Picture the scene. You're at the races and the pages of your racecard resemble hieroglyphics. You stand in the paddock and watch the horses parade, before watching them go to post from the grandstand.

All around you conspiratorial whispers fly about. 'Couldn't have that one, it's running from miles out of the handicap... That won't win, it will be off the bridle at the business end of the race... Look at that one's knee action, I'm amazed connections are even running it on this ground.'

Horse racing is chock-full of facts, figures, jargon and, best of all, gossip. No wonder so many people who bet simply shovel their hard-earned cash on horses with a name they fancy, whose colours they like or, even, the number on its saddle cloth!