Situated along the coast of Peru, around 250 miles from Lima, the Nazca Lines encompass an area once occupied by an extremely developed society, which adopted advanced farming methods to allow for irrigation systems, improved crops and an expansion of farming land. The Nazca tribe were immensely skilled not only in agricultural techniques but also in art. They displayed outstanding skills in weaving, pottery, and architecture, however were sadly unable to ward off the vicious attacks of the Spanish conquest and were rapidly defeated. Undoubtedly the most resounding symbol of this ancient tribe is the Nazca Lines.

Although the purpose of these ground drawings has not been fully established many archaeologists ascribe religious significance to them as the lines are thought to have been attempt by the Nazca people to display their work to their gods in the sky. Another theory maintains that the lines had astronomical and cosmological purposes and that they were intended to act as a kind of observatory, to point to the places on the distant horizon where the sun and other celestial bodies rose or set.

An usual conclusion came to the fore in the 1950s when UFO sightings began to increase. Many people looked back to ancient symbols and artifacts as example of extraterrestrial activity, the Nazca Lines provided one of these examples. One writer suggested that the Lines were intended as signals to interplanetary visitors. While this theory is highly sceptical it displays the interest and mystery surrounding these elusive drawings.

The work involved in creating these lines was vast. Spanning an area of nearly 500 square km and with the largest figure approximately 270m, the Nazca tribesmen embarked on a huge and complex task.

Interestingly the enormity of the Nazca Lines took several years to be discovered. Many people walked along the geoglyphs unaware of the significance of what their feet were touching. While the lines made for unimpressive and meaningless scribbles at ground level, by plane the gigantic figures and lines could be fully realised.

While the Lines are one of the few surviving reminders of the ancient world many are unsure how much longer they will survive. Due to an increase in pollution and erosion in the area many fear that the Nazca Lines could be gradually erased.

The Nazca Lines in Peru serve as further reminder of the immense and powerful talent and skills of the ancient civilisations. The sheer scale of the drawings propels the Lines into awe´-inspiring magnificence. An unmissable experience, to view these Lines is truly to view the beauty of the world.

Hydrofarm parabolic microphone

WELCOME & CONTENTS

--------------------

Hello again, and welcome back to your fortnightly newsletter from the
offices of TrainerTrackStats. Having enjoyed a (very) extended festive
break (actually I've been working on another project, but more of that in
due course...), I'm pleased to be back with more news and views from the
world of jumps racing.

In this issue:

- Review since last newsletter

- System angle: "Grand National Early Bird Preview"

- Coming Soon: TrainerFlatStats

- The TTS Joke...

- Tomorrow's qualifiers

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REVIEW SINCE LAST NEWSLETTER

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I'm delighted to report that after a period in the doldrums, where we seemed to have more
seconds than Billy Bunter, TTS is now well and truly back among the winners.

Since I wrote to you, much has happened in the main trial events to shake up the markets,
and yet - to these eyes, at least - things are pretty much as they were...

Last time, I gave a big shout for a horse called Exotic Dancer (you can see what I said in
this section of newsletter 7 at http://www.TrainerTrackStats.com/newsletters)

I don't mind sharing with you that I have a whopping £13.46 on him to win the Gold Cup.
Perhaps more interesting is the odds I have, which are 84.66/1. What did we ever do before
Betfair?!!

Now I know this is gloating before the event and that bet is worth nothing (or what I can lay
it off at, at least), but I strongly fancy him to beat Kauto Star in March.

He wasn't beaten far by that rival at Kempton on a track that I mentioned last time wouldn't
suit, and over the Gold Cup trip at Cheltenham last time he put to bed any doubts about his
stamina, waltzing through in customary fashion to thrash some proven stayers in Old Vic and
Halcon Genelardais (a Welsh National winner!).

To be honest, I don't know where the stamina doubts came from. I mean, he'd won pretty much in
a canter of 3 miles in the Paddy Power for Heaven's sake.

I'm not sure about the Irish this year, and they'd have to be feared, but I reckon a safe
conveyance is pretty much assured from Exotic Dancer (and I bet Kauto at Cheltenham last year,
when he fell...) and I can't see him out of the frame.

Incidentally, before I finally nail the coffin of Exotic Dancer's Gold Cup chance, I have him
for a place at just over 8/1 too!

Elsewhere, the Champion Hurdle looks like being one of the best renewals for many a long year.
There are any number of pretenders looking to step up to the plate and, despite my naysaying
about Detroit City, he continues to perform. As importantly, the form of the race I cribbed as
a graveyard for Champion Hurdle hopefuls (previous year's Triumph Hurdle) looks rock solid with
Blazing Bailey and others boosting it.

However, this race has been farmed in recent years by the Irish, and I expect to go across the
sea once more. I'm just not sure with which horse!

My heart says Hardy Eustace (or Hardly Useless, as I unkindly refer to him), as he was half of
my biggest ever win when he won the Champion and Kicking King won the Gold Cup a couple of
years ago.

But, strictly on form, its hard to ignore the run of Macs Joy, who finished a close up third
behind Hardy and the well backed Brave Inca. Macs wasn't beaten far in the Champion last year,
and looks to be the improver I'd want to be on. But, like I say, its a mouth watering race for
sure.

Finally, in my Cheltenham fancies piece, I want to give a mention to a horse trained by a guy I
flagged in TTS as a man to definitely follow, Alan King. The horse is called Katchit, and he's
an absolute star.

He will win the Triumph Hurdle. If you know your racing, you'll knoW what an outlandish statement
that is (the Triumph usually has 30+ runners, any number of which are completely unexposed!). But
the way this horse travels in his races, then quickens; the form he's shown in beating his major
market rivals (except Degas Art, who will never beat Katchit in a true run race); and his course
and distance form at Cheltenham, mark Katchit down as a strong bet in my book.

He'll be taken on by Mountain and Lounaos for favouritism on the day, and I wouldn't advise rushing
to grab a price on Katchit right now (he may be longer than his current 13/2 on the day),
but I think he is the bet. (By the way, with the exception of Lounaos, the Irish are weak this year.
This horse is, in my view, the chief threat to Katchit.)

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SYSTEM ANGLE: Aintree Early Bird!

---------------------------------

This may sound like more profound tosh from the TTS mouth, but - believe it or not - the Aintree
Grand National is one of the best stats races in the year!

And today, I'm going to share with you why, and my thoughts on the shortlist at this time.

First of all the 'why'. The Grand National is a unique test for a horse in a number of ways:

- No other race has so many horses lining up

- No other race is run over such an extreme distance

- No other race has the Aintree fences (with the exception of races at the track of course)

- No other race offers such much prize money and kudos (attracting some very classy horses)

- No other race is guaranteed to be run at a frantic pace from the outset

- No French race is run over anything like this distance (French breds don't stay the trip!)

The stats angle for the race says to follow the logic. This means that we're looking for:

- a proven stayer (won over 3m+);

- a reliable jumper (less than two falls in the last two seasons), and at least into his third season

jumping;

- a horse that has won in a field of at least 12;

- a horse mature enough to win the race, but not past his best (aged 8-12);

- a horse in the handicap proper (i.e. scheduled to carry 10-00 or more - this is tricky as the

weights are yet to be published);

- a horse with proven class (placed in a Grade 3 chase or better);

- a horse who was not bred in France (some have run close, none have won...);and,

- Pay special attention to the Irish (especially if they've been hurdling!); and,

- Favour horses who have jumped the Aintree fences

There, its not rocket science is it!

So, by using these factors, we quickly cut the Grand National field of 119 down to size.
(Actually, at this stage of the season, I usually allow one of the above form criteria to be broken.
So a horse can still win in a field of 12+ say before April. However, a horse will still be 7 if he
is now, so misses the cut; a French bred will still be a French bred, so misses the cut, etc.).

Applying the criteria above manually (so forgive any mistakes I may have made), I believe we are left with a
(very) short list of eight horses. They're listed below in no particular order, along with any comments:

Point Barrow - Irish National winner off top weight

Graphic Approach - Run some eye catching races for his shrewd trainer who went close with Mely Moss

Naunton Brook - Sound form, safe jumper, trainer won with Earth Summit. Entered in Red Sq Gold Cup on 17th Feb

Cloudy Bays - Excellent form in Ireland, has been running in hurdles, but may have to carry too much weight?

Dun Doire - Cheltenham Festival winner for very shrewd trainer, hampered when unseated last year, been running
in hurdles races since Grand National '06

Garvivonnian - An old friend of mine, races prominently and jumps well, so will give a run for money. Doubtful
stayer though, alas.

Numbersixvalverde - Last year's winner, and been racing in hurdles since. Handicapper will probably make it very
difficult for last year's hero to repeat the feat.

Silver Birch - my big ante-post wager last year, before things went inexplicably wrong. Has been nursed back to
form by lesser known Irish trainer and finished 2nd in a cross country race at Punchestown last weekend.

From these, I would want to be with Point Barrow (16/1), Graphic Approach (100/1), Naunton Brook(40/1), and
Dun Doire (16/1).

I'll bring a revised view nearer the time, when other horses may have qualified, and the weights have been
released.

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COMING SOON: TRAINERFLATSTATS

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The main reason for the delay in sending out this newsletter is that I have been slavishly labouring on my new
project, TrainerFlatStats. As the name suggests, its the same concept but for the flat season beginning in March.

I've really enjoyed the feedback from you,dear readers, over the course of the winter, and some of the comments
you've made deserved to be shared with a wider audience. For this reason, there will be a blog feature on the flat
site, which will replace my periodic newsletters.

The content there will of course be much more current, and - best of all - it will be fully interactive, meaning you
can share your thoughts with other readers. [Please keep them clean!]

More on TFS in the next newsletter...

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THE TTS JOKE

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I hope this doesn't apply to any of you, dear readers....!

The chronic horse player paused before taking his place at the betting windows, and offered up a fervent
prayer to his Maker. "Blessed Lord," he muttered with intense sincerity, "I know you don't approve of my
gambling, but this once, Lord, just this once, please let me break even. I need the money so badly."

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TOMORROW'S TRAINERTRACKSTATS RUNNERS

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Below are tomorrow's TTS qualifiers, subject to being 14/1 or shorter in the market:

Huntingdon

1.40 Old Benny

Four For A Laugh

2.10 Anshabil

2.40 Nenuphar Collonges

3.40 Golden Feather

4.40 Rose Of The Shires

Southern Exit

Taunton

2.20 Farmers Lad

Oncle Bul

2.50 Be Be King

Rare Gold

Rowlands Dream

3.20 Magical Quest

chocolate martini