Spotting A Winning Horse
How can I spot a winner?
When spotting a winning horse there is a three point checklist: Go to the paddock and check out your horse's condition, then have a look at its form, and then thirdly, check its canter. See how it's moving over the turf as it goes to the starting gates, and if it's moving fluidly, that's a good sign for a bet on a winning horse.
How can I spot a good horse as it walks around the paddock?
A friend of mine once told me that he liked his horses like he liked his women - with a big rump. You can check out the horses' rumps at the paddock, where horses are put on display for punters to check their condition. We're looking for four things. Firstly, that there is a prick, they're alert and know what's going on. Secondly, a nice shiny coat which suggests the horse is in good condition. Thirdly, have a look at the horse's rib cage. We need to see if there's a nice bit of defined muscle there because we don't want to be backing a horse to win a race if she is fat. Finally - and importantly - if the horse is sweating up and getting over anxious, that's wasting a lot of energy, energy which could be put into that on the track. Thus, it might not be a good horse to back.
What should I look for in a horse's track record?
Obviously, you want to back a horse which has won a lot of races in the past, or finished in the first three. More importantly, look at if the horse has won in similar conditions to those on the race day that you're attending and when you're going to have a bet.
Does the jockey's history make a difference?
Most successful jockeys generally get the best horses to ride. That means the process will contract when someone like Frankie Dettori is on board because he is a famous, well known jockey, because he won so many races. Having a famous jockey also means you have got the best of chance of winning.
What's the optimum age for a race horse?
When it comes to spotting a wining horse, the optimum age for a race horse differs really between flat and steeple chasing. On the flat, a two year old to four year old horse is an optimum age. In contrast, on the steeple chasing, horses can race for longer, takes longer for them to mature and often they would be racing until ten years old.
