I would like to say it was a pleasure, Bj, but honestly it's an effort I won't be keen to repeat. But at least I have a year to think about it
Ian's enthusiasm for individual race threads appealed to me enormously as I feel some of the analysis on here is a bit superficial, probably people being guarded about their methodologies/information, and I'm the kind of person who is very uncomfortable handing money over [metaphorically] to a bookie without doing due diligence on a race, and those threads invite analysis.
Like Ian does with his selections and comments, I usually only put stuff up once my bets are on so I don't mind sharing at that point.
But, as I mentioned briefly on here the other day and to a forumite in a private message earlier today, this year it genuinely impacted on my wellbeing and that was new. On Tuesday evening, following days of gradually increasing study from about 8am to 10pm I almost literally collapsed on to my bed, unable to focus on anything. I have honestly never felt so mentally exhausted in my life but I've studied harder in the past so I'm guessing it is age catching up with me and the studying seems to affect my eyes more as my macular degeneration worsens with age.
I am genuinely thankful that I am off the bevy for Lent otherwise I might have over-indulged this evening.
Posting on the threads is no big deal itself but I did waste a lot of time looking for individual race threads. Maybe that's something that can be looked at going forward.
Anyway, I did manage to find an hour mid-morning after I finished posting my analyses to grab 45 mins' kip with The Quiet Man on quietly in the background so I was refreshed enough for watching the action unfold but that wasn't the case the previous days.
I think everyone deserves a positive mensh for all their input to the festival discussions. I can't think of a single race in which nobody found the winner, which is brilliant stuff for the forum and will hopefully keep newcomers coming.
Thanks again.