As with all elements of gambling on horse racing, it is vitally important to apply common sense when working with ratings. Here are some key factors to take into account.

To start with we rate our overall impression of how good a race is, ranging from a Group 1 to a Class 7. Irish races other than Pattern Races need rated by prize value as they do not have a class system in place in Ireland. The amount quoted refers to prize money paid to the winner. The value you populate each dropdown with will be used in your final calculation.

Examples -

• Setting a value at 0 will mean the race is worth nothing.
• If you think a Class 6 race is worth 10 points more than a Class 7, reflect this by applying values appropriately.
• The higher you rate a race the more points a horse who ran in it will receive.

Next we add on additional points to our total race score, dependent upon how the horses in that race were placed previously and subsequently. By doing this we can treat a class 6 race with 7 previous winners, better than a class 6 with none.
It works as a simple calculation, so if you made your Prior Placing settings First=2, Second=1 and Third=0.5 then horseracbase will look at each horse's previous run and automatically calculate an additional score based on this. So in a race with 5 horses competing where 2 of the runners won last time out, 1 was second, 1 was third and the last was fourth, the additional score applied would be 5.5 ((2*2)+(1*1)+(1*0.5)+(1*0)). The same theory applies to subsequent winners with each of the horse's next runs being analysed. The value you populate each dropdown with be used in your final calculation.
Examples -

• Setting First at 2 and Third at 3 means you value third placed form higher than first.
• If a race had ten previous winners in it and ten subsequent winners and you had First set at 10 on both Prior and Subsequent then your Race Score will be increased by 200.

The next option is to deduct some points from the horses depending on how far they were beaten. This is because you may feel a horse who finished second but beaten only by a neck is worth more than one beaten by 50 lengths. The percentage you set will be deducted from the overall horse score. Alternatively you may want to deduct the exact number of lengths from a horses score (or the exact figure multiplied by your setting) - to do this tick the box which states this option and set the dropdown as you wish. By setting a value in the max deduction dropdown you can ensure that not too many points are deducted from the score.

Examples -

• If you set 30% and your horse had score of 100, its new total will be 70.
• Ticking the exact box and setting the dropdown as 5 would mean a horse beaten by 25 lengths would be deducted 125 points. If you had set the max deduction as 50, then only 50 points would be deducted.
• Commonly it would make sense to deduct more points from those horses who finished further behind.

You may wish to award points dependent on the the weight the horse gave or received from the winning horse in the race. Here is where you can do so.

Examples -

• If the winning horse gave the horse 5 pounds and multiplying factor was 1 then 5 points will be deducted.
• If the winning horse received 5 pounds from your horse and multiplying factor was 1 then 5 points will be added.
• If the horse won this test is effectively void, the same is true if your horse and the winner carried same weight

Now, we have a rating for each of the horse's last 3 runs. You may however wish to put more significance on the last piece of form compared to its second & third last runs. To instigate this we can use a multiply factor for each of the last 3 pieces of form. Set the dropdowns as you see fit and the values will be used as multiplying factor of total score in the final ratings.

Examples -

• Rating score of 100 and multiplying factor 1.5 gives rating 150.
• If you had scores of 100, 200 and 300 with multiplying factors 1.75, 0.5 and 0.25, your new totals would be 175, 100, 75

Now we have a rating compiled for each of the horse's last three runs, its time to award some bonus points dependent on the horse's performance in some different tests we will carry out. Here we award points as we desire if the horse has ran to a certain standard over distance, going, track and within a certain number of days. Using the dropdowns to set values we can award points based on the horse's highest placing in each of our tests.

Examples -

• You may wish to award a previous track winner 10 bonus points and a runner-up only 3.
• The combined sum of each of the bonus tests provides the total bonus points towards the final rating.

With the weight comparison test, we can award further bonus points if the horse has ran to a certain level when carrying the weight it has today or higher in the same category of racing (National Hunt, Flat or All Weather). The purpose of this test is that it may be the case we feel a horse who has won when carrying the same weight is more likely to do so again than a horse who has not.

Examples -

• If you set First to 10 points and all other values to 0, any horses who qualify will gain these points on non-qualifiers
• It would appear sensible to award higher points to higher finishers.

With this setting we can award additional points to horses with less weight in the race. With the dropdown setting you can set a multiplying factor that will be used towards your final ratings. The value you set will be multiplied by the number of pounds the horse is receiving from the race topweight

Examples -

• If you set 0.6 and a horse has a weight of 10-1 compared to race topweight 10-11 then it will receive 6 bonus points.
• The race topweight will never receive any bonus points in this test as it is that weight we are comparing to.

Here we can award points to horses who have a jockey on board who is receiving a weight allowance. By setting a value as a multiplying factor we can use this score towards our final rating.

Examples -

• Setting value as 0.4 will mean a horse with jockey who is receiving a 7lb claim will be awarded 2.8 bonus points.

To compile our Jockey & Trainer ratings we carry out three tests based on their performance in different circumstances. These tests are not going to definitely highlight who has the best ability but they will highlight who is performing well at three very different levels. The first test judges them on their strike rate when riding/sending out a horse that has favouritism status. You may be surprised by some of the results here, but this is because of 'false-favourites' where a horse leads the market based purely on the jockey/trainer. The second test judges strike rate when horse is not favourite but priced under 10/1 (horses with a realistic chance) and the third is for strike rate when horse is between 10/1 & 40/1 (outsiders). This test doesnt include horses priced 50/1 or higher as more often than not, these horses have no hope. The total score for each of the three tests combines to make the total jockey & trainer ratings.

Examples -

• The higher the strike rate, the better the performance.
• Setting the highest strike rate in each case to 10 means a perfect score will be 30 points.

If you wish to award bonus points to a horse who has a jockey on board that has won on him/her before, here is where to do it! Its a simple test but one you may see as important, whatever you set the dropdown as will be awarded as additional points to any horse with a jockey on board that has previously won when riding him/her.

With this option we can deduct points based on when the horse last won a race. This is useful if you feel a horse is more likely to win if he has got his head in front recently. Set the dropdowns accordingly and if a horse falls into the bracket it will be deducted these points from its total score.

This option was suggested by a subscriber. Here you can award points to horses who have had a certain number of runners. For example you may feel a horse who has only ran twice is more likely to improve than one who has ran 20 times.

When you saved your own ratings and gave a name to them, you done so in order that you could call on them easily. A box appears above your ratings and in the dropdown all of your ratings settings are stored. To choose which set of ratings you wish to use, simply highlight them and press Go. Confirmation of which set of ratings are currently in use is displayed in red at the top of the page.