Recent form in horse racing refers to a horse’s performance in its most recent races, typically the last three to six races. The term ‘form’ is used to denote how well a horse has been performing, and this is usually recorded in a form guide. A form guide is a type of chart that lists the past performance of each horse in a race, with the most recent race last.

Here’s how to read a basic form guide:

• If the number is 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., it shows where the horse finished in the race.
• If the number is 0, the horse didn’t finish in the top 9.
• A dash (-) separates years.
• A slash (/) separates seasons.

For example, a form of 06/423 means the horse finished 3rd, 2nd, and 4th in its last three races of this season, and it did not place in the top 9 in its two races last season.

In terms of how much emphasis should be placed on recent form, it’s certainly an important factor. The recent form can give insights into a horse’s current fitness, consistency, and ability. It can also reveal if the horse is improving or declining, or if it has a pattern of good and bad runs.

However, it shouldn’t be the only factor considered. Other variables like the class of the races the horse has been running in, the condition of the track, the distance and type of the races, the jockey, and the trainer can all impact a horse’s performance. For example, a horse might have poor recent form in high-class races but could perform better in a lower-class race. Or a horse could be stepping up in distance and this could either improve or impair their performance.

So while recent form is an important tool in assessing a race, it’s most effective when used in conjunction with other pieces of information. Like everything in horse racing, it’s all about interpreting the available data in the most effective way.