In this podcast episode, South Australian racing analyst Heath Pope answers a number of different questions about how he does the form, prepares rated prices and then stakes his bets.

Punting Insights:

Certain form factors he considers over-rated

The importance of jockey ratings

Why trainer ratings can't be used as a 'one size fits all' approach

When he incorporates market intelligence into his staking

Why he doesn't bet the exotics

Today’s Guest:

Heath Pope

Dave Duffield: We've got a series running right now on the differences, but also some of the common traits amongst successful analysts and punters. I wanted to get you on and talk about both form and your betting and money management.

We'll start with the analysis side of things. Would you describe yourself as a data guy or more videos, instinct experience?

Heath Pope: I'm what you probably would classify as old school. I specialise in just one area, even though my raw data figures are computer generated, I basically just use those as the base figure with the rest of my form analysis coming from what I actually see with my own two eyes as well as gut instinct, having got to know those horses I specialise in.

Dave Duffield: With that knowledge of the horses, your preference is South Australian racing. Why did you choose to focus on that area?

Heath Pope: I like to concentrate on an area which is less popular. In regards to Sydney and Melbourne where the markets are very efficient, I would rather concentrate a lot more on an area more where, I believe, I've got a much more stronger edge.

Dave Duffield: When you're doing the analysis that you mentioned and it comes down to experience and knowledge of the horses, are you watching videos and taking a lot of notes?

Heath Pope: That's all I do. All I'm doing is watching videos. I do the form for myself but I'm still working for Racenet and I'm also providing video comments for every horse in every race. If there’s 14 horses in a race I'm watching the race 14 times. After a while you do tend to get to know them.

Dave Duffield: Are you saying that in the Hilton Donaldson days you’d have to listen to him 14 times, calling the same race.

Heath Pope: I miss Hilton!

Dave Duffield: Very well. What about speed maps? What role do they play ... I'm talking about when you're previewing a race or trying to determine whether you want to bet into a race. How do you come up with the speed map and then how does that come into you're assessment in terms of, yeah, I want to bet or no, I don't?

Heath Pope: Speed maps are one of the most important factors in analysing form. It all comes down to me doing the form manually, gut instincts, knowing the horses and also looking outside of the square, as well. A lot of times certain races might look to have absolutely no pace whatsoever, hence it looks too obvious and, some trainers and jockeys who might be behind that slow pace wanting to change things. You get a feel for it after a while and certain horses that can race on the pace ... it's hard to explain really. Some horses are very versatile, let’s just say that.

Does that make sense?

Dave Duffield: Yeah, it's interesting what you said there about sometimes the obvious turns out to to run the opposite way because that's exactly what Andrew Hannan our VIC guy mentioned about speed maps are so mainstream now that trainers and jockeys are all generally looking at similar stuff. So if they see there is no pace there, whereas just a few years ago that's the way it may have turned out, quite often now it's the opposite.

Heath Pope: Yeah. If you're going to let Horse A get away with murder up front then your chances of winning the race you are facing an uphill battle. Jockeys and trainers are going to try to do something about that and it only takes 2, 3 or 4 horses to have the same idea then suddenly your race has turned upside down, hasn't it? Everything is not black and white,