Well, as they say betsmate, yer pays yer money and yer takes yer choice! - and as we all know there is more than oen way to skin a cat......
I too punt regularly without seeing a horse or knowing much about it - but I feel a lot more confident about horses I've seen in the flesh, esp when punting on level weights races. Seeing Manduro and Dylan Thomas up close at Ascot was a case in point - and on another day I might have decided to back DT, but watchign them int he parade ring, there was 'no contest' to me [on the day].
I also feel more confident about backing [or not] those horses I've watched run on TV when I can get a reasonable close-up, watch the ears, head-carriage etc. Speed figs would be more use if horses were machines - but they ain't. I do factor them in of course, who doesn't - I was just making the point that people can get too obsessed with this kind of stat, and fail to see the woods for the trees
Btw I'm not necessarily speaking either of just backing a horse 'on the day'. When I'm punting big races, I remember things about horses I may not have seen for months.
I too punt regularly without seeing a horse or knowing much about it - but I feel a lot more confident about horses I've seen in the flesh, esp when punting on level weights races. Seeing Manduro and Dylan Thomas up close at Ascot was a case in point - and on another day I might have decided to back DT, but watchign them int he parade ring, there was 'no contest' to me [on the day].
I also feel more confident about backing [or not] those horses I've watched run on TV when I can get a reasonable close-up, watch the ears, head-carriage etc. Speed figs would be more use if horses were machines - but they ain't. I do factor them in of course, who doesn't - I was just making the point that people can get too obsessed with this kind of stat, and fail to see the woods for the trees
Btw I'm not necessarily speaking either of just backing a horse 'on the day'. When I'm punting big races, I remember things about horses I may not have seen for months.