Handicapping issues

You'd think of the novices Discorama or perhaps Any Second Now more likely. On reflection I'd be slightly surprised if Gordon ran Delta Work.
 
Easter is very late this year. Over 5 weeks from Cheltenham to Fairyhouse so it shouldn't be an issue. The complication will be for horses having to choose between Fairyhouse and Punchestown.
 
Alternative views are always good for the debate but I'd want to ask:

Who is Declan Rix and what are his qualifications for taking the handicapper to task like that?

Is he related to the notorious 'tipster' Henry Rix?

I have to say, I didn't mind considering his arguments until his final question about the earlier form with Winter Escape. For me, that question alone rendered everything that went before it to be meaningless, even the bits I agreed with.
 
Desert Orchid said:
Alternative views are always good for the debate but I'd want to ask:

Who is Declan Rix and what are his qualifications for taking the handicapper to task like that?

Is he related to the notorious 'tipster' Henry Rix?

I have to say, I didn't mind considering his arguments until his final question about the earlier form with Winter Escape. For me, that question alone rendered everything that went before it to be meaningless, even the bits I agreed with.
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He is Irish, younger generation, happy to play the clown on the Final Furlong Podcast
 
Desert Orchid said:
Alternative views are always good for the debate but I'd want to ask:

Who is Declan Rix and what are his qualifications for taking the handicapper to task like that?

Is he related to the notorious 'tipster' Henry Rix?

I have to say, I didn't mind considering his arguments until his final question about the earlier form with Winter Escape. For me, that question alone rendered everything that went before it to be meaningless, even the bits I agreed with.
Click to expand...
Only know him from the final furlong podcast, where he adds little but poor attempts at humour

Sent from my SM-J415FN using Tapatalk
 
Desert Orchid said:
Alternative views are always good for the debate but I'd want to ask:

Who is Declan Rix and what are his qualifications for taking the handicapper to task like that?

Is he related to the notorious 'tipster' Henry Rix?

I have to say, I didn't mind considering his arguments until his final question about the earlier form with Winter Escape. For me, that question alone rendered everything that went before it to be meaningless, even the bits I agreed with.
Click to expand...

Yes the whole weight-for-age system seems to gone over young Declan's head with reference to Winter Escape, never mind the race being run on good ground.
 
Grey said:
Why should it matter who he is if he's putting up a considered argument?
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He's getting a 'spot', if I can call it that, on a bona fide racing blog so he should have at least an element of gravitas in terms of authority. Has he been a trainee handicapper, assistant trainer, trainer's secretary etc, or is he just a chancer?

I was happy, as I said, to read through what he had to say until I found his arguments starting to unravel as nothing other than betting-shop piffle. And the Winter Escape remark was the clincher. Only someone who is clueless about handicapping could have written that.

People offered blog spots on sites like ATR should know what they're talking about. People like Simon Rowlands aren't always right but their arguments are usually what I would call 'considered'.
 
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The 'ball' I'm playing is the notion of people without appropriate knowledge/experience being allowed a position of potential influence.
 
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