6 quick tips on betting on horse racing

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Betting on horses is one of the most popular sporting past-times in the UK and even people who never watch horse racing can be persuaded to place a bet on the Grand National or Royal Ascot using the winners enclosure. It’s a sport that attracts a wide variety of people from all different backgrounds and because of this, there are plenty of strategies to choose from when you’re placing your bets. Whether you want to go big and make a large profit or you just want to make a small wager and see how your luck goes on raceday, here are six tips for betting on horse racing.

Laying a Weak Favourite

You can typically spot a weak favourite because the odds for winning are usually below 30/10. These are more likely at the weekend because bettors want a quick and easy win, so pick the favourite and if you’re clued up on the market, you’ll be able to spot when bookies have assessed a horse’s chances incorrectly. When laying a weak favourite, the best option is to focus on one meeting a day, especially if you’re knowledgeable on the course.

Check the History

A wise decision when placing a bet is to look into the history of the chosen horse, including the heritage, the owner and the trainer, as well as the racing pedigree of the horse. The odds are useful to see if the horse is fancied or not, but you’ll be surprised how many horses are overlooked because of a lack of research.

Limit your Maximum Runners

For both flat and National Hunt races, limit the races you bet on to those with a maximum of 13 runners. It’s also a good idea to opt for a decently priced each way bet instead of a straight win, which will improve your chances of success.

Bet on Handicap Races

Try betting just on handicap races as with this type of race, the horses have to carry weight that is allotted to them individually to create a more equal race, based on the past performances of the horses.

Avoid Six Runners or Less

Avoid betting on races with six runners or less, as these tend to be won by a short-priced favourite and won’t give you a great return, unless it forms part of a multiple bet.

The False Favourite

The false favourite is a different concept to a weak favourite – it refers to a horse that has been labelled a favourite mistakenly by bookmakers. This is to trick punters who blindly back the favourite each time and are typically found in the smaller weekday meetings, rather than the bigger weekend meets. While laying a favourite is a good betting strategy when it’s done correctly, don’t just blindly back the favourite without researching and studying the horse you’re backing. There’s always an element of risk in any betting strategy but having a thorough understanding of the horses you’re backing will minimise the risk of losses.

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