There
is nothing quite like the buzz of watching a horse race when you have
money riding on the outcome. Placing a bet has the ability to
transform the race into a thrilling event, but actually selecting a
horse from the field can be a daunting prospect for newcomers. You
really should study the form of each runner before laying down your
hard-earned cash, ensuring that you are making an educated guess from
a position of knowledge. These are the five key things that you
should always look at before placing a horse racing bet:
The
Going
This
describes the condition of the ground at the racecourse on a
particular day. In summer the going is often firm due to a lack of
rain. A dry surface allows the horses to run faster and this is
generally when you will see the quickest race times. If a course has
been battered by rain over a considerable period of time you will
find the going to be heavy. This provides a real test of each horse’s
stamina, as the wet ground is much harder to run on. Heavy going is
alternatively referred to as a bog or as sloppy. In between firm and
heavy, you will find good to firm, good, good to soft and soft.
The
going matters because different horses thrive on different surfaces.
Some hate heavy going and they will often be withdrawn from a race if
there has been too much rain. Others positively relish it: Bristol De
Mai loves running in the slop and has secured some impressive
victories after
rainy spells. First you need to check what the ground is like at a
racecourse on the day you want to place your bet, and then you must
investigate how well each runner has fared in similar conditions.
Tipsters will often help you out, but it is good to arm yourself with
as much information as possible before placing a wager.
Form
of the Runners
You
can pore over a form guide of the runners before placing a bet on a
particular race. A horse’s form relates to the results it has
secured. You should study current form and overall form. Check out
how well a horse has fared in his or her last few races, noting the
quality of the race, the calibre of rivals faced, the distance and of
course the going in each run.
If
a horse has won its last three races then it is likely to be an
appealing choice. However, it is not that simple. It might have won
those three races at Group 3 level, and it is now stepping up to a
more challenging Group 1 race and taking on more dangerous rivals. It
might have won those three races over a particular distance and now
it is stepping up in trip to run over a longer distance. It might
have won when the going was soft, but now it is firm.
Ideally
you want to find evidence of a horse flourishing over a similar
distance and in similar conditions. You will often note that runners
in a particular race have locked horns before, so you should bear in
mind who prevailed.
You
should also compare current form to overall form. If a horse has run
poorly over its last few races, but it has a strong overall record,
it could simply be a glitch. You can often enjoy your greatest
successes as a punter by identifying horses that are in poor form but
have the potential to rediscover past magic. Bristol De Mai was
struggling for form and went off at 13/2 to win the 2018 Betfair
Chase, but ended up surging
to victory.
You
should also check to see how long it is since the horse’s last
race, as you need to bear in mind fatigue and rustiness. If it is a
big race, you will also be able to access a wealth of statistical
information about the type of horse that generally secures victory,
including age and form.
Course
Record of the Runners
It
is worth noting that some horses thrive at particular courses and
struggle at others. In fact, it is common to see horses consistently
running well at some courses but flopping elsewhere. If a runner has
secured a victory over a similar distance at that course before then
it becomes an appealing choice.
Most
horses have a preferred distance, so you should always pay close
attention to runners that are stepping
up or
down in distance. It is also advisable to take a close look at horses
that are stepping up or down in class, but course record is an
equally important consideration. You should also check out the form
of the jockey and the trainer, as some have a great record at
particular courses or meeting.
Best
Odds on Offer
You
should always shop around for the best odds before betting on a
particular horse. Rival bookmakers often price up a race differently
and you can net yourself a much higher potential profit by hunting
out the most attractive odds. For example, you might see a horse
priced at 3/1 by one bookmaker, 10/3 by another, 7/2 by a third
bookie and 4/1 by another. If you are placing a £50 bet, you will
stand to earn a £200 profit as opposed to £150 by going to the
bookmaker offering 4/1 instead of the bookmaker offering 3/1. This
can ultimately be the difference between generating an overall profit
or a loss as on a given day.
You
can use odds comparison sites in order to see which bookies offer the
best prices on a race. You will eventually notice a pattern whereby
two or three sites typically offer market-leading odds. Some
bookmakers, such as Marathonbet.co.uk,
consistently offer generous odds, so it is advisable to sign up for
an online account with them. This will allow you to earn an extra
profit on successful bet, and that can really add up over time.
Place
Terms
Many
punters simply stick to betting on which horse will win a particular
race, but there are alternative options at your disposal. You can
look at forecasts and tricasts, for example. A great option is the
each-way bet. This essentially sees your stake divided in half. If
you bet £10 each-way on a horse, £10 will go on it winning the race
and £10 will go on it placing, resulting in an overall stake of £20.
Placing means finishing in either the top two, three or four places,
depending on how many runners there are in the race. You will be
informed of the place terms before putting on a bet.
If
it is a small field of runners, only the top two finishers will count
for an each-way bet. If it is a huge field you might be paid out if
your horse finishes third or fourth. Some bookmakers even pay out on
the top five finishers at the Grand National due to the size of the
field. The place terms will also indicate the fraction of the odds
you will be paid if the horse places.
Let’s
say you fancy a horse Dutch Delight to win the Champion Hurdle at
odds of 10/1, and the place terms are a fifth of the odds on the top
three places. If he you bet £10 each-way and he finishes third, you
will make a £10 profit. This is because the win part of your bet
would fail, but the place part of your bet would pay off. You would
gain a fifth of the odds, and a fifth of 10/1 is 10/5, or 2/1. A £10
bet at 2/1 would winnings of £20. You would get your £10 stake back
too, resulting in a return of £30 and a profit of £10.
If
Dutch Delight won the race, both the win and the place parts of your
bet would pay off. You would have £10 at 10/1, which results in a
£100 profit, and £10 at 10/5 on the place, resulting in a £20
profit. That would leave a total profit of £120 and a return of
£140, as you get both parts of your stake back.
You
should always check the place terms before putting on an each-way
bet. Sometimes you will see a quarter of the odds on the top four,
and at other times it is a fifth of the odds on the top three, or a
quarter of the odds on the top four. If bookmakers are paying a
quarter of the odds, you will earn a profit if the odds assigned to
your horse are greater than 4/1 and it places. If bookmakers are
paying a fifth of the odds, you will earn a profit if the odds
assigned to your horse are greater than 5/1 and it places.
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