• Get to Know Your Horses: Start by gathering some basic info about each horse. Look at their age, weight, the jockey riding them, the trainer behind the scenes, and what they’ve been up to in recent races. Sometimes even the smallest details, like a change in equipment, can make a big difference.
• Trust in the Trainer and Jockey: The trainers and jockeys play a crucial role. Check their track record – are they known for turning out winners in this type of race or at this track? Experienced and successful trainers and jockeys can often give a horse the edge. In particular have they been getting winners in the past few weeks?
• Weather Matters: Take a peek at the weather forecast, specifically how the track conditions are shaping up. Some horses prefer one type of condition over another, so knowing if it’s fast or soft can give you a hint.
• Peek at Pedigrees: If the horse is a bit of a mystery, look at its family tree. Certain bloodlines have a knack for certain conditions, and this can give you a clue about how the horse might perform.
• Old School Checking: Look back at the horse’s history. Even if it’s been a while since they’ve raced, patterns and trends in their past performance can be a good guide.
• Size Up the Competition: Consider who else is in the race. If a horse has faced tough competition before or is dropping down a level, it could be a game-changer.
• Trust Your Instincts: Sometimes, it’s as simple as trusting your gut. When you are happy with your work, rank the field and attach odds to each of them. Start with your number one ranked and work down giving a percentage to each of the runners according to their strengths. Your total percentage when you add them up should total 100. By dividing each runners percentage into 100 you will get the decimal odds that you see on the exchanges. a horse you deem to have a 25% chance therefore would be 4.00 on the exchange, 3/1 in fractional odds. Bookmakers typically add 1.5% to each runner to ensure a profit so a 25% chance would be offered at 11/4.
• Keep an Eye on the Odds: When it gets closer to race time check out what others are thinking. If lots of people are betting on a particular horse, it might mean they know something you don’t. Look at your tissue again, if you are happy with your assessment you may spot some exceptional value.
• Roll with the Unknowns: Acknowledge that there’s always a bit of uncertainty in horse racing. Adjust your guesses as more information comes in, especially as the race gets closer.
• Look Back in Time: If you can, use historical data from similar races or conditions. It’s like having a peek into the past to see what might happen.

Conclusion

Creating your own tissue odds is a bit like putting together a puzzle. It takes a bit of knowledge, a bit of guesswork, and a touch of luck.