You will find countless mentions of the word ‘trend’ on this site but what exactly does it mean?
In simple terms it means that we look at the past results of a particular sporting event in order to build a profile of what a future winner might look like.
Using a horse race as an example, after reviewing the results over the past ten years we can determine such valuable information as:
- which is the best age group to follow;
- where is the best place to be drawn;
- which trainers have the best record;
- which races have proved a key trial;
- how the favourites have fared.
Some trends are stronger than others, so it is important that they are viewed in order of priority and whilst past results do not guarantee future winners, you will be amazed just how many times they point you in the right direction.
An important element of using trends as a guideline is not using them as a definitive rule book, common sense must also be applied, for example, backing a horse that was running on unsuitable ground or a football team that was plagued by injuries or suspensions would be foolish, and you would simply be throwing your money away.
However, help is at hand if you are struggling to come up with a final shortlist. For each publication the authors provide an update confirming who the leading competitors are from a trends point of view, along with their own personal thoughts.
