How to Pick a Winning Horse
Posted: November 28, 2019
Updated: January 21, 2020
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Study your Form Guide
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Have a good look at the horse
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Research is your friend
Can you pick a winning horse? Betting on the horses is both about the excitement and the possibility to make some money with this list of online sportsbooks in the UK. With proper analysis and information, you can certainly increase your odds. Fortunately, most of the information you’ll be needing is freely available. Each race provides you with a Form Guide on how to pick a winning horse. So study it!
Introduction: How to Pick a Winning Horse
Below I’ll list some of the most important factors. You can find information about different types of horse racing here. Have your form guide ready and a pencil and notepad. Most of all, take you time to check the following points. If you’re unsure, then don’t hesitate to ask another punter. After all, it’s your money!
The Going
More so in the Winter months when the going can be sticky or muddy. Certain horses run at their best on certain surfaces. Check your horses previous form on different surfaces.
Stall/Gate Position
Many of today’s races start from stalls. Sprint races favor the outside stall. Longer races, the inside position.
Handicap
Horses can struggle to be competitive once they’ve reached their best in handicaps. This will show as a gradual decrease in speed and performance. take a look at a horses’s rating over it’s last winning races. it’ll give you an idea as to whether the horse is still competitive.
Finishing Place from Previous Races
We call this the “Form”. Though this information can be important, if the previous races were under very different circumstances, then take it with a grain of salt. Of course check things like the track surface and maybe look for any racing patterns.
Days Since Last Race
When you try to pick a winning horse, you want one that has rested. However, the animal cannot be too well rested. The ideal time factor here is around 30 – 60 days. A horse that has not raced for some time will need at least a couple of races to get back on form. Like wise, you don’t want a horse that is exhausted.
Look for Previous Distance and Course Wins
Whether you’re at Cheltenham or Royal Ascot, there are two things to look for here. On the form guide it’ll show you whether the horse has previously won at this distance, and also whether it won at this particular course. A course win is marked with the letter “C”. A distance win, with the letter “D”. So, if you see a “CD” next to a horses name, it’s safe to assume that they will perform well again. Then place your bets with Betsson. Another starting point is simply to check the results of the last 10 races that your choice has run. What you’re really looking for here is a pattern, which you’ll then compare to other horses. For example, some horses do well in bouts, often winning two races in a row, before losing the next. With most online book makers you can normally check the race history.
Jockey and Trainer Data
For many punters, doing a deep dive into the history of the horses training can produce the edge needed to pick a winner. You want to look at the previous record and check the wins against which trainer was responsible. You can easily find this information on line. but don’t just look at past victories. Check if the same trainer has won anything since, especially with their current stable of horses. You really want to pick trainers who have won at least 10 15% of their horses. Do the same for the jockeys. Remember also to take into account the type of race, as some jockeys and trainers can do well at certain distances.
How to Pick a Winning Horse: Official Ranking
This is essentially how the experts rank the horse. Obviously a high number indicates a higher ranking. This is very important. In order to provide as level a playing field as possible, some horses will have enforced handicaps. This is done by weighting down the higher ranking horses. While weighing down is a sign of a good horse, too much weight is going to negatively effect it’s run. Here’s a guide to betting and choosing the right horse for the Grand National.
Look at Your Horse
Pretty basic. Use common sense here to pick a winning horse. How is the horse acting before the race. Does it look agitated or tired? Obviously, if the horse is looking tired before a race, then it goes with out saying that you should avoid betting on it. Also watch how the horse moves around the paddock before the race begins. Does it look healthy? Get to know about horses so you can recognize any signs of sickness or moodiness. Ideally you want a horse with large “fluid” movements and the head held high. Pedigree can also play a huge factor, especially for first time starters. Check the pedigree guides and look at the maidens. This will give you an idea about such factors as stamina and how quickly they’ll peak in a race.
Finding a Value Bet
Though many people want to strike gold by punting on the underdog, just betting on the race favourite will pay off around 33% of the time. If you bet on the 1st place or second place, then these will pay off in 53% of cases. And betting on the favourite to be 1st, 2nd or 3rd will result in a 67% chance of paying out. Simply put, find a horse with a good chance of winning which is paying high odds at Betsson. If you’re after the best value for your money, then you could do a lot worse than by betting on the favourite. Check out these online gambling sites in the UK for great value. You want a bet with a payout higher than your research suggest. Or like Wiiliam Benter you could just use an algorithm.