Do Your Own Ratings

Category	Question	Answer	Scoring	Score
Class	Has your horse won or placed in a race of this class or above in the last 12 months? (By 'class', I refer to the grade of the race: 'A', 'B', 'C' etc.)	Won	3
		Placed	2
		Neither	0
Course	Has your horse won or placed on this course or one with similar characteristics in the last 12 months? For similar courses please refer to the appropriate track matrix: Flat or NH (these will open in new windows).	Won here	3
		Won on similar	2
		Placed here	2
		Placed on similar	1
		Neither	0
Distance	Has your horse won or placed over today's distance in the last 12 months?	Won	3
		Placed	1
		Neither	0
Recent Form	Has your horse finished within half a length per furlong of the winner in either of its last two runs? (e.g. if its last race was over 8f answer 'yes' if within 4l).	Yes	2
		No	0
Speed	Has your horse registered an adjusted Topspeed rating for today's race, which is no lower than 75% of the highest rating for the race? (Topspeed is prepared by Dave Edwards in the Racing Post).	Yes	2
		No	0
Going	Has your horse won or placed on today's going in the last 12 months?	Won	2
		Placed	1
		Neither	0
Draw	Does it look like your horse will be inconvenienced by the draw in today's race?	Yes	0
		No	1
Fitness	Has your horse run within the last 50 days?	Yes	1
		No	0
First-time aids	Is your horse wearing blinkers/visor for the first time?	Yes	0
		No	1
Jockey	Has today's jockey won or placed on your horse before?	Yes	1
		No	0
Trainer	Has the trainer had 3 horses placed in the last 14 days?	Yes	1
		No	0
When you have calculated the score for your horse, multiply by 5 to get a rating out of 100. A horse rating 100 must have an outstanding chance of winning today. Without being over-scientific, if the rating is not over 50, a bet would look risky. It is also a good idea to rate the other leading contenders in the race to see how your selection compares. This is by no means a definitive method, but it will help highlight the areas of study on which to concentrate. With a little practice, you will be able to do this instinctively. Once you are happy, it is then time to calculate the value of your bet to see whether an investment is wise (see Getting Value)