| One clue to what separates the successful | | | | worth looking at whether the horse is proven |
| gambler from the rest is in the first three words | | | | over the course and distance or whether the |
| of this article title, "Race Horse Betting". These | | | | race is a step up or down in class compared to |
| are 3 of the prime factors that the professional | | | | any recent races. You should also consider how |
| will be considering when deciding whether to back | | | | well the horse is handicapped, or whether it is |
| or lay a horse for profit. Let's look at each in turn: | | | | racing at a weight with which it is comfortable. |
| Race: | | | | Betting: |
| The professional will play particular attention to | | | | To get an overall idea of how the "market" sees |
| the type of race and the number of runners, this | | | | the horses' chances, the professional will be |
| is often termed the "frame" of the race. For | | | | looking at how the horse is moving in the betting |
| instance a handicap race will, by its nature, be | | | | markets. Is the price fairly stable, or is it drifting |
| designed to give all horses an equal chance, but in | | | | out, or steaming in. Betfair is a useful tool, as it is |
| a handicap with 16 runners we have the optimum | | | | possible to see the exact amount of money that |
| race for taking advantage of the increased place | | | | has been bet on a horse and how much is |
| terms being paid out on the first four to finish. In | | | | available to back or lay at certain prices. Using |
| an 8 runner race with a strong favourite, we may | | | | odds comparison websites will also give you the |
| find a similar discrepancy with the odds being | | | | option to find the best available odds, which is |
| offered on an each way bet providing good value | | | | something the professional will always try to |
| on the 2nd or 3rd favourite. | | | | achieve before placing a bet. |
| Horse: | | | | As you can see, there can be a lot of factors |
| The next thing to be considered is the horse, for | | | | that a professional may weigh up before deciding |
| instance what is its recent form like, and the | | | | whether to back or lay a horse, but with practice |
| form of the trainer or "yard" it comes from. | | | | this can become pretty much second nature. |
| These are often things that go in cycles. It is also | | | | |