Fantasy Racing 2016-17 * Stable Stars - final results & prize winner *

[SamD]

More misery for 'Elite':
Thistlecrack is ruled out of Cheltenham Gold Cup and rest of jumps season, having injured a tendon.

Of original list of eight, just two* may now make the Festival next month:

• * Altior
  * Douvan
  Annie Power
  Coneygree
  Faugheen
  Thistlecrack
  Sprinter Sacre
  Vautour

Perhaps Stable Stars should dispense with Elite list and allow us to select any ten horses?

[johngooch]

I have to say that the basic idea of the Stable Stars Competiton appeals to me. It is free to enter and only one list per person gives everyone a fair chance. That having been said I do think some changes to the scoring do need to be made. This season the Elite Horses have been subject to injury and accident which means everyone will
only have Douvan and Altior as options for Cheltenham. This makes anyone who is hoping to improve their overall position almost impossible. Maybe the Elite horses who are not available should be replaced so there is always ten to chose from. What I have found is that a good start is most vital and I suspect many entrants who fail to do so
quickly lose interest.

The next point is the list of Bonus Races, some of which are much to easy as a choice. Last weekend being the perfect example with Cue Card in the Ascot Chase being
so obvious that most entrants would make this as their choice of transfer if not already having Cue Card in their list already. I would like to see more big field handicaps used maybe one each weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday offer suitable races. The other change could be some kind of extra points being added according to Starting Price with only over certain odds scoring.

I am only to aware that National Hunt is more popular than the Flat but maybe this year Attheraces could run a Flat Competition adapting their rules to include these and any other ideas other people might have to improve the scoring options.

I would welcome any comment other people have as although these views seem to be rather negative I have no intention of stopping playing this competition whatever happens.

[wahine]

I think forget the Elite list
maybe just have two tiers of horses the best and the rest in equal amounts and choose 5 from each tier,
that would make it harder needing more research, and stop the loading up of horses for the bonus races
1 transfer each week from each tier?
or more transfers so stables are not all the same.
One thing they have achieved for me, and the purpose of the exercise, is to draw attention to the At the races website for information, i used the "belong" to the Racing Post but when I went back there to check out the form I found I got redirected to the pay to view which Im not interested in as I could bet anywhere in the world on UK races, should I choose to, and if I was interested, now likely to use the excellent form provided for free and betting partners from that site.
Its been fun catching up with the horses trainers and races, some of which is available to watch early hours ( or mysky) for later
Just wondering whats the strategy for Cheltenham?
load up on the bonus and play safer with 3 chances of points, but with no chance of making ground on the leaders,
or keep a couple of handicappers for a 30 point differential?
As you said johngooch - if it was worth it - we would all hunt for the handicappers instead of everyone just keeping favourites for the bonus races.

[Striker]

As mentioned by johngooch the weakest feature of the game is that the reward for an odds on winner is the same as for a 50/1 winner with the result that in many races 99% of all competitors select the same horse. The fixed points reward irrespective of starting price only makes for good competition if all entrants have a fixed budget and horses are valued in categories so it's impossible to build a stable consisting almost entirely of potential Grade winners.

The alternative to increased variation in horse selection would be to make winning points at least partially related to starting prices. I sure many of us and lots of other entrants could design a better game than those who design and run it without fantasy playing experience of their own.

Finally with an apology for being repetitive, the 9 pm Friday cut off point is plain bonkers, unless easy management of the game for the jobsworths running it takes TOTAL priority over the interests of entrants, and has probably been decided by someone who has little or no experience of playing fantasy games successfully. I may be a worse example than many but I've forgotten to make my changes before the deadline at least three times since the New Year and I'm someone who (so far this year) hasn't missed a single fantasy football deadline which I'd mentally pigeon holed as needing action as they are all sensibly timed, usually with a meaningful relationship to the timing of the real life event. Friday evening has no meaningful relationship with selecting horses. I may admittedly be a bit dozy, but given that many other people are similarly dozy, we should be helped by having the cut off time being triggered in our memory by something else such as when we start to think about racing on Saturday morning.

This view can certainly be criticised on the grounds that if you want to play the game, you should make the effort to remember the 9 pm cut off point. But if the game organiser wants to maximise the number of entrants who sign up and continue playing throughout the season he should make it as easy as possible for entrants and not put unnecessary impediments in the way.

[Ashers]

Which website are people using to see the value of races?

This seems to have been removed from Sportinglife.

[SamD]

Click 'Show More' at top of Sporting Life racecard to see value to winner.

Else both Racing Post 'Cards' tab and At The Races card provide required info:

http://www.racingpost.com/

http://www.attheraces.com/racecards

[SamD]

After Week 15, Fri 24 Feb.

Fiso Federation front-runners of 15
Pigeons post 150, best of round.

• 1 (1) Ian Brown, Allamoor, 1,344
  2 (2) Ashley Bloodworth, Eli Jack, 1,272
  3 (3) Paul Branigan, Topspurs Ten, 1,257
  4 (5) Steve King, stronger in Europe, 1,197
  5 (6) Julian Ravilious, Pigeons, 1,185
  6 (4) Diana Walker, Diana's stable, 1,180

Overall leaders of 14,039

• 1 Darren Callanan, InAnaimAVautour, 1,540
  2 Craig Good, Katies Lilly, 1,522
  3 John Gray, JOCI Club 1, 1,500

[SamD]

At Week 16, Fri 3 Mar.

Fiso Federation top six of 15
Spencer4 & Jezza3, both with 30, are only scorers this time.

• 1 (1) Ian Brown, Allamoor, 1,344
  2 (2) Ashley Bloodworth, Eli Jack, 1,272
  3 (3) Paul Branigan, Topspurs Ten, 1,257
  4 (5) Julian Ravilious, Pigeons, 1,215
  5 (4) Steve King, stronger in Europe, 1,197
  6 (6) Diana Walker, Diana's stable, 1,180

Overall first three of 14,068 also posted zeroes for the week.

• 1 Darren Callanan, InAnaimAVautour, 1,540
  2 Craig Good, Katies Lilly, 1,522
  3 John Gray, JOCI Club 1, 1,500

[SamD]

Note there are two free-to-play Fiso prize games for the upcoming NH Festival:

• Telegraph Fantasy Cheltenham mini-league: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=124002
  
  Spencer4 Cheltenham competition: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=124003

Stable Stars Week 17 update:

- Top three (of 14,081 overall) all posted zeroes for second week.

• 1 Darren Callanan, InAnaimAVautour, 1,540
  2 Craig Good, Katies Lilly, 1,522
  3 John Gray, JOCI Club 1, 1,500

- Fiso Federation league * - just one scorer last weekend

• 1 (1) Ian Brown, Allamoor, 1,344 (66th overall)
  2 (2) Ashley Bloodworth, Eli Jack, 1,272 (180th)
  3 (3) Paul Branigan, Topspurs Ten, 1,257 (200th)
  4 (4) Julian Ravilious, Pigeons, 1,215
  5 (5) Steve King, stronger in Europe, 1,197
  
  6 (6) Diana Walker, Diana's stable, 1,180
  7 (8) Sam David, Forever Changes, 1,145
  8 (7) Chris Beard, Walkley, 1,44
  9 (9) David Browne, Pile of Horseshoes, 1,062
  10 (10) Stephen Cunningham, Kamikaze Hoops, 965
  
  11 Dean Allen, Yorkshire Dragon, 862
  12 Liam Mannion, Desert Orchid, 855
  13 John Gooch, Jumping For The Top, 786
  14 Karl Zammit-Haber, Zam's NH Stars, 721
  15 Albert Vaughan, Berties Bassetts, 252

* One of these will go to highest in Fiso league who's maintained public team all season:

[wahine]

Heres my Cheltenham team...
Altior
Douvan
Vrom Vrom Vrom

Petit Monchoir
Yorkhill
Might bite

Harry
Un de Sceaux
Djakadam
Cue Card
I have a hunch Native River may win the Gold Cup, but we cant have them all it may come down to who has the correct stable star

anyone care to share their team.

[Ashers]

Mine is;

Altior
Douvan
Buveur D'air
Yanworth
Yorkhill
Might Bite
Harry
Un de Sceaux
Djakadam
Native River

Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup. So maybe no too much ground to lose if this is a trend.

[Spencer4]

Altior*
Douvan

Petit Monchoir
Native River
Yanworth

Harry
Un de Sceaux
Djakadam
Cue Card

[topspur]

Altior
Douvan*

Petit Mouchoir
Empire of Dirt
Yanworth
Yorkhill
Harry
Buveur D'air
Djakadam
Cue Card

Went for a differential

of the 8 we all have Harry & djaka, and either 5 or 6 of the eight other common choices. So chances to make progress given 50pts per win. Expect we have all napped one of the elite two

Ashers no Petit M, Cue Card
Me no UDS, Might Bite or Native River +Differential Empire of Dirt
Spencer no Yorkhill or Buv D'air
Wahine no Native River Yanworth or Buv D'air + Differential VVMag

[SamD]

Team below is seventh in Fiso Federation, 200 points behind leader and 100 behind topspur, who's 3rd and highest placed challenger for Fiso prize...

• Altior, N J Henderson, Arkle Chase, Tues
  Douvan, W P Mullins, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Wed (* stable star)
  
  Yanworth, A King, Champion Hurdle, Tues
  Yorkhill, W P Mullins, Arkle Chase, Tues
  Vroum Vroum Mag, W P Mullins, Mares Hurdle, Tues (plus other engagements)
  Un De Sceaux, W P Mullins, Ryanair Chase, Thurs
  Unowhatimeanharry, H Fry, Stayers' Hurdle, Thurs
  Cue Card, C L Tizzard, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Fri
  Native River, C L Tizzard, Gold Cup, Fri
  Minella Rocco, Jonjo O'Neill, Gold Cup, Fri (and Grand National?)

Hoping for a fun week.

[bloggie]

15 Mar, Queen Mother Champion Chase 20171/4 Douvan W P Mullins 95
14 Mar, Arkle Chase 2017 1/4 Altior ***************Henderson 0 ********************
14 Mar 15:30 Cheltenham Yanworth A King 80
17 Mar, Cheltenham Gold Cup 10/3 Cue Card C L Tizzard 200
16 Mar, Ryanair Chase 9/4 De Sceaux W P Mullins 30
14 Mar, Arkle Chase - Betting Without Altior 4/5 Yorkhill W P Mullins
14 Mar 16:10 Cheltenham Vroum Vroum Mag W P Mullins 55
16 Mar, Stayers' Hurdle - Betting Without Unowhatimeanharry 4/1 BET NOW Jezki Mrs J Harrington 0
16 Mar, Stayers' Hurdle 5/4 Unowhatimeanharry H Fry 130
17 Mar, Cheltenham Gold Cup 7/2 Djakadam W P Mullins

Off the pace but did something like a £3.50 tenfold.

[topspur]

Meeting Ashers on wed at the course - anyone else there this week ?

[SamD]

After day one at Cheltenham, top three in Fiso Federation are closer together:

• 1 Ian Brown, 1,394
  2 Paul Branigan, 1,372
  3 Ashley Bloodworth, 1,372

Two Fisons amass 150:

• Steve King (now 4th with 1,347) and Chris Beard (up to 7th)
  both thanks to Altior and Buveur D'air.

In all, ten of the 15 notch centuries.

[SamD]

Four best Fiso scorers to date in Cheltenham week are

• Chris Beard, Walkley, 200
  Diana Walker, Diana's stable, 165
  Ashley Bloodworth, Eli Jack, 150
  Steve King, stronger in Europe, 150

Top seven are clear of remaining eight in Fiso Federation:

• 1 Ashley Bloodworth, 1,422 (105th overall)
  2 Ian Brown, 1,394
  3 Paul Branigan, 1,372
  4 Steve King, 1,347
  5 Diana Walker, 1,345
  6 Chris Beard, 1,344
  7 Julian Ravilious, 1,330

New overall leader of 14,190 is Craig Good, Katies Lilly, with 1,672.

[SamD]

Six Fisons have now passed 200 at Cheltenham:

• 1 Diana Walker, Diana's stable, 280 (87th in week)
  2 Ashley Bloodworth, Eli Jack, 265
  3 Chris Beard, Walkley, 265
  4 John Gooch, Jumping For The Top, 215
  5 Karl Zammit-Haber, Zam's NH Stars, 215
  6 Liam Mannion, Desert Orchid, 215

Top half of Fiso Federation:

• 1 (1) Ashley Bloodworth, 1,537 (94th overall)
  2 (2) Ian Brown, 1,509
  3 (5) Diana Walker, 1,460
  4 (3) Paul Branigan, 1,437
  5 (6) Chris Beard, 1,409
  6 (7) Julian Ravilious, 1,395
  7 (4) Steve King, 1,362

Overall leader of 14,192 is Craig Good, Katies Lilly, with 1,787.[/quote]

[SamD]

Week 18

Top ten of 15 in Fiso Federation

• 1 Ashley Bloodworth, 1,552
  2 Ian Brown, 1,524
  3 Diana Walker, 1,460
  4 Paul Branigan, 1,437
  5 Julian Ravilious, 1,410
  
  6 Chris Beard, 1,409
  7 Steve King, 1,407
  8 Sam David, 1,350
  9 David Browne, 1,242
  10 Stephen Cunningham, 1,095

Overall leaders of 14,192

• 1 Craig Good, 1,802
  2 Linda Flanders, 1,797
  3 Darren Callanan, 1,785

Contest runs through to 29 April.

[SamD]

Week 20 update

Fiso Federation in full

• 1 Ian Brown, 1,564
  2 Ashley Bloodworth, 1,552
  3 Diana Walker, 1,460
  4 Chris Beard, 1,439
  5 Paul Branigan, 1,437
  
  6 Julian Ravilious, 1,410
  7 Steve King, 1,407
  8 Sam David, 1,350
  9 David Browne, 1,242
  10 Stephen Cunningham, 1,105
  
  11 Liam Mannion, 1,070
  12 John Gooch, 1,041
  13 Dean Allen, 972
  14 Karl Zammit-haber, 936
  15 Albert Vaughan, 262

Overall leaders of 14,192

• 1 (2) Linda Flanders, 1,857
  2 (1) Craig Good, 1,832
  3 (3) Darren Callanan, 1,785

Contest ends on 29 April.

[SamD]

Week 21, to Fri 7th

Ashers, 180, and topspur, 175, head seven centurions in this week's chart.

Fiso Federation top ten of 15

• 1 (2) Ashley Bloodworth, 1,732; 62nd overall
  2 (1) Ian Brown, 1,664
  3 (5) Paul Branigan, 1,612
  4 (3) Diana Walker, 1,585
  5 (4) Chris Beard, 1,569
  
  6 (7) Steve King, 1,487
  7 (8) Sam David, 1,450
  8 (6) Julian Ravilious, 1,410
  9 (9) David Browne, 1,317
  10 (12) John Gooch, 1,176

Overall leaders of 14,231

• 1 (1) Linda Flanders, 2,062
  2 (2) Craig Good, 1,987
  3 (3) Darren Callanan, 1,915

Contest runs to Sat 29 April.

[wahine]

Oh pooh forgot to change my stable star last time, left it on Altior cost me 50 points - silly game.

[wahine]

Oh pooh forgot to change my stable star last time, left it on Altior cost me 50 points - silly game.

now i have starred Supersundae, I remember someone getting good points in Ashers game and I thought it was very impressive, won on its ear last time,
but I kind of lost a bit of interest but will play to the end.
Good luck everyone with the Grand National

[Ashers]

bigger! Forgot to make changes for this week.



Would have *Yorkhill and brought in The fav for the Irish National.

[Ashers]

Our Duke wins with ease and a costly points miss.

[wahine]

Oh rotton luck Ashers and you are well up in the rankings, - silly game

[SamD]

Week 23 of 25, to Fri 21st

Fiso Federation top ten of 15

• 1 (1) Ashley Bloodworth, 1,857; 48th overall
  2 (3) Paul Branigan, 1,837; 63rd
  3 (2) Ian Brown, 1,794
  4 (4) Diana Walker, 1,735
  5 (5) Chris Beard, 1,619
  
  6 (7) Sam David, 1,600
  7 (6) Steve King, 1,487
  8 (8) Julian Ravilious, 1,480
  9 (9) David Browne, 1,317
  10 (10) John Gooch, 1,276

Overall leaders of 14,257

• 1 (1) Linda Flanders, 2,162
  2 (2) Craig Good, 2,087
  3 (-) Tom Branigan, 2,017

Contest runs to Sat 29 April.

[SamD]

Week 24 of 25, to Fri 28th
Final round deadline looms; topspur may have timed his challenge for the Fiso prize perfectly...

Fiso Federation top ten of 15

• 1 (2) Paul Branigan, 2,027; 54th overall
  2 (1) Ashley Bloodworth, 1,997; 67th
  3 (4) Diana Walker, 1,985; 78th
  4 (3) Ian Brown, 1,969
  5 (5) Chris Beard, 1,769
  
  6 (6) Sam David, 1,750
  7 (8) Julian Ravilious, 1,580
  8 (7) Steve King, 1,537
  9 (10) John Gooch, 1,476
  10 (9) David Browne, 1,417

Overall leaders of 14,277

• 1 (1) Linda Flanders, 2,417
  2 (-) Graeme Oram, 2,294
  3 (3) Tom Branigan, 2,157

Contest ends after racing this Sat 29 April.

[topspur]

Week 24 of 25, to Fri 28th
Final round deadline looms; topspur may have timed his challenge for the Fiso prize perfectly...

Fiso Federation top ten of 15

• 1 (2) Paul Branigan, 2,027; 54th overall
  2 (1) Ashley Bloodworth, 1,997; 67th
  3 (4) Diana Walker, 1,985; 78th
  4 (3) Ian Brown, 1,969
  5 (5) Chris Beard, 1,769
  
  6 (6) Sam David, 1,750
  7 (8) Julian Ravilious, 1,580
  8 (7) Steve King, 1,537
  9 (10) John Gooch, 1,476
  10 (9) David Browne, 1,417

Overall leaders of 14,277

• 1 (1) Linda Flanders, 2,417
  2 (-) Graeme Oram, 2,294
  3 (3) Tom Branigan, 2,157

2257
Contest ends after racing this Sat 29 April.

I'll be cheering on my lad this afternoon - if Special Tiara can overturn Altior I think he may finish second