Researchers from The Pisa Project analysed 200 known ‘leaners’ over a two-week period, with none of the subjects displaying any telekinetic ability whatsoever.

“Exaggerated leaning one way or the other failed to impact the result in any way,” lead researcher Dr Anne Cline told this masthead.

The only discernible pattern, Cline revealed, was that the larger the potential collect, the more extreme the leaning became.

“We observed punters who were almost parallel to the ground in the concluding stages of some races, particularly the last leg of quaddies, but it still made no discernible difference.”

The Pakistan Star understands some participants leaned one way when trying to get a swooper home with the finishing post looming, but the other when urging a tiring leader to hang on.

The study’s findings, or lack thereof, also extended to ‘clickers’, ‘hissers’, ‘fake whippers’ and those who emit involuntary, indefinable noises “like someone attempting to move a stubborn herd of cattle”. 

Cline said she was unsure whether her 178-page report would ultimately alter punting behaviour, but hoped ‘fake whippers’ in particular would “consider how they may be perceived by the public”.

More to follow.