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There are no hard and fast rules to help us judge whether a horses is coming into, or losing, form. There some indicators that can be found in the past performances , however, that tend to suggest that one or the other may be happening.

Among the better positive indicators (assuming that the horse was not dropped in class for his last race)are a horse who:

1. Showed early speed when that is not his normal style.
2. Gained three or more lengths while passing at least two horses between the first and second calls, or between any other two calls in the race.
3. Gained at least two lengths on the leaders in the stretch while finishing no worse than fourth or fifth unless that his normal style.
4. Normally shows early speed, but carried his speed further in his last race than he did in the previous one.
5. Took the lead in the upper stretch (or challenged the leader) before weakening unless he has made a habit of weakening late.

Signs that a horse may be losing form include:

1. The failure of a speed horse fails to show early speed.
2. When a closer doesn’t pass any horses in the stretch and loses ground to the winner.
3. Was unable to gain on the leader in between any two calls in his last race, finished no better than fifth, and was beaten at least five lengths by the winner.
4. Finished much weaker in his last race than he had recently unless he pressed the lead or set the pace while under pressure.

These indicators become more reliable when they are reinforced by some action (or inaction) taken by the horses trainer. In the case of a positive “hint” that might tack the form of a couple of workouts, a one level class drop, or a positive jockey change. A negative jockey change after a negative hint suggests that the trainer also believes that the horse is losing form.

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