Thread for "dumb/burning questions"

I was wondering if it would be acceptable/appropriate if people could assist me (and maybe some other punters - hopefully its not only me who was wondering about these questions) with some burning questions i have regarding form and general advice.

Just some background, i am not a newbie to horseracing trying to learn everything there is on this site. But i do find that there are many aspects that i dont know about and may help me during form studying.

Example Burning question:
1. How likely would you say is it that a maiden will follow up the next run with a win, and in the same veign, what is your criteria for that? I.e is there a certain MR race that guides you, perhaps in a MR 70 after a Maiden win he may struggle but in a Mr 66 perhaps not?

If they are really stupid questions, or if the site doesnt allow this, please dont hesitate to say so and i will cease.

Very hard to answer, but a fantastic question!

Keep them coming!

Bob Brogan wrote: Very hard to answer, but a fantastic question!

Keep them coming!

Thanks Bob! i am relieved that you arent irritated by such questions! Thanks alot!

Question 2: How does a novice plate race compare with for example a MR 66 race. I am struggling to assess the strength for example of a 2nd place 2 lbh in a novice and the horse now runs in a MR 66 for example.

Question 3: What is the "theoretical" effect of Blinkers first time - i.e is there a general trend that a horse more often than not improves or is there no real trend?

Same question applies to alumites I suppose

Question 4: Are mares faster/slower that fillies in general?

For example a filly ran a 2nd in a Fillies maiden plate, now the filly runs in a fillies and mares race. What can one expect (if there is even any minor conlusion to be made) of how the filly will perform against mares?

Sorry i might be going overboard here and showing that i indeed dont know enough, but here it goes anyway.

Question 5: what is "theory" behind runs after a rest? 1st, 2nd and 3rd runs after rests. I acknowledge that this is not a hard and fast rule or whatever, but I would like to understand the theory better.

Bob, maybe your knowledge of UK racing may be able to help here.

Question 6: in UK racing, what are the courses which we can safely assume the form is a bit weaker that other venues.

Similar to how we know a horse that won in Mr70 at flamingo park wouldnt neccesarily do that well in a MR 70 at vaal sand (when it was still around).

For example how will a win at chelmsford compare with kempton poly or wolverhampton?

With all the courses there, i find it difficult sometimes to know what form should be stronger generally. I assume ascot, newmarket, york are like the turfonteins in terms of strength but thats about it.

(1) About 20% of winners will follow through. In maiden company a horse can face any kind of competition, since champions pass through the maiden ranks, so a maiden race can be considered an open race, and very difficult to win. If a maiden steps up into a 66 or 72 rated race , this now represents limited competition, and the horse has a better chance of winning this race than it had of winning a maiden. Whether it can win depends on class and speed - how long did the horse take to win a maiden -- should be less than 5 preferably debut or within three runs, must have not been tested when winning, and must have run a decent speed for the trip - if the pace was on.

Adams wrote: (1) About 20% of winners will follow through. In maiden company a horse can face any kind of competition, since champions pass through the maiden ranks, so a maiden race can be considered an open race, and very difficult to win. If a maiden steps up into a 66 or 72 rated race , this now represents limited competition, and the horse has a better chance of winning this race than it had of winning a maiden. Whether it can win depends on class and speed - how long did the horse take to win a maiden -- should be less than 5 preferably debut or within three runs, must have not been tested when winning, and must have run a decent speed for the trip - if the pace was on.

Wow, fantastic knowledge, thanks adams! i appreciate your input! i had it other way around, i 95% of the time dismiss a horse in the next race after a maiden, obviously to my own detriment. Thanks again meneer.

This is an intense question and has to do with the biological form cycle and conditioning of the horse. It deals with the issue of racing fatigue and glycogen depletion, it deals with the preferred training methods of individual trainers and their ability to condition a horse and assess it's condition at home and so much more. I wouldn't really pay attention to the number of runs. Some trainers can rest a fatigued horse and then bring it back straight out in condition to win. Look out for this if the horse is returning to a track and distance to which it's ideally suited, and has a smart jockey aboard. Other trainers may prefer or might need to give the horse a real race or two to bring it into peak condition --- horse returns off best distance and track, has some obscure jockey aboard.

Adams wrote: This is an intense question and has to do with the biological form cycle and conditioning of the horse. It deals with the issue of racing fatigue and glycogen depletion, it deals with the preferred training methods of individual trainers and their ability to condition a horse and assess it's condition at home and so much more. I wouldn't really pay attention to the number of runs. Some trainers can rest a fatigued horse and then bring it back straight out in condition to win. Look out for this if the horse is returning to a track and distance to which it's ideally suited, and has a smart jockey aboard. Other trainers may prefer or might need to give the horse a real race or two to bring it into peak condition --- horse returns off best distance and track, has some obscure jockey aboard.

Fair enough, I often wondered why formbooks and presenters usually mention 2nd run after a rest, as if it is a good or bad thing to be aware of. I thought i was out of the loop about something! :huh: But I hear you, I wont pay too much attention to that per se. thanks again!