Query Tool v2 is Finally Here (Very nearly!)

July 7, 2026
Matt Bisogno

It's been a loooong time coming, but the upgraded Query Tool is very, very nearly ready. In fact, it is ready and we'll be deploying it to the site this week, probably tomorrow (Wednesday). In this post - video and, underneath, text/images - I'll show you what's new and, I hope, improved.

One very important point to note, which I'll return to in what follows, is that QTv2 is being released in 'beta'. This means we've tested as far as we can, but the multitude of different browsers and devices, as well as the almost infinite combinations of variables, means there may well be some residual unsquashed bugs. So, if you spot anything, please do let us know. Thanks.

OK, video explainer below. Text and image explainer underneath that. Updated user guide here (see page 138 onwards).

So, at long last, welcome to Query Tool v2. What's new and what's the same? At this point, the interface is largely the same and all of the features you're accustomed to are as they were, including the charts and QT Angles functionality. We do plan to update the interface - the way you interact with the data - later in the year because it's a) a little dated, and b) a little limited, particularly in terms of visualisation.

As for what's new, as you can see in the image below, there's a splash of colour and a couple (three actually, one hidden in that snap) of new blocks.

The colour has been used to differentiate between three sets of variables which enable you to quiz our database on each of the current run and now also the previous run and penultimate run of a horse. Note the (BETA) labels for the last run/2nd last run blocks.

We've used a nice pastel yellow for CURRENT RUN. This houses the parameters you know and love from the original QT. To these we've added a light blue block for parameters relating a horse's last time out run, and violet shading for its second last run.

We've also removed the BOLD CAPS from from the variables to further differentiate and to be slightly less offensive on the ol' peepers.

Clicking on CURRENT RUN reveals the third new block, CAREER STATS. This is also in beta, so do notify of any quirks.

In this block, you can filter the database by runs and/or wins, and by a number of subsets thereof.

For example, if you wanted to know which trainers have performed well with horses making their first start in a flat handicap over the past two years, choose 'Runs (Handicap)' 0 to 0 and group by trainer. N.B. don't forget to select 'Handicap' under the RACE parameters, otherwise you'll get all of the classy non-handicappers that have never (and may never!) run in a handicap.

In the breakdown data here, I've sorted by PRB and displayed only those trainers with 25+ qualifying runners in the time frame. There are plenty of familiar names in there.

Let's move on. I'll click the RESET button and also remember to clear my '25 runs' stipulation (if you don't see the expected data in the main part of the window, always check you haven't got a filter of some sort in the top area).

This time, I want to see if a runner's pace score in its last (couple of) race(s) is predictive in five furlong UK turf races.

It looks like it is. As per the below, those with a score of 3 (prominent) or 4 (led) last time out won at better than 13%, while those racing in the middle or back of the field early last time won at less than 11%. This was replicated in the each way percentages as well.

What about second last run pace score?

A similar pattern emerges, though the dichotomy is not quite as stark. In fact, it's fair to say that the strongest stat might be avoiding those horses that scored 1 (held up) in both runs. Let's query that to see if it's correct. Here, I've expanded the time window to five years:

Breaking the output down by year shows that it's been a bumpy ride, no doubt predicated on some big-priced winners:

Taking it all the way back to 2009 shows the same difficult route to Betfair SP profit:

But figures have been largely consistent across all of win%, place% and PRB.

The inference is that, generally speaking, in five furlong turf races horses that were waited with in their most recent two starts are best avoided. Meanwhile, those that raced at least midfield in their most recent two starts would likely form the basis of solid wagering going forwards, regardless of whether the race is a handicap or not:

These are just a couple of examples of the sort of research that can be undertaken with the extended Query Tool.

[Note that the pace data in our development database is not updated as much as the live one that you use, and so if trying to replicate the above you should expect slightly different results, and apologies for any confusion that might cause!]

Please also note - and I make no apology for labouring this - that, in case you didn't know ;-), we're in beta mode here so stuff might by wonky. Please shout if you see anything more weird than wonderful and we'll investigate, and fix as necessary.

Good luck!

Matt

Query Tool v2 is Finally Here (Very nearly!)

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