andicap
12-23-2008, 06:54 AM
I received a key to reading The Reading Post from the editor a while ago and finally cracked it yesterday as I went to Kempton Park outside London.
It was extremely informative but I have two questions about reading the paper.
1. The key referred to a rating called "Postmark," seemed to be a form-based rating related to speed and/or class. It has been replaced with the "RPR" rating. Is this the same RPR rating that is used in the Daily Racing Form?
How is it different than the old "Postmark" rating and what is it based on?
2. Topspeed rating. In the past performances from each horse it lists their "TS" rating from that race. On another page there is the Postform and Topspeed chart, a very handy way of looking at the race.
BUT, the Topspeed rating giving for each horse is significantly different in the past performances than in the chart. I presume there is some kind of adjustment involved. Can anyone explain it to me and give me their opinion of the Topspeed rating.
I found the RPR rating to be a pretty good launching pad for starting my handicapping and used it in combination with looking at class (against which group did the horse run his best against). Trip, draw (post), and to some extent speed. I found I ran aground when I looked at trainer/jockey stuff -- i presume you have to get much more indepth to really handicap on that basis.
I tried to do some elementary pace handicapping but trying to figure out if a horse was a front-runner, presser, closer type and seeing if races would give advantage to a counterhorse. It's doable but more difficult.
Anyway it was great fun and betting very lightly managed to come out ahead a bit.
It was extremely informative but I have two questions about reading the paper.
1. The key referred to a rating called "Postmark," seemed to be a form-based rating related to speed and/or class. It has been replaced with the "RPR" rating. Is this the same RPR rating that is used in the Daily Racing Form?
How is it different than the old "Postmark" rating and what is it based on?
2. Topspeed rating. In the past performances from each horse it lists their "TS" rating from that race. On another page there is the Postform and Topspeed chart, a very handy way of looking at the race.
BUT, the Topspeed rating giving for each horse is significantly different in the past performances than in the chart. I presume there is some kind of adjustment involved. Can anyone explain it to me and give me their opinion of the Topspeed rating.
I found the RPR rating to be a pretty good launching pad for starting my handicapping and used it in combination with looking at class (against which group did the horse run his best against). Trip, draw (post), and to some extent speed. I found I ran aground when I looked at trainer/jockey stuff -- i presume you have to get much more indepth to really handicap on that basis.
I tried to do some elementary pace handicapping but trying to figure out if a horse was a front-runner, presser, closer type and seeing if races would give advantage to a counterhorse. It's doable but more difficult.
Anyway it was great fun and betting very lightly managed to come out ahead a bit.