Racing Trends Revealed: Flat 2009

Trends are a handicapping tool that divides serious punters, but if you are of the view that previous winners of big races can build up a profile of the sort that might win them in the future, this book is well worth a look.

David Myers has examined what it has taken to win 229 major Flat races in Britain and Ireland, and comes up with a table and a list of profile pointers based on 13 yeas of results. On top of that, however, he has examined how each of these races tends to pan out in the future, - so as well as helping you find the winners, this guide will hopefully point you in the direction of horses to follow and those to avoid coming out of them as well.

Applying Myers’ trends retrospectively to races that have already taken place this season, the results are promising. You’d almost certainly have been steered in the direction 3-1 Cammidge Stakes winner Prime Defender, who fulfilled all eight of Myers’ criteria and is also trained by Barry Hills, one of just two trainers given special mention.

Looking ahead, however, Myers’ advice is to lay him next time, as Cammidge winners have a poor next-time-out record. Horses finishing third in the race, however, have an excellent record in their next three starts, having won eight of their 39 races for a £327.25 profit to £1 levels. Myers is no doubt eagerly anticipating the return of Knock On Wood.

Lincoln winner Expresso Star hit five of the six requirements, but Lincoln winners should be avoided next time; Magnolia Stakes winner Dansant satisfied all six requirements; 12-1 Rosebery winner Greylami might have got away, fulfilling only five of eight criteria, but should be backed next time he runs in handicap company; Gladness Stakes winner Mad About You came out strongly on six of seven key trends.

A huge amount of research has gone into this guide, and if the recent evidence is anything to go by it should steer readers in the right direction in the major races to come. It also has obvious benefits for those punters who like to bet ante-post – that impressive Newmarket maiden winner at next week’s Craven meeting ‘could be anything’, but is she really the type to win the 1,000 Guineas next month? Mark Blackman, Racing Post

In this second edition, David Myers analyses the results of some 229 significant British and Irish flat races over the past 12 years.

The information is very clearly displayed - one race per page - and the reader can see the typical winner's profile at a glance. Added features this year include the winner's official rating and running style.

A very handy tool for the exchange player, who might quickly be pointed towards a lay by Myers' work, the book, also includes a 'Future Pointers' paragraph on each page which advises you whether or not past winners went on to further glory.

Myers had a weekly trends column in this paper for most of last year but it was discontinued as it appeared (to some of us) that many Irish pattern races did not lend themselves to this kind of analysis. Aidan O'Brien's domination of the classics seemed to confirm this.

However, there are often numerous Ballydoyle contenders in the big races and how many times have we seen the supposed first string beaten to the post by a big-priced stable-companion?

For example, none of O'Brien's four Irish 1000 Guineas winners started favourite and are you aware of the apparent draw bias in this race?

Just as Paul Jones has put a mountain of work into his Festival Guides, so too has David Myers burned the midnight oil in putting together Racing Trends Revealed.

This kind of research deserves your support. MC, The Irish Field