Here's a quick and dirty, yet surprisingly accurate way of coming up with some pretty good selections. Betting them wisely creates a profit.

The System

Note the class of the current race.
For each horse note down it's average price in that class of race for past starts.
The average price is converted to a percentage, which becomes a rating out of 100.
Horses with no starts at the class, become a rating out of 100 given the field size (a default value).
Then price up the field to 100% book.
Back the overs and lay the unders.

Examples

The Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville 29/3/2008

Horse
Miss Andretti   (rating 18.25)
St Trinians   (default rating 7.69)
Lucky Diva   (rating 3.64)
Miss Fantabulous   (rating 3.30)
Juste Momente   (rating 9.26)   Winner
Zipanese   (rating 2.61)
Dollops   (default rating 7.69)
Emilydelago   (default rating 7.69)
Bel Mer   (rating 4.81)
Serious Speed   (rating 9.40)
Sleek Chassis   (rating 9.90)
Gibraltar Campion   (default rating 7.69)
Spectacula   (default rating 7.69)

Pricing
Miss Andretti   $5.48 vs tote $1.40
St Trinians   $13.00 vs tote $18.80
Lucky Diva   $27.47 vs tote $38.40
Miss Fantabulous   $30.30 vs tote $41.50
Juste Momente   $10.80 vs tote $31.60   Winner
Zipanese   $38.31 vs tote $32.70
Dollops   $13.00 vs tote $36.60
Emilydelago   $13.00 vs tote $125.40
Bel Mer   $20.79 vs tote $6.30
Serious Speed   $10.64 vs tote $13.70
Sleek Chassis   $10.10 vs tote $32.30
Gibraltar Campion   $13.00 vs tote $66.60
Spectacula   $13.00 vs tote $144.60

Forgetting the horses whose price was devised from the default rating we have:

Overs
Lucky Diva   $27.47 vs tote $38.40 Back
Miss Fantabulous   $30.30 vs tote $41.50Back
Juste Momente   $10.80 vs tote $31.60   WinnerBack
Serious Speed   $10.64 vs tote $13.70Back
Sleek Chassis   $10.10 vs tote $32.30Back

Unders
Miss Andretti   $5.48 vs tote $1.40Lay
Zipanese   $38.31 vs tote $32.70Lay
Bel Mer   $20.79 vs tote $6.30Lay

__________________
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very interesting, thanks Chrome

i suspect more reliable in the upper class races?

Yes, there is a fair bit of room for variation, I use this method solely to pick out outstanding value and poor value.

The outstanding poor value was Miss Andretti and Bel Mer, the outstanding value was Sleek Chassis and Juste Momente.

It's just a guide really, but often highlights the not so obvious like Bel Mer and Juste Momente.

When the prices are slightly over or under, I leave it alone, as the ratings are not supposed to be highly accurate, just a tool to highlight or flag the unseen.

__________________
RaceCensus - powerful system testing software.
Now with over 400,000 Metropolitan, Provincial and Country races!
http://www.propun.com.au/horse_raci...ng_systems.html
*RaceCensus now updated to 30/04/2024
Video overview of RaceCensus here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W821YP_b0Pg

Interesting system tip Chrome, thanks.

Although I was wondering;

'The average price is converted to a percentage, which becomes a rating out of 100.'

Is this the average price converted to a percentage of your 'standard' 115 market %?

Cheers, MrFugly.

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Hewo, acme pwest contwol? I have a pest that needs contwolling!

If the average of all starting prices is $2.00 for example, then converted, it becomes 50%, so the rating is 50.
The market percentage used is 100%.

It's not meant to be an accurate pricing guide really, just something that identifies quickly those bad bets and those that might be value just under the radar.

You'll find this on newstands next month, or sold on the other site - that's a $1.01 no risk bet I'll guarantee!

Horses for courses

__________________
RaceCensus - powerful system testing software.
Now with over 400,000 Metropolitan, Provincial and Country races!
http://www.propun.com.au/horse_raci...ng_systems.html
*RaceCensus now updated to 30/04/2024
Video overview of RaceCensus here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W821YP_b0Pg