Horse racing is a sport that offers a lot of opportunity to make profit for those with a little knowledge. But for beginners, the betting landscape can feel overwhelming. Where do you start? How do you minimize risks while giving yourself the best chances of winning?
This beginner’s guide will provide you with 4 simple horse racing betting strategies that really work. We’ll explore essential strategies such as leveraging Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) promotions, Each Way Sniping and using innovative tools like Tilt the Odds. By the end of this guide, you’ll walk away with the confidence to bet smarter and the knowledge to increase your chances of success responsibly.
The Basics of Horse Racing Betting
Before jumping into advanced strategies, it’s essential to understand the basics. Horse racing bets generally fall into two primary categories:
- Win Bet – You bet on a horse to win the race outright.
- Each-Way Bet – A combination of two bets, one for the horse to win and the other for the horse to place (usually second or third, depending on the race).
Once you’re familiar with these concepts, it’s time to implement strategies designed to optimize your chances of making a profit.
Strategy 1: Take Advantage of Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG)
What Is BOG?
Best Odds Guaranteed is a promotion offered by many bookmakers. It means that if you back a horse at a particular price, but its odds drift higher before the race starts, you’ll get paid at the higher odds if your horse wins. It is one of the simplest and easiest ways to start profiting from horse racing betting!
How to Use This Strategy:
- Choose Bookmakers with BOG Offers: Many well known bookmakers, such as Bet365 and Ladbrokes, provide BOG promotions. Make sure to check their terms and activation times (some start at 8 AM on race day others at 10.00 AM).
- Back and Lay Bets: To use this strategy effectively, you can back a horse with a bookmaker and simultaneously place a lay bet on the betting exchange at similar odds. This guarantees you break even if the odds remain unchanged. But if the odds drift and your horse wins, you’ll cash in a risk-free profit thanks to the BOG promotion.
- Focus on Favorite Selections: Bookmaker often adjust horses with shorter odds in much smaller increments, making them a better choice for this strategy.
You back a horse at odds of 4.0 (£10 stake). If the odds drift to 5.0 and your horse wins, your payout increases from £40 to £50, thanks to the BOG promotion.
Example:
You back a horse at odds of 3.75 (£10 stake). If the odds drift to 5.0 and your horse wins, your payout increases from £27.50 to £40, thanks to the BOG promotion. A profit of £12.50 would be made from zero risk.
BOG is an excellent low-risk strategy, but to maximize results, volume is key. Be sure to operate across multiple races and bookmakers offering BOG.
Strategy 2: Find Value With Software (Tilt the Odds)
What Is Tilt the Odds?
Tilt the Odds is a software tool that uses advanced algorithms to identify value bets in horse racing markets. It analyzes bookmaker odds, exchange data, and other variables to determine bets with the highest chances of success or value.
How It Works:
- Value Percent (VP) and Quality Score (QS): The software assigns each selection a VP and QS. These metrics are based on real-time data and help bettors identify which bets have the best value.
- Bet Types: You can use the software for different bets, including singles, doubles, and Lucky 15s, depending on your preferred level of risk and potential returns.
- Long-Term ROI: Tilt the Odds has consistently shown a return on investment (ROI) of around 17% for Lucky 15 bets and about 5% for single bets.
Example:
The software flags a horse available at odds of 7.0 with a VP indicating undervaluation. By placing a stake on this selection, you are effectively taking advantage of market inefficiencies.
Why It Works for Beginners:
Tilt the Odds removes much of the guesswork by providing data-backed recommendations. It’s a great way to learn the discipline of value betting while building confidence in your approach.
Strategy 3: Matched Betting with Extra Places
What Are Extra Places?
Extra places are special offers where bookmakers increase the number of places they pay out on. For example, a race might traditionally pay out on the top 3 finishers, but a bookmaker might enhance this to 4 or even 5 places.
How to Use This Strategy:
1.Targeting Extra Places:
- Back a horse with the bookmaker and place lay bets on the exchange for both the win market and the place market.
- Profit when your selected horse lands in the extra place (e.g., finishes 4th instead of 1st, 2nd, or 3rd).
2.Arbing the Place Market:
- Some betting exchanges offer place markets with odds higher than bookmaker odds. By leveraging these differences, you can guarantee small, consistent profits regardless of the race outcome.
3.Covering the Field:
- This advanced technique involves betting on multiple horses in a race to maximize your chances of landing an extra place profit. Use high-profile races, where liquidity and bookmaker offers are abundant.
Example:
You place a £5 bet on a horse at 10/1 with an enhanced 4-place offer. If the horse finishes 4th, you win the extra place payout from the bookmaker while breaking even on your exchange bets.
This strategy is particularly popular during festivals like Cheltenham, where extra place offers are plentiful.
Click Here For Our Review On The Best Extra Place Software
Strategy 4: Each-Way Sniping
What Is Each-Way Betting?
Each-way betting involves two bets – one on a horse to win and another on it to “place” (e.g., finish in the top 3 or 4). This strategy becomes profitable when there are inaccuracies in the place odds calculated by bookmakers.
How to Spot Value:
- Look for odds-inflated races, particularly where there’s an odds-on favorite. These races often present opportunities for other horses to have underpriced place odds.
- Use comparison tools like Each Way Pro to identify bets with a positive expected value in the place market.
- Use automated software such as Each Way Sniper to place the bets.
Advanced Tip: When bookmakers offer extra places in races with long-shot contenders, the place part of each-way bets can provide significant potential payouts with reduced risk.
Example:
A bookmaker offers 5 place terms in a competitive field. You place an each-way bet on a horse at odds of 20/1. If the horse finishes 4th or 5th, the place payout covers your stake and leaves a profit.
For this strategy you can use an automated service to place bets called Each Way Sniper!
Key Takeaways for Beginners
- Start Small: Avoid overextending your bankroll. Begin with small stakes while familiarizing yourself with these strategies.
- Track Your Results: Use a simple spreadsheet to monitor which strategies and bets are yielding the best returns.
- Learn Responsibly: Never bet more than you can afford to lose, and always treat betting as an investment of time and discipline rather than a quick win.
Final Thoughts
Betting on horse racing is a skill that takes time to develop. By incorporating horse racing betting strategies like Best Odds Guaranteed, Tilt the Odds, extra places, and each-way betting, you’ll position yourself for long-term profits. Remember, the key lies in staying disciplined, taking advantage of promotions, and continually refining your approach.
With the proper mindset, horse racing betting can be a very profitable way to make money online. Now is your chance to put these beginner friendly strategies into practice and start profitting from the world of horse racing betting.