| The question that has baffled many horse racing | | | | obviously had an effect on the performance of the |
| system followers is why do systems suddenly stop | | | | horses that did run. This may well have had some |
| working? Most horse racing systems users will have | | | | bearing on the fact that only 3 clear favourites won at |
| experienced the sudden downturn in results that can | | | | the Cheltenham Festival. |
| follow a successful initial period. | | | | Following any system blindly, no matter how good is |
| The trouble is that all systems no matter how good | | | | unlikely to prove profitable in the long term. As the |
| they are have an "Achilles heel". If you remember your | | | | person who is putting the money down you are the |
| Greek Mythology you will remember that Thetis, | | | | final arbiter and should consider any current information |
| Achillies mother, tried to make her son immortal by | | | | or intelligence you have which may affect the result. |
| dipping him in the river Styx. However, he was left | | | | As an example how would you react if your system |
| vulnerable at the part of the body she held him by, his | | | | indicated one horse was likely to win but you knew |
| heel. Inevitably later in life an arrow penetrated this | | | | some other facts? The trainer of another had hired a |
| weak spot in his body and killed him. | | | | top jockey, something he was known to do for horses |
| The Achilles heel of racing systems is the fact that | | | | he fancied. This horses price had halved overnight and |
| they all have in some way or other to be based on | | | | had been tipped by the countries leading tipster. Would |
| past events. If circumstances change markedly the | | | | you still go ahead and back your systems horse or |
| relevance of these past events diminishes. For | | | | take note of the other factors and not bet on the |
| instance very unseasonable weather can result in | | | | race? |
| abnormal conditions such as heavy going in the flat | | | | If the system that you are operating is basically sound |
| season. Top trainers yards can get hit with the virus or | | | | then it will no doubt eventually return to profitability. |
| top jockeys can get injured or suspended. | | | | However, many system users who tend to always be |
| No system can make allowances for these types of | | | | seeking "the holy grail" will have forsaken it before this |
| unexpected events. Only the system user is capable | | | | happens. This can only be a good thing for those who |
| of interpreting the latest information and inputting this | | | | understand about the Achilles heel and are prepared |
| into their selection process. In the UK we have had, by | | | | to combine a good horse racing system with their own |
| our terms, a bad winter with many meetings being | | | | horse racing intelligence. |
| abandoned and trainers' plans interrupted. This has | | | | |