Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on Racing TV’s use of Race IQ data. Plus, there are three future winners for the tracker.
Racing TV's New Race IQ Data: Valuable Insight or Overanalysis?
If you're a Racing TV subscriber, you've likely noticed the introduction of their new Race IQ data, which Lydia Hislop and Ruby Walsh have been utilizing on the latest series of the Road To Cheltenham.
Traditionally, this series focused on analysing the previous week's racing and identifying potential Cheltenham Festival ante-post bets. However, the new addition of Race IQ data has become a prominent feature.
While it's acknowledged that jumps racing involves a technical aspect, emphasizing the need for horses to jump cleanly and efficiently, the detailed data analysis provided by the new tool seems to be overemphasized. The example of Edwardstone losing ground to Jonbon at the Railway fences in the Tingle Creek Chase was cited, but such observations are apparent to anyone with basic race-watching skills.
Lydia Hislop and Ruby Walsh, both respected judges, noted for their insights, but does this intricate data analysis add any significant value.
The sentiment is echoed by Racing TV’s Angus McNae's breathlessly telling us that Dysart Enos had a “finishing speed percentage of 107.2%” in winning the first race at Cheltenham on Friday.
Your own eyes could have told you, the mare travelled well, jumped every hurdle economically, and pulled clear up the run and she might be above average but that didn’t seem to occur to Angus.
My argument is that such information doesn't necessarily enhance understanding when the visual cues of the race are clear.
The overarching question posed is whether this detailed analysis truly aids in backing more winners, or if Racing TV is venturing into the realm of over analysis. Mind you, if you’re not a subscriber to Racing TV you won’t care one way or the other.
Future Winners
The Irish racing over the weekend didn't reach its usual high standards, leaving me without material to review from across the Irish Sea this week. Given the low-key nature of Irish racing leading up to Christmas, this is expected, with the upcoming Leopardstown and Limerick Christmas Festivals on the horizon.
On a positive note, Forward Plan secured a victory at Doncaster on Saturday, and Happy And Fine triumphed at Leicester on Wednesday, for the eyecatchers feature. With two winners from four qualifiers last week, if was solely backing the eyecatchers would be making bigger profit this month than I have. Now there’s a thought,
While it hasn't been a prolific week on the eyecatchers front, I do have three for you. The first of them ran at Ayr on Monday.
Aubis Walk – Nicky Richards
Aubis Walk, a winning hurdler the mare, returned from a 9-month layoff to win on chase debut at Ayr on Monday. Held up, her jumping was solid, and she was strong at the finish. In the end she won decisively by 1 ½ lengths. There should be more to come from her over the larger obstacles and she could prove to be a real money spinner in the North.
Lord Du Mesinil – Richard Hobson
Lord Du Mesnil is on a losing run that goes back to February 2021. However, he was in good form in the spring finishing runner-up in a veterans chase at Carlisle in March and then runner-up at Cheltenham (3m 2f) in April. He needed his Sandown seasonal reappearance last month and was back to form when a 7-length 2nd of 9 to Cepage in a veterans handicap chase (2m 4 ½ f) at Cheltenham on Friday. Given 2m 4 ½ f was barely an adequate stamina test for the 10-year-old ,who stays 3m 4f, it was a commendable effort. He’s qualified for the Veterans Final (3m) at Sandown in January and given he likes soft ground. Jumps and stays well he must be a lively contender for that race.
In This World – Dan Skelton
Clearly hasn’t been the easiest to keep sound since winning a juvenile hurdle at Warwick in November 2021. He’d only had two starts since that success up until last month but there was plenty of encouragement to be taken from his 2 ½ length 5th of 12 to Go Dante in the 2m 1f handicap at Cheltenham on Friday. The 5-year-old was a bit unlucky not to finish closer as he didn’t get the clearest of runs between the final two hurdles. If connections can get a clear run with him, he can win races off his present mark.
Tuesday Preview
It’s not often that I look at racing at Fakenham but today's action isn't great.
Fakenham
1:40 – Le Tueur won twice in March at Huntingdon and over C&D. He needed his seasonal reappearance last month and was seen to much better effect when a 6 ¼ length 3rd of 4 here (3m) 28 days ago. A return to 3m 5f should see the 8-year-old back to something like his best.
Le Tueur – 7/1.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John