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Fellow racing replay watchers, after yet another long and intense session re-watching replays, has left me wondering why is it so mentally draining?
After I have finished analysing races (and taking copious notes) I am left feeling sapped, and on the verge of collapsing.
To maintain a state of natural mental readiness, I throw a 6 mile run into my daily routine, along with a pot of tea, and no smoking of cigarettes. Personally I have found this to be the most beneficial way to boost my form study.
I was wondering what helps others?? (As I am still very tired!!) ho ho
You are looking intently at a relatively tiny screen, listening to commentary, assessing what you have seen might mean, comparing past racing events for each runner and whether they are significant, puzzling what is happening to horses out of camera shot etc. Doing all that together, consciously and some unconsciously, overloads the brain. The conscious mind is not good at prolonged detail and screens huge amounts of information out of the "picture". Walk down a street then at the end write down what you saw. Walk back and look again at the huge amount you missed.
Very, very few can do replay form well and I would suspect for the majority it does more harm to their punting than good.
If you compare what you can remember after listening to a talk on radio and a tv program, say, you should find the radio is far more enlightening and retentive. So switch some activities off. Unfortunately, the easy one is listening to the commentary.
Yes that makes sense Rob. Perhaps regular beaks before the feeling kicks in is the key. I have got rid of the tiny screen , (that did help) , agree the cometary does make it harder to watch, and unless punters are obsessional, replay form is I also agree, a no no.
I did play with the idea of sharing the work load with some one else , however the thought dawn on me, that some one else’s notes just not the same.
However i will confess that it has been worth the pain.
More suggestions on improving tired time are welcome , thanks
All good points from Robert
I watch very little live racing now, and just watch the invaluable ATR/RUK online race-replay archives which allows me to pick and choose which races to watch; and that I think is the key to avoiding the information and visual overload that’s a consequence of sitting through hours of race after race after race on the TV replays
Specialization in a subset of race type then, as who can possibly expect to absorb the subtleties and nuances of each and every race run, particularly in the summer months
Personally I find it much easier to interpret a 3m chase than a 5f sprint as the former takes shape slowly and the latter is over in a trice, but that’s my shortcoming
The value of watching replays? For me as an adjunct to ‘printed word’ form study and the opportunity to try and question the interpretation of the race by third-party ‘public domain’ rating, formbook and odds compilers, be that RP, Timeform whoever. Given the influence these sources have on the betting market, disagreement can lead to an edge
Regarding commentary: I suggest you try watching and interpreting a race with the mute button pressed; it’s an interesting experience, particularly if you then watch it again with commentary and compare your take on it with that of the commentator’s
Personally I watch with commentary but set the volume as low as possible, just enough to hear the horses’ names
In summary: watching one race several times is much more worthwhile than watching a lot once. The head doesn’t spin and you don’t hit the pillow and try to sleep with horses and jockeys spinning around the visual cortex, and over-excited commentators plaguing the auditory cortex: cold sweats at 4 in the morning
Fellow racing replay watchers, after yet another long and intense session re-watching replays, has left me wondering why is it so mentally draining?
After I have finished analysing races (and taking copious notes) I am left feeling sapped, and on the verge of collapsing.
To maintain a state of natural mental readiness, I throw a 6 mile run into my daily routine, along with a pot of tea, and no smoking of cigarettes. Personally I have found this to be the most beneficial way to boost my form study.
I was wondering what helps others?? (As I am still very tired!!) ho ho
Are you sure it is the replays that is making you so tierd Itsawar? Excercise is good, keeps the mind going as well as body. I can keep going a lot easier now I run/jog fairly regularly. Anything from 1 mile to 6 miles at a time. But I wouldn’t do 6 miles on a studying day. Of course you are probably a lot fitter than me Itsawar and might do 6 miles easily, but are you overdoing things?
I spend more time studying the written word than I do replays, alhough RUK/ATR are on all day most days. Drone is quite right about specialising, nobody can keep tabs on all racing. I tend to steer clear of betting in Class 5 and 6 handicaps anyway, and prefer 7f to 1m4f when betting in handicaps.
Handicaps are very difficult for one’s own "Replay form study" anyway. Needing to know (or have a pretty good idea) of handicap marks, which horses are in/out of form and those suited/unsuited by going/pace of the race. Of course I have some of my own ideas, but I let Timeform do most of the hard work viewing handicaps.
That does not mean I just back the top rated, I study the race in question, making notes from Timeform write ups (Race Passes), come to an idea (or sometimes make a 100% book) of chance of all horses, then look at bookies prices and back those I believe are Value. In contrast to what some believe, Timeform do not tell subscribers who to back.
It is the better class racing I find more benificial in my viewing races. It sticks in the mind a lot easier/longer too (which is handy). Some will say they are the most talked/written about races so don’t have much edge. However, a lot of what’s written/talked about is rubbish yet still influences the markets. So if I can filter out the rubbish and come up with some ideas/notes by viewing racing myself, I may find an edge.
Suspect Itsawar, your tiredness is due to trying to watch too many races. Specialisation is key, otherwise (and I know) tiredness might lead to making mistakes in interpretation.
Anyway, got to get ready for Salisbury.
P.S. Get on Opera Gal each way in the 4:05.
Value Is EverythingPerhaps over doing it is the problem. The running I’ve always done, but perhaps you are right Ginger, . I do specialise now, all weather sprints and 2yo races. However there is still masses to take in. At the beginning of this season I was ready for planet turf, I had the insane notion that I was going watch every single race ten times over. This, with fool hardy determination, by the time mid may was here had me on my knees with sleep deprivation. I even resorted to an voice recorder to save valuable seconds typing, but had complaints about the crap commentary! (not to mention sick and tired of listening to my own voice.)
I made the decision to stop pricing races two weeks ago, Instead I will now make notes on all, all weather runners in preparation for the winter season. If I have the data in advance maybe this will reduce the pressure in addition, allow me to price all the races up on any give day in the winter.
I prefer the low grade stuff my self, mainly because there are lots and lots of the same class and distance over each course and consistent surface. So i have a big sample to visually compare a horse, as well as mathematically.
I do watch some of the other stuff, but not as a rule.
Perhaps it is just very tiring, but there must be others that experience the same and have pointers.
Anyway, got to get ready for Salisbury.
P.S. Get on Opera Gal each way in the 4:05.Good call
Fellow racing replay watchers, after yet another long and intense session re-watching replays, has left me wondering why is it so mentally draining?
After I have finished analysing races (and taking copious notes) I am left feeling sapped, and on the verge of collapsing.
To maintain a state of natural mental readiness, I throw a 6 mile run into my daily routine, along with a pot of tea, and no smoking of cigarettes. Personally I have found this to be the most beneficial way to boost my form study.
I was wondering what helps others?? (As I am still very tired!!) ho ho
This regime is rubbish and quite unhealthy.
I would recommend starting your studying day with a Full English breakfast (plenty of fried Sunblest), a cup of tea and a Woody.
Gradually increase your cigarette intake throughout the day and for God’s sake ditch the exercise.
As the form analysis becomes more intense, move onto recreational amphetamines. This will help you to study quicker and have the added benefit of you not giving a sh*t when you lose.
Please remember to consult your doctor prior to commencing any new lifestyle regime.
Hope this helps,
Mike
Anyway, got to get ready for Salisbury.
P.S. Get on Opera Gal each way in the 4:05.Good call
Cheers Tuffers.
Not a bad day for me, two winners from bets in three races. Opera Gal backed/tipped at 9/1 in to 3/1 SP and no Rule 4!
and Saint Jerome, 9/2 (though with a Rule 4 equivelent to 3.15/1) in to 13/8. The each way loser Kaafel 7/1 in to 7/2 (again would’ve been with around a 20% R4) only just out of the places in 4th. All on my thread.Not seen the replays yet.
Got four days on the trot of going racing. Study, study study.
Value Is EverythingNice winner Ginger, thanks for the heads up. Opera Gal went like this " Drawn closest to rail, broke OK, early run style, leading just off inside rail, uncontested, challenged 3 out, won easy when moderately ridden , finished relatively springy in gallop out, benefited from pace and position"
This regime is rubbish and quite unhealthy.
I would recommend starting your studying day with a Full English breakfast (plenty of fried Sunblest), a cup of tea and a Woody.
Gradually increase your cigarette intake throughout the day and for God’s sake ditch the exercise.
As the form analysis becomes more intense, move onto recreational amphetamines. This will help you to study quicker and have the added benefit of you not giving a sh*t when you lose.
Please remember to consult your doctor prior to commencing any new lifestyle regime.
Hope this helps,
Mike
Yes Mike, so when I ultimately fail miserably or as we say "well and truly Ladbroked", the realization of a gambling addiction will be some what be diluted with the now apparent additional addition to narcotics.
Widening out the topic, it could be interesting to find out how folks go about using replays and the sorts of things they look for. Is the effort worth while and so on?
Widening out the topic, it could be interesting to find out how folks go about using replays and the sorts of things they look for. Is the effort worth while and so on?
I make extensive use of replays (with the commentary turned off) to review the performance of a single horse in a race. I’m usually looking at a horse we are thinking of buying so I’m looking at it as a physical specimen but also trying to see if there are signs of temperament/a physical problem.
I wrote such a fine answer and lost it into the blue. Wellll , again, and shorter this time:
After that I got new glasses, specially made for working by a screen, I can watch race replays in longer intervals that before. The eyes relaxes more ,and my brain does not want to send me to sleep after 10 minutes.Man are not meant to study running horses on a tiny screen. Your eyes needs some help.
:( I wrote such a fine answer and lost it into the blue. Wellll , again, and shorter this time:
After that I got new glasses, specially made for working by a screen, I can watch race replays in longer intervals that before. The eyes relaxes more ,and my brain does not want to send me to sleep after 10 minutes.Man are not meant to study running horses on a tiny screen. Your eyes needs some help.
Are you serious? Please tell more. cheers
and Saint Jerome, 9/2 (though with a Rule 4 equivelent to 3.15/1) in to 13/8. The each way loser Kaafel 7/1 in to 7/2 (again would’ve been with around a 20% R4) only just out of the places in 4th. All on my thread.
I wrote such a fine answer and lost it into the blue. Wellll , again, and shorter this time:- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.