How to Read the Paceform Figures
The Paceform Figures show you which horses are in form, capable, and suited to today’s conditions — instantly and objectively.
This guide explains how to read them, what each number means, and how to use the data to analyse any race quickly and with confidence.
🟥 Red box = Turf run
⬜ White box = All-weather run
Understanding the Main Paceform Figures Panel
The main Paceform Figures panel highlights the key performance data for every runner. Each horse is assigned two numbers that tell you almost everything about its raw ability and recent form.
🔴 Best Paceform Figure (Outlined in Red)
This is the horse’s highest Paceform Figure achieved in the last 12 months on today’s surface (turf or all-weather).
Using Knightswood as the example:
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His top 12-month figure, shown in a red-outlined box, is 92
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This represents his peak performance on today’s surface in the last 12 months
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In this race, 92 is the highest top figure in the field, making him the strongest on raw ability
This figure is the quickest way to rank the field by their proven peak ability on today’s surface.
⬛ Last-Time-Out Paceform Figure (Outlined in Black)
This number shows how the horse performed on its most recent run.
For Knightswood:
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His last-time-out figure, shown in a black-outlined box, is 88
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This is also the highest LTO figure in the race
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An 88 that sits close to his top figure (92) indicates he arrives in excellent current form
When a horse’s LTO figure is both strong and close to its top figure, it usually identifies a key contender.
✔ Summary
Knightswood is both:
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Top-rated on peak ability (92)
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Top-rated on recent form (88)
This combination marks him as a standout contender based on the Paceform Figures alone.
Understanding the Conditions & Suitability Panel
The Conditions & Suitability Panel shows how well each horse is suited to today’s race conditions.
It highlights whether a horse can reproduce—or get close to—its best figure under four key factors:
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COURSE – best career Paceform Figure recorded at today’s course
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DISTANCE – best career figure at, or near, today’s trip
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GOING – best career figure on the expected ground
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WEIGHT – best career figure when carrying a similar weight
These numbers instantly reveal which horses are proven under today’s setup and which runners may struggle.
Using Knightswood as the example:
Knightswood’s suitability scores (purple outline) are:
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Course: 92 (best in the race)
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Distance: 92 (best in the race)
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Going: –1 (only one point off the top figure)
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Weight: 92 (best in the race)
What this tells you
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He has already achieved a 92 at this track
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He has run a 92 at the race distance
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He has already run to a high figure carrying a similar weight
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His going rating is only one point off the best in the race
Together, these numbers show Knightswood is highly suited to today’s conditions, reinforcing his status as a major player.
✔ Summary
The suitability panel shows whether a horse can realistically run close to its best figure today.
For Knightswood, strong scores across all four categories highlight why he was a standout contender based on race conditions.
A Real-World Example of “Best Fit”: American Flight
While the Knightswood example shows a rare case where one horse is top across every category, most races don’t work like that.
More often, the winner is the horse with the most aligned profile — not necessarily the top figure on the card.
Raw Ability & Recent Form
American Flight isn't the “headline” horse on raw figures — but he’s very close.
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2nd-best top figure: 73
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2nd-best last-time-out figure: 73
Flash Rascal posts the highest top figure (74), but raw ratings alone never tell the full story — especially when they don’t align with the race conditions.
Conditions & Suitability
This is where American Flight really takes control of the picture.
Across the suitability panel he shows strong, proven form under today’s setup:
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Course: 73 — best in the race
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Distance: -1 (just 1 off the top)
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Going: 73 — best in the race
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Weight: -1 (just 1 off the top)
Flash Rascal, by contrast:
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Has no course figure
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Has no going figure
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Is unproven under today’s conditions
So while Flash Rascal owns the highest single number, American Flight has the strongest overall profile — the best balance of raw ability, recent form, and suitability.
What this tells you
American Flight:
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Has already run to 73 at this course
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Has run to 73 on today’s expected surface/going
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Has solid distance form
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Carries a weight he’s run well off before
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Is both consistent and proven where it matters today
Together, these factors make him the best-suited runner in the race, even though he isn’t top on the main rating column.
✔ Summary
This example shows how the Paceform Figures highlight runners who are most likely to reproduce or improve on their recent form, not just those with the single highest number.
You don’t need a “Knightswood” — you’re looking for the horse that is:
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Close to the top on raw ability
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In strong recent form
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Proven under today’s conditions
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Well aligned across the whole profile
Those are the runners who repeatedly offer the best value - and the most consistent edge.
How to Use the Paceform Figures in Practice
Now that you’ve seen both extremes — a perfect fit (Knightswood) and a real-world strong contender (American Flight) — here’s the simple way to use Paceform Figures day-to-day.
1. Start with Recent Form (LTO Figure)
This tells you who is fit and performing well right now.
High LTO figures consistently find winners — even before looking at conditions.
→ Always note who is top LTO and who is close behind.
2. Check the Horse’s True Ability (12-Month Top Figure)
The Top Figure shows what a horse is capable of at its absolute best within the last 12 months.
Here’s how to interpret it alongside the LTO figure:
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When the LTO figure is close to the Top Figure
The horse arrives today on the back of a peak or near-peak performance.
This is one of the strongest indicators of current performance level.
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When there is a big gap between LTO and Top Figure
The horse has the ability to run much higher, but its most recent run was below its ceiling.
That could mean out of form or unsuitable conditions last time.
This step tells you whether a horse is performing close to its true level — or well below it.
The aim isn’t to find the horse with the biggest number, but the one most likely to reproduce a level of form that can beat today’s field.
3. Use Conditions to Find the Best Fit
This is where you identify the edge:
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Course
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Distance
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Going
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Weight carried
A horse doesn’t need to be perfect — just better suited than the horses it’s running against.
4. Look for the Best Compromise
This is where most value comes from.
You're not always trying to find the horse that ticks every box (Knightswood).
You’re looking for the one that ticks enough boxes to gain a real advantage (American Flight).
Often the best bet is:
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Not the top-rated
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Not the top LTO
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But the horse whose overall profile gives it the highest chance of running to its figure today
This is the core idea behind the Paceform Figures.
5. Remember: Value Comes From Edges, Not Perfection
You don’t need a Knightswood.
You’re looking for edges — not perfection.
Paceform Figures aren’t designed to hand you certainties; they’re designed to show:
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Which horses are in form
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Which are capable of the level needed to win today
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Which are best suited to today’s conditions
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And where the value may be
If a horse ranks well across these pillars, you’ve found a contender.
Putting It All Together
You now know exactly how to read Paceform Figures — how to judge recent form, true ability, and whether today’s race conditions suit each runner.
Knightswood and American Flight show both sides of the figures — the obvious standout and the real-world value play.
The goal isn’t to find perfection.
It’s to identify the runner with the strongest overall profile — the horse with the best combination of form, ability, and suitability.
That’s where the value lies.
Use the Figures Today
Now that you understand how the figures work, you’re ready to use them.
Apply the method to today’s races and let the data highlight the real contenders.