Tracks - Help & Information

Stalls Help Section

Stall Alignment

The effect of non-runners is nearly always ignored when doing stall analysis. I have not ignored it as the effect is too great to overlook. For each non-runner the stall is removed while all remaining horses keep their draw number. However importantly the remaining stalls are then bunched together. Example - in a race originally with 10 runners, each will be designated a starting stall from 1-10. Lets say stall numbers 1,2,3 & 4 all become non-runners. The outcome is stall number 5 is now placed effectively as if it were stall 1, stall 6 as if it were stall 2 etc.

Stall Number

See the above section on Stall Alignment, which I recommend. If you decide to go by the stall number you are ignoring the sometimes massive effect of non runners in the race and the actual stall number will be used for the analysis.

Stall Numbering

Stall numbers are numbered left to right in all instances but it depends on the track on what this actually means. There is often confusion when people say high draw/low draw etc and in some instances may actually be referring to the opposite in terms of numbering. For the purpose of consistency in the Stalls Analysis this is on the basis of starting at Stall 1 and moving up.

Stall Positioning

Stall positioning is only used in the UK and can have a dramatic effect. The available options will depend on the track and distance selected - note each track has their own way of reporting the information and although normally Stands Side/Far Side are used for straight courses and Inside/Outside for Round, this does vary at some tracks. Where needed I have standardised in accordance with each tracks layout to ensure consistency, therefore for each track/distance combination there are maximum 3 options (either being Stands Side/Centre/Far Side or Inside/Centre/Outside). Ireland do not use the Stall Positioning system and therefore when you are presented with the analysis there will obviously be no reports of this nature for Irish tracks.

Straight & Round Courses

Tracks vary in terms of the courses they have. Some only have a left handed or right handed course. Others also have a straight track for some short distances. Where needed the report will be split into two if your query includes a distance range, which crosses over the two different types of course (as lumping them together creates false data). In this respect it is also worth noting some tracks have two different starts (round & straight) for the one distance. (Example 1 mile at Newcastle).

Colour Coding

If you opt to include colour coding, this is worked out as following, (providing there are more than 10 runs) -
Wins or WinStrike Option
Green - 25% or better than what could be expected (if all stalls had shared each of the wins).
Red - 25% or worse than what could be expected (if all stalls had shared each of the wins).
Yellow - Everything else.
Profit/Loss Option
Green - 3 or more points profit achieved .
Red - 3 points loss or no profit.
Yellow - Everything else.

Calculations

Wins are the number of wins by stall alignment/stall number and number of runners. Win Strike is the rounded strike rate of winners and Profit/Loss is the rounded profit/loss made when backing at SP.

With the Tracks setting, you can select race tracks to match your requirements. Your selection will limit the query to only races run at the tracks chosen.

Comments -

• Choose Ayr, Downpatrick & Bath & only results from these tracks will be included in your query.
• Choose Galway only & results from there alone will be included in your query.
• If you choose Bangor in the Track (LR) category, your query will be limited to horses whose previous run was at Bangor.
• Selecting Epsom in the Track (4LR) category will mean only horses whose fourth last run was at Epsom will be included.

With the Course Direction setting, you can limit your query to races ran in a certain direction.

Comments -

• Choosing Left Handed returns only races run on a left handed track.
• Choosing Straight returns only races run on a straight course.
• Choosing Straight in the Course Direction (2LR) returns only horses whose second last run was on a straight course.

With the Stall setting, you can specify the stall number of a horse at the time of running. The position in stalls category removes unused stalls and orders stalls actually used numerically (example in a race with stalls 1, 3, 5, 6 then stall 1=1, 3=2, 5=3 etc)

• Between 3 & 5 will limit query to all horses running from stalls 3, 4 or 5.
• Between 4 & 4 would return only horses who at the time of running were in stall 4.

This category takes the stall position and allocates it to a particular quarter

• For those running out of a stall in the first quarter you would choose this setting

With the Track Location setting, you can limit your query to race tracks within a certain location of the UK or Ireland.

Comments -

• Choosing Munster and Scotland would limit your query to only races ran at tracks within Scotland or Munster.
• Selecting Wales limits query to only races ran at tracks in Wales.
• Selecting South East England in the Track Location (3LR) limits query to only horses whose third last run was at a track in South East England.

With the Bends setting, you can choose to only include race tracks/races with a certain type of bend.

Comments -

• Choosing Sharp and Very Sharp would limit your query to only include races ran at tracks with those bend types.
• Selecting Easy limits query to only races ran at tracks with easy bends.

With the Fence Type setting, you can choose to only include race tracks/races with a certain type of fence.

Comments -

• Choosing Stiff and Very Stiff would limit your query to only include races ran at tracks with those fence types.
• Selecting Easy limits query to only races ran at tracks with easy fences.

With the Course Speed setting, you can choose to only include race tracks/races with a certain description of the Course Speed.

Comments -

• Selecting Tight limits query to only races ran at tracks with a Course Speed description of Tight.

With the Festivals setting, you can choose to only include races ran at your chosen festival(s).

Comments -

• Selecting Cheltenham Festival limits query to only those races.