, pace in the race, distance, weight, breeding and more can influence the result, but the big four represents a core and serious starting point to any bet. This is where we part with most systems and strategies!

The Racing Horse can no longer imagine placing a bet without all of the four corner elements satisfied. Why invite negative influences to a betting slip?

 The Pacafi remains the cornerstone of our site but recognise it does not suit the vast majority of bettors. We do not attempt to sell it because the average joe is not interested in incremental gains, the members we have find us and accept our modus operandi.

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