In my previous post I should have been more specific and said ability rating as per win prize money divided by races won.
I agree that Van der Wheil referred early on to ability, and in item 19 of "The Golden Years" gave a way of measuring it, but that can't be the answer as there were no Split Second figures for quite a few of the relevant horses in the early examples, including one selection (Love from Verona). One would, I think, have to be highly intuitive to deduce, before item 35 appeared, that he used win prize money divided by races won.
"But although that form does nothing to suggest that, from the perspective of the runners, the class 436 race really punched its weight, so to speak, it wouldn't be bad form to bring to a race of tomorrow's class 130".
GJ
As I said at the time, that race was very good form. In the 1st race at Ascot tomorrow the 2nd from that race, Strike Up The Band, meets the horse who beat him in his 2 previous races, Crimson Fern and,(strange jockey allowing), would expect SUTB to reverse the form comfortably. Nothing to do with weights or ratings, either. We shall see.
I never know what to make of the Shergar Cup. A lot of money on offer for relatively uncompetitive races, but as a trainer I would have to take a random jockey, some of whom have little/no experience of English racing. If I had a horse poised to win, I'm not sure I'd be happy to take pot luck in a Cup race, even if he might be facing anything from 3-12 fewer rivals than in a normal class 2 handicap.
ps
Having now had a look at the race tomorrow I cannot but agree with you.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: George Johns,
if it can go soft at haydock tomorrow i think the top ability horse can put up a good showing zero tolerance the ground is the key here any thoughts fellow vdws
I think soft ground or worse at Haydock looks pretty certain for tomorrow. Having won a c/d listed race on heavy ground that shouldn't be a problem for Zero Tolerance, but it worrys me that he had a much easier option last Saturday, (5.35 Goodwood), but was withdrawn at the 11th hour?. Maybe his trainer will throw some light on it in tomorrow's RP?
not soft enough john been watching for soft going for this horse running well in non soft going races ,well down in the weights and now handicaped to win top speed-plus horse in the race and the improvers not tried in soft i think this is his day c/d winner also,trying to convince myself lol
This message has been edited. Last edited by: les henderson,
Originally posted by les henderson: not soft enough john been watching for soft going for this horse running well in non soft going races
Wouldn't be to sure about that, Les. Although the official going was g/f, it was actually g/s which should have suited him fine. Will wait to see what the trainer says but, in any case, Yamal has to be a big danger.
I make Strike Up The Band the class/form horse, and of course he is dropping down to class 172 from a decent 2nd in a class 436. Thus for me he is the most likely winner. But judging by the Van der Wheil examples that were dropping in class he doesn't strike me as having all the "winner in a race" characteristics, so not an "80% horse" and I'll be giving him a miss.
hi wattie went to bed with a sore heid last night ran out the door this morning so had to ask the wife to put on my line a 5 pound e/w round robin strike up the band,zero tolerance,and gigaticus so 3/1,7/2 and 7/1 for a nice wee line if giganticus can pull also 10 e/w single on zero so heres hopeing ,the gers are still pish saw the secound half lol
.
