Can you look too much into this?

Think this is 100% true, and yes, I am often guilty of the same thing. Worryingly for me, I have never been so well prepared before Cheltenham but have managed to change my mind considerably and am starting to think nothing can win any of the races! Time to just limit myself to a bit of reading each day I feel.

yes in some ways. but you should make your decision and believe.

Totaly agree... Way too much going on, Everyone has a opinion, but very few get it right...just got to be strong in your own mind and go with your  insticts.

Analysis paralysis.

Remind yourself there's fun to be had away from the punting. Easy to say on a betting website!

(..and at 3.00 in the morning after I've spent the last hour going through the Byrne Group Plate!)

In my opinion, no. I do that very thing an it is the very reason i back the horses i back each year at the festival. Yes i have my own opinions on the festival but i keep them to the races i think i am good at, the championship races. I pick my selections based on that seasons form, newspaper write ups, press releases and betting patterns. My opinion is final on races such as the champ hdl, Arkle, Mares race, X-country, champ chs, ryanair, world hdl, triumph, gold cup and foxhunters but for every other race i do read everything and base an opinion on what i have read, saw on a racecourse and betting patterns! I dutch many throughout the winter too, i.e the Arkle at this stage is my strongest race as i seemed to have managed to bet almost every runner except FR at a combined underround of less than 50% so as long as FR don't win the race, im in clover and i do not fancy it at all as think Kilmurry was defo going to ask it some questions lto and his jumping is iffy when put under pressure as seemed the case also lto he did put in a couple of fiddly leaps when kilmurry was upsides. (kilmurry did also put in some dodgy jumps)

It works for me, but it may not work for everyone!

I think as a punter you've got to go with what works for you for the rest of the year, be it trends, stats, 'lbs for lengths' paddock anlaysis or whatever. Okay, there's a bit more discipline involved in shutting out the 'noise' (forums like this don't help [;)]) and the incessant clamour to take a view in every race, but man up and stick to your guns.

They're still just horses running round in circles!

I know what the oppo means - roger is right with Analysis Paralysis.

But I say no if it is used correctly.

What it can do is lead you down a certain path and this you must not do or all you will end up doing is backing faves all week.

What the study logic should enable to do, and this is important, is give you a feel of a race and what the odds in the race will be. Because the value to be had can be quite remarkable if you can get away from irrational plunges and "plots".

The Irish/analysts/pundits will tell you that the "five" on a dice is better than a "four", the collective gamble would back that into 2/1f but if you know that the "four" is a 5/1 shot and are getting 7's then all your study is worthwhile.

I CANT BE BOTHERED WITH ALL THE BRAINWASHING FROM THE MEDIA, JUST THE SAME AS POLITICIANS REALLY,, BEST TOO LEAVE IT UNTIL THE  MORN OF THE DAY AND STUDY THE RACING POST WEBSITE, WHERE YOU WILL FIND THE HISTORY OF THE SAID HORSES IN QUESTION.. OR IF YOUVE A HUNCH THEN   ITS THERE TO CONVINCE YOU BOUT THAT ANTE POST PUNT. BEGGARS CAP FOR ME  THEN .

I agree, you can get information overload.
Problem I find is that I analyse each race so much that whatever wins I'll say to myself 'I looked at that', but you can't back every horse and expect to make money.
Same every year....