RACE CONDITIONS AND CONTEXT
- Nº
[A] shows the starting order of the runner in the race card.
- Date
[B] is the race date.
- Time
[C] is the scheduled off time.
- R
[D] is the race number within the meeting.
- Track
[E] is the course name.
- Ctry
[F] indicates the country (UK/IRE).
- Type
[G] is the race type: Flat, Hurdle, Chase, or NHF.
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Class
[H] indicates the official race class or level used on the race card (for example CL3).
The following class codes can appear:
CL1 to CL7: standard Class races, where CL1 is the highest class and CL7 the lowest.
GP1 to GP3: Group races, where GP1 is the top elite level (Group 1), followed by Group 2 and Group 3.
LST: Listed race, positioned just below Group level and typically above Class 1 quality.
These labels reflect the competitive level of the race and are used by HRBT for class comparison, class movement, and Class Rating calculations.
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Dist. UK
[I] is the race distance as displayed on the race card, shown in the standard UK distance format (for example 1m 4f).
- Dist. (m)
[J] is the distance converted to metres.
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Surface
[K] is the race surface on which the race is run, typically Turf or AW (All-Weather).
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Going
[L] is the race ground description for Turf races (for example Soft) or the All-Weather going where provided.
The following going descriptions can appear:
UK (Turf): Hard, Firm, Good to Firm, Good, Good to Soft, Soft, Heavy.
Ireland (Turf): Good to Yielding, Yielding, Yielding to Soft, Soft to Heavy.
All-Weather: Fast, Standard to Fast, Standard, Standard to Slow, Slow.
- Hcp
[M] indicates if the race is a handicap.
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Maiden
[N], Nursery [O],
Begin. [P], Novice [Q],
Appren. [R], Amateur [S]:
these flags are marked when the race belongs to the corresponding category.
Race category definitions:
Maiden: races restricted to horses that have never won a race before.
Nursery: handicap races for two-year-old horses, where weights are set according to early form.
Beginners: introductory races, mainly in National Hunt, designed for inexperienced horses that may or may not have won.
Novice: races for horses that are new to the discipline (for example hurdling or chasing), usually limited to horses with few wins in that category.
Appr. (Apprentice): races restricted to apprentice jockeys, who can claim weight allowances.
Ama. (Amateur): races restricted to amateur riders, not professional jockeys.
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Conditions
[T] shows the key entry conditions that define which horses are eligible to run in the race (for example 4yo+, 0–55).
These conditions may include:
– Age limits (for example 4yo+ means horses aged four years and older).
– Rating bands (for example 0–55 means horses rated between 0 and 55).
– Other race-specific restrictions defined by the race conditions.
Conditions help ensure that runners compete against horses of a similar age, ability, or profile.
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Alloc (W)
[U] is the prize money allocated to the winner of the race, as shown on the race card (where applicable).
This value represents the winner's share of the total prize fund for the race.
It helps indicate the financial level and importance of the contest, with higher allocations generally corresponding to higher-quality races.
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Draw Adv.
[V], Stall [W], Fences [X], and
Nb runners [Y] provide additional race-structure clues that can influence how the race is likely to unfold.
– Draw Adv.: highlights known draw-related advantages when they are relevant (for example, tracks or distances where certain stall ranges historically perform better). This can matter most in flat races, especially over sprints and on tracks with a bias toward one side or a short run to the first bend.
– Stall: the runner’s starting stall position in flat races. Stall position can impact early positioning, whether a runner can get a clean run, and whether it may be forced wide or trapped in behind depending on the track layout and field size.
– Fences: the number of fences or hurdles in the race. More jumping obstacles can increase the chance of race disruption, mistakes, and pace changes. This can make certain races more demanding and can favour runners with reliable jumping and strong balance.
– Nb runners: the field size. Larger fields often increase congestion and positioning battles, while smaller fields can reduce interference and sometimes lead to more tactical races. Field size also affects how meaningful certain angles are (for example, draw impact and trouble risk often rise as the number of runners increases).
These fields help bettors anticipate race dynamics (positioning, pace pressure, interference risk, and tactical complexity) rather than focusing only on raw ratings.
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Track Diff.
[Z] is the track difficulty rating, reflecting the overall complexity of the racecourse.
This is a proprietary HRBT rating, defined and maintained internally by HR Best Times.
The rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5:
1: very straightforward tracks (flat, galloping, minimal technical difficulty).
2: mostly straightforward with minor technical features.
3: moderately technical tracks (some undulations, tighter bends, or tactical demands).
4: demanding tracks requiring strong balance, positioning, or jumping accuracy.
5: very demanding tracks with high technical difficulty (tight layouts, severe undulations, or challenging jumping).
Colour coding used in HRBT:
– Green background: low difficulty (1.0 – 2.0).
– Orange background: moderate difficulty (2.5 – 3.5).
– Red background: high difficulty (4.0 – 5.0).
Track difficulty helps assess how testing the race setup is and is used by HRBT when analysing race complexity and suitability.
- Data Qual.
[AA] is the race data quality score. A higher value means the field is better documented and therefore generally more predictable, while a lower value usually occurs in races with limited evidence (for example younger runners, fewer career starts, or more unknown profiles)
Visual indicator:
When the Data Quality score is below 60, the value is displayed with a red background.
This highlights races where the available data is limited and results may be less reliable.
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Estim. Time
[AB] is the estimated race time for the contest.
This is a proprietary HRBT estimation, calculated internally based on race conditions and context. The value is expressed in seconds and is intended for comparative analysis rather than as an official recorded time.
- Chall. flag?
[AC] (Challenging Flag) highlights demanding race setups (track difficulty and difficult ground).
The Challenging Flag highlights demanding race setups:
it is triggered when Track Difficulty ≥ 4, and also when Track Difficulty ≥ 3 on difficult goings
(such as Soft, Heavy, or Soft to Heavy).
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WEATHER FORECAST
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Weather
[AD], T° C [AE], Rain mm [AF],
Rain % [AG], and Wind km/h [AH] provide a
weather forecast snapshot for the meeting.
– Weather: general forecast description for the meeting.
– T° C: expected temperature in Celsius.
– Rain mm: expected precipitation amount in millimetres.
– Rain %: probability of precipitation.
– Wind km/h: expected wind speed.
Weather conditions can influence pace, stamina, going evolution, and overall race dynamics,
particularly on turf and on more exposed tracks.
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RUNNER IDENTIFICATION & RECENT FORM
- Nº (Rnr)
[AI] Runner number (as shown on the race card).
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Draw (Rnr)
[AJ] is the stall or draw position assigned to the runner on the race card (where applicable).
The draw applies mainly to Flat races, where horses start from numbered stalls.
The draw can be an important factor, especially on certain tracks or over specific distances.
In Irish race cards, the draw is not always shown or not available, depending on the race and data source. In such cases, this field may be left blank.
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Horse
[AK] is the runner's name.
For quick visual identification, HRBT uses colour coding:
– Blue: male horses.
– Pink: female horses.
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Gender
[AL] indicates the runner's sex, shown using standard racing abbreviations.
The following gender codes can appear:
C: Colt (entire male, typically under five years old).
F: Filly (female, typically under five years old).
G: Gelding (castrated male).
H: Horse (entire male, usually older).
M: Mare (adult female).
R: Ridgling (male with one or both testicles not fully descended).
- Age
[AM] is the runner's age shown on the card.
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True Age
[AN] is a calculated age value used by HRBT for more precise comparisons between runners.
This is a proprietary HRBT calculation that considers the horse's age more precisely than the simple year-based age shown on the race card.
This can be particularly important in young-horse races (for example 2yo races), where a horse that is several months older
(for example 2 years and 11 months) may have a significant physical advantage over a much younger rival
(for example 2 years and 1 month), due to greater maturity, size, and muscle development.
True Age helps HRBT better assess these maturity differences, especially in sprint races where physical development can play a key role.
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Prize Money
[AO] represents the total career earnings of the runner from professional races.
This figure reflects the overall level of competition the horse has been involved in during its career.
Horses with higher career prize money have typically competed in stronger races, while lower totals often indicate lower-grade or less exposed profiles.
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Avg Prize Money
[AP] represents the average prize money earned per run by the runner.
This metric helps normalise total career earnings by taking into account the number of races run.
It can highlight horses that consistently compete for meaningful prize money, even if their total career earnings are lower due to fewer starts.
Visual indicator:
The top three runners in the race based on Avg Prize Money are displayed in
bold coloured text for quick identification.
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Type Prize
[AQ] and Type Avg Prize [AR] are earnings metrics filtered by the current race type (Flat or Jumps).
These figures consider only races run under the same discipline as today's race.
– Type Prize: total prize money earned in races of the same type.
– Type Avg Prize: average prize money earned per run in races of the same type.
Visual indicator:
The top three runners in the race based on Type Avg Prize are displayed in
bold coloured text for quick identification.
This helps distinguish horses that have proven form and earnings in the relevant race discipline, rather than relying on overall career figures.
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Weight
[AS] is the declared race card weight assigned to the runner.
This is the weight shown on the race card before any internal adjustments or calculations.
It represents the official weight the horse is set to carry according to the race conditions and declarations.
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True Weight
[AT] is the normalised weight value used internally by HRBT for analysis.
This value represents the effective weight carried by the horse after applying any relevant adjustments, such as jockey allowances.
True Weight allows HRBT to compare runners on a like-for-like basis, ensuring weight-related comparisons are consistent across the field.
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Weight Movt
[AU] is a weight movement indicator, showing the change in carried weight compared to the runner's most recent race (where available).
This indicator highlights whether a horse is carrying more or less weight than on its last run.
A rise in weight can indicate a stronger previous performance or a higher assessment, while a drop in weight may suggest relief from the handicapper or a more favourable setup.
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Headgear
[AV] indicates any equipment worn on the horse's head during the race.
Common types of headgear include:
– BL (Blinkers): restrict rear vision to help the horse focus.
– CP (Cheekpieces): aid concentration without fully restricting vision.
– H (Hood): often used to help nervous or keen horses relax.
– V (Visor): similar to blinkers but with a slit to allow limited rear vision.
HRBT also flags first-time headgear and headgear changes, as these can sometimes lead to noticeable changes in performance or behaviour.
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TT
[AW] (Tongue Tie) indicates whether the horse is wearing a tongue tie (where present).
A tongue tie is used to help prevent the horse's tongue from moving back and restricting the airway during a race.
It is often applied to horses that have shown breathing issues in previous runs.
The use of a tongue tie can sometimes lead to improved performance, particularly over longer distances or in demanding races.
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WS
[AX] (Wind Surgery) indicates whether the horse has undergone wind surgery prior to this run (where present).
Wind surgery refers to a procedure carried out to improve a horse's breathing, usually after signs of respiratory issues during races.
The indicator is shown as:
– 1: this is the horse's first run after wind surgery.
– 2: this is the horse's second run after wind surgery.
Horses can sometimes show improved performance after wind surgery, particularly if breathing issues had previously limited their ability.
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Form (Horse)
[AY] shows the official recent form string as displayed on the race card (for example 122-1).
Each character represents the horse's finishing result in a previous race, using a single digit or letter:
Numeric results:
– 1 = first place, 2 = second place, 3 = third place, etc.
– 0 = finished outside the first 9 positions (10th or worse).
Letter codes:
– P = pulled up (did not finish).
– F = fell.
– U = unseated rider.
– B = brought down by another runner.
– / = season break (start of a new racing season).
– - = longer gap between runs.
Reading order:
The leftmost character is the oldest result, and the rightmost character is the most recent race.
This form string provides a quick visual summary of the horse's recent performance history.
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JOCKEY INFORMATION AND FORM
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Jockey
[AZ] is the jockey's name.
For quick visual identification, HRBT uses the same colour coding as for horses:
– Blue: male jockey.
– Pink: female jockey.
If the jockey's name is followed by (*), this indicates that it is the only ride of that jockey at the meeting.
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J Tot. Earn.
[BA] represents the jockey's total career earnings.
This figure reflects the overall level and experience of the jockey across their professional career.
Higher totals generally indicate regular involvement in stronger races, while lower totals may point to less experience or fewer opportunities at higher levels.
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J Type Earn.
[BB] represents the jockey's career earnings filtered by the current race type (Flat or Jumps), where available.
This figure considers only races run under the same discipline as today's race.
It helps assess the jockey's relevant experience and success in the specific type of race being contested.
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Jockey Form
[BC] shows the jockey's recent results, based on their last 10 rides (or all available rides if fewer than 10).
This field provides a quick overview of the jockey's current form trend.
– A pastel green background indicates the jockey is in good recent form (hot).
– A pastel red background indicates the jockey is out of form (cold).
The display allows users to quickly assess whether a jockey has been achieving strong or weak recent results.
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Allowance
[BD] is the jockey allowance (claim) applied to the runner (where applicable).
A jockey allowance (also called a claim) is a weight reduction granted to less experienced jockeys, as defined by racing authorities.
It is applied only when an eligible claiming jockey is declared to ride.
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J ALL W%
[BE], J ALL P% [BF],
J 12M W% [BG], J 12M P% [BH]
represent the jockey's win and place strike rates, calculated overall and over the last 12 months.
– J ALL W%: percentage of races won by the jockey across their entire career.
– J ALL P%: percentage of races where the jockey finished in the places across their entire career.
– J 12M W%: win percentage over the last 12 months.
– J 12M P%: place percentage over the last 12 months.
Colour indicators used in HRBT:
– Win %: values < 8% are shown in red, while values ≥ 15% are shown in blue.
– Place %: values < 22% are shown in red, while values ≥ 38% are shown in blue.
These figures help assess both the jockey's long-term ability and their recent effectiveness.
Important — Jockey P% in betting system criteria:
In existing Official and Custom Systems, the historical Jockey P% selection filter uses
Place Only% (placed finishes excluding wins). It does not add the jockey's Win%.
This differs from the cumulative Place% used for horse statistics in Excel, where wins count as placed finishes
(Win% + Place Only%). For example, with 19% wins and 13% non-winning places,
the historical Jockey P% system filter evaluates 13%, not 32%.
The existing filter behaviour is retained to preserve the selections and backtesting results of previously developed systems.
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Jockey L14D
[BI] reflects the jockey's win strike rate (%) over the last 14 days.
This percentage shows how often the jockey has won during the past two weeks. It is a useful indicator of very recent form and momentum.
- J Days L.Win
[BJ] is the number of days since the jockey's most recent winner.
- J Rides L.Win
[BK] is the number of rides since the jockey's most recent winner.
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TRAINER INFORMATION AND INTENT
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Trainer
[BL] is the trainer's name.
If the trainer's name is followed by (*), this indicates that it is the only runner from that trainer at the meeting.
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T Total Earn.
[BM] represents the trainer's total career earnings.
This figure reflects the overall level and experience of the trainer across their professional career.
Higher totals generally indicate regular success in stronger races, while lower totals may point to a smaller operation or fewer opportunities at higher levels.
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T Type Earn.
[BN] represents the trainer's career earnings filtered by the current race type (Flat or Jumps), where available.
This figure considers only races run under the same discipline as today's race.
It helps assess the trainer's experience and success in the specific type of race being contested.
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Trainer Form
[BO] shows the trainer's recent results, based on their last 10 runners (or all available runners if fewer than 10).
This field provides a quick overview of the trainer's current form trend.
– A pastel green background indicates the trainer is in good recent form (hot).
– A pastel red background indicates the trainer is out of form (cold).
The display allows users to quickly assess whether a trainer has been achieving strong or weak recent results.
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RTF %
[BP] represents the Recent Trainer Form percentage, used as a quick indicator of the trainer's current form.
This percentage reflects how well the trainer has been performing in their most recent runners.
A higher value generally indicates a trainer in good current form, while a lower value may suggest a quieter or weaker recent period.
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T ALL W%
[BQ], T ALL P% [BR],
T 12M W% [BS], T 12M P% [BT]
represent the trainer's win and place strike rates, calculated over different time scopes.
– T ALL W%: win percentage across the trainer's entire professional career.
– T ALL P%: place percentage across the trainer's entire professional career.
– T 12M W%: win percentage over the last 12 months.
– T 12M P%: place percentage over the last 12 months.
Visual indicator:
– Win %: values < 7% are shown in red, while values ≥ 15% are shown in blue.
– Place %: values < 20% are shown in red, while values ≥ 35% are shown in blue.
These indicators help quickly assess the trainer's effectiveness and current strength.
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Trainer L14D
[BU] reflects the trainer's win strike rate (%) over the last 14 days.
This percentage shows how often the trainer's runners have won during the past two weeks. It is a useful indicator of very recent trainer form and momentum.
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T Days L.Win
[BV] shows the number of days since the trainer's most recent winner.
A lower value indicates that the trainer has won more recently, while a higher value suggests a longer gap since their last success.
This helps assess how recently the stable has been delivering winners.
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T Races L.Win
[BW] shows the number of trainer runners since the trainer's most recent winner.
This value counts how many horses the trainer has run since their last winning runner.
A lower number indicates a more recent success, while a higher number suggests a longer run of runners without a win.
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Miles Travel.
[BX] indicates the approximate distance travelled by the runner to reach the meeting.
This value reflects the travel effort made by the trainer and connections.
Longer journeys can sometimes signal strong intent, especially when a trainer sends a single runner a significant distance for a specific race.
This metric is used by HRBT as one of the inputs for the Intent Score.
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FORECASTS AND MARKET EXPECTATIONS
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HRBT FC
[BY] and FC Rank [BZ] represent HRBT's proprietary forecast and ranking.
HRBT FC shows the proprietary HRBT forecast odds, calculated internally by HR Best Times using HRBT data, ratings, and models.
These odds are not sourced from bookmakers or exchanges.
FC Rank ranks runners based on the HRBT FC odds, from shortest to biggest
(Rank 1 = shortest odds).
HRBT FC provides an independent view of how the race may shape up, allowing users to compare HRBT's expectations against market prices.
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NAPs
[CA] counts the number of “NAP”-style selections associated with the runner.
A “NAP” is typically a tipster's strongest selection of the day.
This count reflects how many tipster-style sources have highlighted the runner in this way.
Visual indicator:
When one or more NAPs are present, the value is displayed with a green background and green font to make it immediately visible.
NAPs should be interpreted as a sentiment indicator and considered alongside other HRBT data.
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Punt Score
[CB] (0–10) is a proprietary HRBT score reflecting market and punter confidence in the runner's recent form.
The Punt Score is designed to capture how the betting market has historically viewed the runner,
based on recent market positioning and outcomes analysed internally by HRBT.
Visual indicator:
– The Punt Score is shown in red when the runner was favourite in a recent race but failed to win,
and has not won any subsequent races up to today. This highlights runners that may have been overestimated by the market in the past.
– The Punt Score is shown in blue when the score is ≥ 8, signalling high market confidence in the runner's recent form.
The Punt Score helps identify runners that the market respects strongly, as well as those it may have misjudged previously.
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OFFICIAL RATINGS
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OR
[CC], OR Rank [CD], and HW OR [CE] relate to the runner's Official Rating, mainly used in handicap races.
OR (Official Rating) is the rating assigned by official handicappers, intended to reflect the runner's current ability.
It is particularly relevant in handicaps, where ratings are used to level the field.
OR Rank ranks all runners in the race by their Official Rating, with
Rank 1 representing the highest OR in the field (where OR data is available).
HW OR (Highest Winning OR) represents the best Official Rating achieved by the runner in a winning performance.
This highlights the highest level at which the horse has previously won.
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PACE AND THIRD-PARTY RATINGS
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Pace
[CF] and Pace Rk [CG] relate to the early speed and running tempo of the runners.
Pace represents a pace indicator, used to compare how quickly runners are likely to race, particularly in the early stages.
Pace Rk ranks the field based on the Pace score, with a higher pace score ranking better.
Visual indicator:
Runners ranked in the top three for Pace Rk are displayed with an orange background for quick identification.
These fields help assess potential race shape and tempo, such as whether the race is likely to be strongly run or favour certain running styles.
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RP Rtg
[CH] and RP Rnk [CI] relate to the Racing Post Rating.
RP Rtg is the Racing Post rating, an independent performance figure published by the Racing Post to assess a runner's ability.
A higher rating indicates stronger past performance.
RP Rnk ranks all runners in the race based on their RP Rtg.
Visual indicator:
Runners ranked in the top three by RP Rnk are displayed with an orange background for quick identification.
These fields provide an external performance benchmark that can be compared with HRBT's own ratings and indicators.
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ATR Rtg
[CJ], ATR Rnk [CK], and ATR Stars [CL] relate to the At The Races (ATR) ratings.
ATR Rtg is the At The Races rating, used to assess a runner's ability.
A higher rating indicates stronger past performance.
ATR Rnk ranks all runners in the race based on their ATR Rtg.
ATR Stars represents the ATR Expert View (star rating), expressed on a scale from 0 to 5 stars. This reflects the expert analysis and commentary associated with the runner.
Visual indicators:
– Runners ranked in the top three by ATR Rnk are displayed with an orange background.
– When ATR Stars = 5, the value is displayed in bold purple to highlight the maximum star rating.
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RP TS
[CM] and RP TS Rk [CN] relate to the Racing Post Top Speed figures.
RP TS is the Racing Post Top Speed rating, designed to measure how fast a runner has actually gone in past races.
A higher value indicates faster recorded performance.
RP TS Rk ranks all runners in the race based on their RP TS figure.
Visual indicator:
Runners ranked in the top three by RP Rnk are displayed with an orange background.
These fields help identify runners with proven raw speed, which can be particularly relevant in strongly run or speed-favouring races.
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HRBT SPEED RATING AND PREDICTIONS
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HRBT SR
[CO] and HRBT SR Rank [CP] relate to the HRBT Speed Rating.
HRBT SR is the proprietary HRBT Speed Rating, calculated internally to assess a runner's speed performance within the HRBT framework.
A higher rating indicates stronger speed performance.
Visual indicator:
Runners ranked in the top three by HRBT SR Rank are displayed in
bold purple for quick identification.
These fields provide an internal speed benchmark that can be compared with external measures such as RP Top Speed.
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RP Pred.
[CQ], RP Pred. Diff. [CR], and RP Pred. Rank [CS] relate to the Racing Post Predictor module.
The RP Predictor produces a predicted finishing order and assigns a numeric predictor value to each runner.
RP Pred. is the runner's RP Predictor value (for example 641, 530). A higher value indicates a stronger predicted performance within the Predictor model.
RP Pred. Rank is the runner's rank in the RP Predictor finishing order (Rank 1 = predicted winner).
RP Pred. Diff. shows the difference between the top RP Predictor value (Rank 1) and the runner's own RP Predictor value.
For example, if the top runner has 641 and another runner has 530, the RP Pred. Diff. for that runner is 111.
Visual indicator:
Runners ranked in the top three by RP Pred. Rank are displayed with an orange background for quick identification.
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ATR Pred.
[CT], ATR Pred. Diff. [CU], and ATR Pred. Rank [CV] relate to the At The Races (ATR) Predictor module.
The ATR Predictor produces a predicted finishing order and assigns a numeric predictor value to each runner.
ATR Pred. is the runner's ATR Predictor value. A higher value indicates a stronger predicted performance within the ATR Predictor model.
ATR Pred. Rank is the runner's rank in the ATR Predictor finishing order
(Rank 1 = predicted winner).
ATR Pred. Diff. shows the difference between the top ATR Predictor value (Rank 1) and the runner's own ATR Predictor value.
This highlights how far each runner is rated behind the predicted winner by the ATR model.
Visual indicator:
Runners ranked in the top three by ATR Pred. Rank are displayed with an orange background for quick identification.
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LAST RACE SNAPSHOT
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Last Class
[CW] and Class Mvt [CX] relate to the class level of the runner's most recent race and how it compares to today's contest.
Last Class shows the class or level of the runner's most recent professional run, as used internally by HRBT.
Class Mvt indicates the change in class compared to that last run, using the following symbols:
+ : moving up in class.
- : moving down in class.
= : same class as last run.
blank : not available or not applicable.
These fields help assess whether a runner is facing stronger, similar, or weaker opposition than last time.
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Last Prize M.
[CY] and P.M. Mvt [CZ] relate to the prize money level of the runner's most recent race and how it compares to previous runs.
Last Prize M. shows the prize money awarded for the runner's most recent professional run.
P.M. Mvt indicates the change in last prize money compared to the prior comparable race, using the following symbols:
+ : higher prize money than the previous comparable race.
- : lower prize money than the previous comparable race.
= : same prize money level.
blank : not available or not applicable.
These fields help assess whether a runner is moving into stronger or weaker prize-money conditions, which often reflects a change in competition level.
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Last Dist.
[DA] and Dist. Mvt [DB] relate to the race distance of the runner's most recent run and how it compares to today's race.
Last Dist. shows the distance of the runner's most recent professional run, expressed in metres.
Dist. Mvt indicates the change in distance compared to today's race, expressed in metres, using the following symbols:
+ : today's race is longer than the last run.
- : today's race is shorter than the last run.
= : same distance as the last run.
blank : not available or not applicable.
These fields help assess whether a runner is being asked to race over a longer, shorter, or similar distance than last time.
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Last Weight
[DC] and Weight Mvt [DD] relate to the weight carried in the runner's most recent race and how it compares to today's run.
Last Weight shows the declared (true) weight carried by the runner in its most recent professional run.
Weight Mvt indicates the change in carried weight compared to that last run, using the following symbols:
+ : carrying more weight than last time.
- : carrying less weight than last time.
= : same weight as last run.
blank : not available or not applicable.
These fields help assess whether a runner is facing a heavier, lighter, or unchanged weight burden compared to its previous race.
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Last SP
[DE] shows the bookmaker Starting Price (SP) from the runner's most recent professional run.
The Starting Price is expressed in fractional odds and reflects the bookmaker market's final assessment of the runner's chance at the off.
This value provides useful context on how the horse was viewed by the betting market in its last race.
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Last Res.
[DF] shows the finishing result of the runner's most recent professional run.
The result is displayed using standard racecard notation, for example:
1 to 9 = finishing positions.
0 = finished outside the first nine positions.
P = pulled up, F = fell, U = unseated rider, B = brought down.
This field provides a quick reference to how the runner performed last time out.
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Last By
[DG] and Avg By [DH] relate to the beaten distance of the runner.
Last By shows the beaten distance from the runner's most recent professional run.
This represents how far the runner finished behind the winner, expressed in lengths.
Avg By shows the runner's average beaten distance calculated over a recent rolling set of runs.
Smaller values indicate the runner tends to finish closer to the winner, while larger values suggest the runner is usually beaten by a wider margin.
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Days L.Run
[DI] and Days L.Win [DJ] relate to the time elapsed since the runner's most recent activity.
Days L.Run shows the number of days since the runner last competed in a professional race.
Days L.Win shows the number of days since the runner last won a professional race.
These fields help assess the runner's recency of form, race fitness, and how long it has been since the horse last tasted success.
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Nb Races
[DK] shows the number of professional races recorded by HRBT for the runner.
This count includes only professional races.
Runners with exclusively Point-to-Point (P2P) form are left blank.
The number of races provides useful context on the runner's experience level and depth of available form.
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CAREER STRIKE RATES
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Win %
[DL] and Place % [DM] represent the runner's career strike rates within the HRBT scope.
Win % shows the percentage of professional races won by the runner across its career.
Place % shows the percentage of professional races where the runner finished placed.
Visual indicator:
– If based on fewer than 10 races, values are shown in grey (limited sample size).
– Win %: values < 7% are shown in red, while values ≥ 15% are shown in blue.
– Place %: values < 20% are shown in red, while values ≥ 35% are shown in blue.
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Type W%
[DN] and Type P% [DO] represent the runner's strike rates filtered to today's race type (Flat or Jumps).
Type W% shows the win percentage achieved by the runner in races of the same type as today's race.
Type P% shows the place percentage achieved by the runner in races of the same type as today's race.
Visual indicator:
– If based on fewer than 10 races, values are shown in grey (limited sample size).
– Type W%: values < 7% are shown in red, while values ≥ 15% are shown in blue.
– Type P%: values < 20% are shown in red, while values ≥ 35% are shown in blue.
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Jockey W%
[DP] and Jockey P% [DQ] represent the strike rates of today's jockey when riding this specific horse.
Jockey W% shows the win percentage achieved by today's jockey when riding this horse, based on their shared race history.
Jockey P% shows the place percentage achieved by today's jockey when riding this horse, based on their shared race history.
Visual indicator:
– If based on fewer than 10 races, values are shown in grey (limited sample size).
– Jockey W%: values ≥ 15% are shown in blue.
– Jockey P%: values ≥ 38% are shown in blue.
These figures help assess the effectiveness of the jockey–horse partnership rather than the jockey's overall statistics.
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Trainer W%
[DR] and Trainer P% [DS] represent the strike rates of today's trainer with this specific horse.
Trainer W% shows the win percentage achieved by today's trainer with this horse, based on their shared race history.
Trainer P% shows the place percentage achieved by today's trainer with this horse, based on their shared race history.
Visual indicator:
– If based on fewer than 10 races, values are shown in grey (limited sample size).
– Trainer W%: values ≥ 15% are shown in blue.
– Trainer P%: values ≥ 35% are shown in blue.
These figures help assess the effectiveness of the trainer–horse partnership rather than the trainer's overall statistics.
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BINARY CRITERIA FLAGS
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The following fields are binary criteria flags used by HRBT to indicate whether specific suitability conditions are met.
Each flag works on a simple pass / fail basis:
– "X" indicates that the condition is met according to HRBT rules.
– A blank cell means that the condition has not been satisfied.
The following flags represent core suitability checks:
BF? [DT] = Beaten Favourite in the runner's most recent race.
CD? [DU] = Course & Distance suitability.
C? [DV] = Course suitability.
D? [DW] = Distance suitability.
G? [DX] = Going (ground) suitability.
S? [DY] = Surface suitability (Turf / All-Weather).
HG? [DZ] = Headgear suitability evidence.
Cl? [EA] = Class suitability.
Hcp? [EB] = Handicap suitability.
CD?, C?, D?, etc. are independent binary flags, each representing a specific type of past evidence.
CD? requires the runner to have achieved the relevant result at the same course and the same distance in the same race.
C? and D? assess course and distance evidence separately and do not imply that both were achieved together.
Visual indicators (background colours):
Grey background indicates runners that have been placed under those conditions.
Blue background indicates runners that have won under those conditions.
Gold background indicates runners with a 50% or better win record under those conditions.
Black background is used for BF? only when marked with "X", indicating the runner was a Beaten Favourite in its most recent race.
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SUITABILITY RATINGS AND RANKS
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Track
[EC-EE], Distance [EF-EH], Weight [EI-EK], Going [EL-EN], Surface [EO-EQ],
Class [ER-ET], Hcp [EU-EW], and Global [EX-EZ] all follow the same suitability rating and ranking logic in HRBT.
For each of these categories, HRBT provides:
[Category] Rating
A 0–10 suitability score, calculated from the runner's historical performance under
similar conditions. Higher values indicate stronger suitability.
[Category] Rank
Ranks all runners in the race based on the corresponding Rating.
[Category] Rk +/-
Shows the change in Rank compared to the runner's previous race.
A positive value means the runner is better ranked today in this category,
while a negative value indicates a lower relative ranking.
Visual indicator:
Runners ranked 1 to 3 in any suitability category are displayed with a green background.
These ratings help identify runners whose overall suitability profile is strengthening or weakening relative to today's opposition.
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VALUE SCORES
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Score Pts
[FA] is a proprietary HRBT profile rating expressed on a 0–10 scale,
derived from the combined pattern formed by the runner's Form Score, Year Score, and Career Score.
This score is designed to summarise the runner's overall performance profile, highlighting signs of momentum, consistency, or decline.
Rather than focusing on a single time period, Score Pts provides a balanced overview of recent form, current-season performance, and long-term career trends.
Visual indicator:
The runner ranked 1st by Score Pts is displayed in
bold purple font.
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Form Score
[FB] is the runner's average value score per race calculated from the last 5 professional runs.
The score takes into account both the quality of the race and the runner's finishing position in each of those runs.
This metric is designed to reflect the runner's current form level, giving more weight to strong performances achieved in higher-quality races.
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Year Score
[FC] is the runner's average value score per race calculated over the last 12 months.
This score helps identify runners that are improving, stable, or declining across the current season.
By smoothing results over a longer period than Form Score, Year Score provides a broader view of performance trends beyond very recent form.
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Career Score
[FD] is the runner's average value score per race
calculated across the runner's full professional career within the HRBT scope.
This score acts as a long-term performance anchor, reflecting the runner's overall ability and consistency over time.
Career Score is particularly useful for placing recent or seasonal form into context, helping distinguish genuine progression from short-term variance.
📘 How to Read and Interpret the Value Score Columns
Each of the three value scores – Form Score (last 5 races), Year Score (last 12 months), and Career Score (entire career) – reflects a different phase of a horse's racing ability. By comparing them, you can detect key performance trends that help spot value bets, fading stars, or late bloomers.
| Points |
Score Pattern |
Meaning |
Profile Type |
Recommended Action |
| 10 |
All High & Similar |
Consistent high-level form |
Reliable Class |
Strong choice |
| 9 |
Form > Year > Career |
Sharp upward curve |
Peaking / Emerging |
Back or trade confidently |
| 8 |
Form > Year ≈ Career |
Improving off stable base |
Boosting / Upturn |
Monitor or back in right setup |
| 7 |
Form ≈ Year > Career |
Holding high level after rise |
Stable / Holding |
Back if setup supports |
| 6 |
Form > Year < Career |
Recent bounce, may be false |
Inconsistent / Spiking |
Good price? Monitor closely |
| 5 |
Year > Form > Career |
Improvement stalled recently |
Mild Dip |
Worth backing if setup is favourable |
| 5 |
All Mid & Similar |
Consistent mid-range form |
Neutral / Balanced |
Watch price/trend context |
| 4 |
Form < Year > Career |
Career dip, slight rebound |
Past Peak / Holding |
Risky, only in right conditions |
| 3 |
Form < Year ≈ Career |
Recent dip, still near baseline |
Mild Dip |
Back cautiously or wait |
| 2 |
Form ≈ Year < Career |
Flat and below past class |
Regressing |
Avoid unless major excuse |
| 1 |
Form < Year < Career |
Clear long-term regression |
Sharp Decline |
Avoid or lay |
| 0 |
All Low & Similar |
Consistent low-level form |
Weak Class |
Ignore unless in poor race |
Tip 1: The darker the blue, the stronger the profile. Horses scoring 10–8 often represent peak form or rising ability, while those near 0 signal declining or consistently weak form.
Tip 2: Horses with a Form Score higher than both Year and Career Scores are often improving fast and may still be underrated by the market. These are often the best short-term value picks.
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HRBT COMPONENT SCORES
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Perf. Score, Suit. Score, Speed Score, Intent Score, and Mkt Score are proprietary HRBT component scores, developed internally by HR Best Times, expressed on a 0–10 scale and used together to build the overall HRBT Rating.
Each component focuses on a specific dimension of analysis, allowing HRBT to evaluate runners from multiple complementary angles.
The final HRBT Rating combines these components to provide a balanced and structured assessment of each runner's overall profile.
Visual indicator:
The runner ranked 1st by Score Pts is displayed in bold purple font.
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Perf. Score
[FE] measures the runner's overall performance strength by analysing a combination of results, consistency, freshness, and earnings.
This score evaluates how solid and reliable the runner's performances have been, using several complementary performance signals.
The Perf. Score is built from the following elements:
– Finishing positions: how well the runner has finished in recent races, with better results contributing more positively.
– Place consistency: how often the runner finishes in the places, reflecting reliability rather than one-off wins.
– Days since last run: how recently the runner last raced, taking into account different recovery patterns for Flat and Jumps races.
– Career prize money: the level of prize money earned relative to the number of runs, used as an indicator of the quality of races contested.
– Recent form pattern: whether the runner's recent results show improvement, stability, or regression.
This results in a balanced assessment of the runner's current performance profile.
A high Perf. Score indicates a runner delivering strong and consistent performances, while a lower score suggests weaker results, reduced consistency, or unfavourable recent conditions.
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Suit. Score
[FF] measures how well the runner's past performances match today's race conditions, based on a structured set of key suitability checks.
The score is built by evaluating the runner's historical results across the main elements that define today's race.
The Suitability Score is composed of the following components:
– Track suitability: how well the runner has performed on the same course or on tracks with similar characteristics.
– Distance suitability: evidence that the runner performs well at today's distance (with different handling for Flat and Jumps races).
– Weight suitability: how the runner has handled similar carried weights in past races.
– Going suitability: how well the runner has performed on today's going and surface conditions.
– Class suitability: whether the runner has shown ability at, above, or below today's class level.
The final result reflects the runner's overall compatibility with today's race setup, rather than recent form or raw ability.
A high Suit. Score indicates a runner that is well placed by conditions, while a low score suggests that today's race setup may not play to the runner's strengths.
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Speed Score
[FG] evaluates the runner's overall speed capability and race-efficiency profile, based on how speed is produced and sustained during recent races.
This score focuses on how the runner moves and performs within a race, rather than on finishing position alone.
It analyses several complementary speed-related characteristics observed in recent runs.
The Speed Score is built from the following performance aspects:
– Acceleration ability: how well the runner is able to quickly increase speed and finish strongly when required.
– Early pace profile: the runner's typical running style early in the race, whether prominent, mid-pack, or held up, with different handling for Flat and Jumps races.
– Efficiency of effort: how evenly and economically the runner distributes effort throughout the race, avoiding excessive early energy loss.
– Raw speed capability: the runner's underlying speed potential as observed across different race phases.
– Stride characteristics: biomechanical indicators of how the runner moves, such as stride length and rhythm, where this information is available.
By combining these elements across the runner's most recent races, Speed Score highlights runners with a consistent and repeatable speed profile, rather than those relying on a single fast run.
A high Speed Score suggests a runner capable of sustaining speed efficiently and responding well to race demands, while a lower score may indicate limited pace, weaker finishing ability, or inefficient energy use.
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Intent Score
[FH] measures connections intent signals, highlighting situations where the trainer and jockey actions suggest that the runner has been placed in the race with clear purpose.
This score focuses on practical intent indicators that often reflect planning, commitment, or a targeted race placement, rather than pure ability alone.
The Intent Score is built from the following signals:
– Trainer solo runner: a positive signal when the trainer has only one runner at the meeting, often suggesting a deliberate target.
– Jockey solo ride: a positive signal when the jockey has only one ride at the meeting, indicating a focused booking.
– Long travel distance: a strong signal when the runner is sent a significant distance to the meeting, often reflecting intent rather than convenience.
– Class drop: a very strong signal when the runner is moving down in class compared to its previous race, suggesting an easier opportunity has been selected.
– Distance drop: a smaller positive signal when the runner drops back in distance versus the last run, which can indicate a tactical adjustment to suit the runner.
– NAP support: a small additional boost when there is at least one public NAP flag present, used only as supporting evidence when other intent signals already exist.
A high Intent Score indicates stronger signs that the runner has been placed in the race with purposeful intent, while a lower score suggests fewer visible intent signals from the race setup and connections patterns.
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Mkt Score
[FI] measures a runner's value and market-edge profile, combining key signals that often influence how the market prices a runner and where potential mispricing can occur.
This component focuses on factors that commonly shape market confidence, using a structured review of core rating and connections signals rather than race results alone.
The Mkt Score is built from the following elements:
– Official Rating value: evaluates the runner's rating level and how it compares within the race, including useful context from past rating benchmarks where available.
– Weight value: considers how favourable or demanding today's carried weight is compared to the race field and typical weight patterns.
– Headgear signals: adds a positive signal when key headgear factors apply, such as first-time headgear or relevant headgear indicators.
– Jockey value: uses jockey strike-rate and recent-form indicators to reflect the strength of the booking and current jockey profile.
– Trainer value: uses trainer strike-rate and recent-form indicators to reflect stable form and current trainer profile.
A high Mkt Score indicates a runner with stronger market-relevant signals and a profile that may attract confidence, while a lower score suggests fewer supporting market-strength indicators.
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OVERALL RATING
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HRBT Rtg
[FJ] and HRBT Rank [FK] provide the final overall assessment of each runner within the race.
HRBT Rtg is the
overall HRBT Rating, expressed on a
0–10 scale, and represents a combined view of the main proprietary HRBT component scores (Performance, Suitability, Speed, Intent, and Market).
This rating is designed to summarise the runner's
global profile, balancing form, conditions fit, speed characteristics, intent signals, and market-related factors into a single, easy-to-read figure.
Visual indicator (HRBT Rtg background colour):
The background colour of the HRBT Rtg cell reflects the strength of the rating on a progressive scale:
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
A value around
5 represents a
neutral or average profile.
Lower values (red tones) indicate either a
weaker overall profile or a
profile with limited available data, while higher values (green tones) indicate a
stronger and better-documented overall profile.
HRBT Rank ranks all runners in the race based on their HRBT Rtg, allowing
quick comparison of overall strength within the field.
Visual indicator (HRBT Rank):
The runner ranked
1st by
HRBT Rank is displayed in
bold purple font.
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RESULTS AND PRICES
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Res.
[FL] shows the runner's result for the race. It is blank until results are known, then populated when available.
Results can be populated in two ways:
– Live update: results are filled automatically if the Auto option is ticked, or manually if the user clicks Results.
– Next-day update: if HRBT was not kept open, results are updated automatically the next day when HRBT downloads the races, using Betfair historical data.
When results are populated, HRBT also fills the associated bookmaker price fields: Book Fract. and BOOK Decim.
Visual indicator (Res.):
– W indicates the runner won the race.
– P indicates the runner was placed.
– NR indicates the runner was a non-runner.
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BOOK Fract.
[FM] and BOOK Decim. [FN] show the bookmaker starting prices for the runner.
BOOK Fract. displays the fractional starting price, while BOOK Decim. displays the same price in decimal format.
These values are populated only during live result updates, either when the Auto option is enabled or when the user clicks Results.
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BFSP Win
[FO],
BFSP Place [FP],
Sel. Vol. Win [FQ], and
Sel. % Win [FR] provide Betfair Exchange post-race data for the runner.
– BFSP Win: Betfair Starting Price for the Win market.
– BFSP Place: Betfair Starting Price for the Place market.
– Sel. Vol. Win: total matched volume on the runner in the Win market.
– Sel. % Win: percentage share of the total Win-market matched volume attributed to the runner.
These values are populated after market settlement, when HRBT downloads the next day's races using Betfair historical data.
They provide insight into market confidence, liquidity, and post-race validation of how strongly a runner was supported on the Betfair Exchange.
