It's all in the breeding: the most underrated weapon in a punter's armoury

There are few bigger misconceptions surrounding betting on horseracing than the old trope that pedigrees don't matter.

Clearly context is important, as there will be occasions when traditional form study or following the market will tell you more about a horse's chance, but the insight pedigree study can yield means that, more often than not, it dovetails neatly with more widely used means of finding an edge.

So why does breeding count for so much? Pedigrees are not crafted by chance, but are the result of years of carefully selected matings. Billions get spent around the world each year in the pursuit of breeding as fast a horse as possible, with mating plans routinely aided by a blend of cutting-edge genetics, in-depth statistical analysis and the input and expertise of highly skilled horsemen and horsewomen.