The brassstats.com rankings system is, by definition, set up to REFLECT contest results rather than PREDICT them but it is still a bit of fun to look at expected results per the rankings just prior to a contest.

Using the rankings as at 1 March, the expected line-up in the Royal Albert Hall later this year was as follows:

Black Dyke, Foden's, Cory and Rothwell, plus top 2 from each area

Redbridge

Aveley & Newham

Desford Colliery

Virtuosi GUS

Reg Vardy

* EYMS

Leyland

Fairey (Geneva)

Co-operative Funeralcare

* Kirkintilloch

Tredegar

* BTM

Flowers

Camborne

* Grimethorpe Colliery

Brighouse & Rastrick

Only FOUR of the above list of bands will not grace the stage of the RAH in October, indicated with *.

'Upsetting' the form guide are NASUWT Riverside Brass, Whitburn, Tongwynlais and Carlton Main Frickley Colliery.

Actually, looking at the expected order from top to bottom in each area there was extremely close correlation in a number of areas, particularly Scotland, West of England and Wales, with less good correlation for the North of England and a decidedly ropey prediction (other than the top 2) in London.

Have a look to see how all of these qualifiers have fared in the RAH in recent years here.