Welcome to HOOF Race Ratings

Welcome to the home of HOOF Race Ratings. Our old website can still be viewed here, for a limited time, but all up-to-date information can be found here on the new site.

HOOF Race Ratings are designed for a statistics-grounded value approach to National Hunt horse racing in the UK. Unlike conventional race ratings, they offer the backer an authoritative guide to both form and value. The program which generates the ratings uses Bayes’ theorem to calculate each horse’s chance of winning. The resulting figures are then recalculated to give an edge in the backer’s favour. Hence the acronym: Horserace Optimum Odds Forecast.

The HOOF  race ratings service publishes accurate, innovative, and informative race ratings, with the emphasis placed firmly on finding good value. We have been on the Internet since the 1995-96 NH season, initially as a free service, and latterly by subscription.  The success of the race ratings and the integrity of the service means that we have stood our ground with a small but loyal nucleus of satisfied users.

The history behind HOOF Race Ratings

System B Results for November 2012 (normalised to a £10 level stake)

Total matched bets              201
Winners                          29
Expected winners                 19.03
Strike rate for matched bets     14.43%
Gross profit                    721.90
Gross % return on investment*    48.13%
Percentage profit on turnover    36.04%
Average level matched            10.56
Average level winners             9.4
Betfair commission @ 5%         121.75
Betfair commission % of gross    16.86%
Net profit to 10 GBP            600.15
Net % return on investment*      40.01%
Number of races                 127
Winning race strike-rate         21.74%

* ROI figures assume a 150-point bank

System B Results for December 2012 (normalised to a £10 level stake)


Total matched bets              200
Winners                          23
Expected winners                 19.98
Strike rate for matched bets     11.50%
Gross profit                   -172.76
Gross % return on investment    -11.52%
Percentage profit on turnover   - 8.65%
Average level matched            10.01
Average level winners             7.94
Betfair commission @ 5%          79.76
Betfair commission % of gross   -46.17
Net profit to 10 GBP            -252.52
Net % return on investment*      -16.83%
Number of races                  137
Winning race strike-rate          16.79%

Frankly, a disappointing month, but given the atrocious weather and the number
of abandoned meetings, perhaps not unsurprising.

System B Results for January 2013 (normalised to a £10 level stake)

Total matched bets              124
Winners                           9
Expected winners                 11.57
Strike rate for matched bets      7.26%
Gross profit                   -564.88
Gross % return on investment    -37.66%
Percentage profit on turnover   -45.69%
Average level matched            10.71
Average level winners             7.46
Betfair commission @ 5%          29.07
Betfair commission % of gross   - 5.15%
Net profit to 10 GBP            -593.95
Net % return on investment*      -39.60%
Number of races                   83
Winning race strike-rate          10.84%

Another poor month, almost certainly due to the appalling weather and the 
consequent disruption of the racing programme.  The strike rate was too bad
to be true, the average over the course of last season being in excess of 
13%.  The number of winning races is also half of the expected.  

System B Results for February 2013 (normalised to a £10 level stake)

Total matched bets              138
Winners                          21
Expected winners                 13.33
Strike rate for matched bets     15.22%
Gross profit                    410.30
Gross % return on investment     27.35%
Percentage profit on turnover   -29.73%
Average level matched            10.35
Average level winners             8.53
Betfair commission @ 5%          79.01
Betfair commission % of gross    19.26%
Net profit to 10 GBP            331.29
Net % return on investment*      22.09%
Number of races                   83
Winning race strike-rate          10.84%

The improvement in the weather and a dramatic reduction in the number
of abandoned meetings produced an immediate improvement in results.
I'm more than hopeful that it will be possible to build on this
turnaround.

System B Results for March 2013 (normalised to a £10 level stake)

Total matched bets              199
Winners                          21
Expected winners                 19.22
Strike rate for matched bets     10.55%
Gross profit                   -391.71
Gross % return on investment    -26.11%
Percentage profit on turnover   -20.11%
Average level matched            10.36
Average level winners             7.45
Betfair commission @ 5%          67.74
Betfair commission % of gross   -17.29%
Net profit to 10 GBP            -459.45
Net % return on investment*      -30.63%
Number of races                  131
Winning race strike-rate          16.03%

Dreadful numbers, no doubt due to further disruption caused by the unprecedented 
weather. This seems reasonable because the figures for April, which are not
yet complete, have seen a dramatic change of fortune.