Inside information

Maybe the merit rating system is open to manipulation by trainers

Bunks, I don't back abroad, even in the UK, but from what I remember and from threads here there is vastly superior reporting in the press, many many many more trainer websites giving out info etc. The biggest factor here though is perhaps perception. Racing is I believe, at least for the most part, trusted in most countries, and that is evidently not the case in SA... why??? and why do so few appear to want to do anything about it?

Anyway, pet subject/hatred of mine so before I go on n on, let me leave the room...

Bunks wrote: For the guys that punt overseas, particularly the UK, are there more transparency than here?
And if so, in which way?

Bunks - as I punt almost exclusively in the UK (and mostly just to alleviate boredom as I am first and foremost a sports player) I will attempt to answer your question :

I find UK racing more varied and ENTERTAINING. The courses differ markedly, the disciplines differ & it is altogether more engaging. I find it exceptionally difficult to get excited about the Vaal Sand, Durban & PE polytracks & Durbanville.

There is a steady stream of accurate BASIC information to work off from any number of sources. I normally listen to William Hill Radio streaming whilst playing. Often I will learn something that will prompt me not to bet rather than procede with my fancy. It appears to me that a lot of effort and ongoing research goes into the work done by the majority of pundits.

I have also, by paying LARGE 'school fees', found that there are certain races best avoided from a punting perspective. In no particular order they are :

Most races of between 1000m - 1200m which appear to me throw up the highest number of 'results'. Handicap steeple chases of 5,000m +.

On the other hand I find flat races from 1600m upwards will provide a steady stream of winning results for me. Likewise most hurdle races.

The most important issue appears to me to be the strength of the actual market. I follow the visual betting indexes and these are close to deadly in saving me from wasting funds on unfancied runners. Importantly - my golden rule is that I do not allow myself to profit off backing favourites. At best I will recover my stake if a winning favourite arrives but I only take the real punt on longer priced horses.

Further to the last statement as an example ; We often have hurdle races with small fields where the market suggests only two can win. I will back the longer priced runner for the money and 'get out' on the favourite. It sometimes kills me to do this but it quickly becomes amazing just how many unbeatable favorites do get rolled. As we all have known since day 1 - about 65% of them!

If it were not for UK racing I doubt whether I would even turn on Tellytrack. Hopefully in the future good, stable HD streaming will make this a reality.Comparatively our local presentation is exceptionally poor; starting off with the use of slang, poor grammar, mixed metaphors and more 'ums' and 'ers' than you can count. And don't even get me started on the pronunciation of horse names. Latest example - last week a horse with the name Thames ( you know; the river in London ) was pronounced Tay-mees by the resident illiterate........ and still they all fancy themselves as budding stand up comedians!

Oh......and I own yet another horse locally again. More the fool me. :ohmy:

If inside information was so easy im one guy who would been a millionare by now, and nooooo im not ..... i have first hand knowledge of every runner in our stable..... and as i said monday include All in exotics. I won very small % of pick6 but done my balls on jack friday (where stablemate won) .

Inside info from certain stables can be taken seriously but on a whole if i work out exotics i ignore all talk and only consentrade on formstudy and own handicapping. Even when we have a runner in race i go on formstudy

And we always try with every single runner doesnt matter their price. All must ride to win.

Ziets because you have an interest in Jack Friday you will be swayed in your decisions ..i am sure you realise now how some horses can improve on race day and others seem to go backwards.. well done on the day.