Horse Racing Spread Betting Guide

Race Index

Explanation: We award each horse a number of points based on its finishing position in a race. For example, in a (50-25-10) race we award 50 to the winner, 25 to the second placed horse and 10 to the horse finishing third. (Points scoring systems will vary depending upon the size of the field).

Example: Kauto Star 30 - 33

This quote says that in a race where we award the winner 50 points, the second horse 25 and the third horse 10, Kauto Star's points total will be between 30 - 33.

If you think Kauto Star will win, you go higher (buy).

If you think Kauto Star will finish second or worse, you go lower (sell).

Kauto Star won the race and scored 50 points

If you had bought at 33, you would win your stake multiplied by 17 (50 - 33)

If you had sold at 30, you would lose your stake multiplied by 20 (50 - 30)

Double Numbers

Explanation: Predict the combined total of the racecard numbers of the winning horses for all races at a particular meeting, and double that figure.

Example: Ascot Double Numbers (7) 78 - 81

This quote says the combined total of winning racecard numbers, doubled, at the meeting for all seven races will be between 78 - 81.

If you think it will be more than 81, you go higher (buy).

If you think it will be less than 78, you go lower (sell).

The combined total of winning racecard numbers, doubled, was 66.

If you had bought at 81, you would lose your stake multiplied by 15 (81 - 66)

If you had sold at 78, you would win your stake multiplied by 12 (78 - 66)

Favourites

Explanation: Predict the total number of points scored by favourites at a particular meeting. We award points to the favourites of each race at a particular meeting using the following criteria: Winner (25pts), Second (10pts), Third (5pts).

Example: Newcastle Favourites (7) 71 - 75

This quote says that the total points scored by favourites in the seven races will be between 71 - 75.

If you think it will be more than 75, you go higher (buy).

If you think it will be less than 71, you go lower (sell).

Three favourites win, two finish second and the other two are unplaced. The market therefore settles at 95.

If you had bought at 75, you would win your stake multiplied by 20 (95 - 75)

If you had sold at 71, you would lose your stake multiplied by 24 (95 - 71)

Starting Prices

Explanation: Predict the combined total of starting prices of winners at a particular meeting. Prices that make fractions are rounded up (ie, 9/4, which is 2.25, would be worth 2.3). The maximum for one winner is 100 (ie, any winner with a starting price greater than 100/1 will only be worth 100).

Example: Ascot Starting Prices 48 - 51

This quote says that the combined starting prices total of the winners at the meeting will be between 48 - 51.

If you think it will be more than 51, you go higher (buy).

If you think it will be less than 48, you go lower (sell).

The combined starting prices total for the meeting was 46.

If you had bought at 51, you would lose your stake multiplied by 5 (51 - 46).

If you had sold at 48, you would win your stake multiplied by 2 (48 - 46).

Winning Distances

Explanation: Predict the combined winning distances, in lengths, for a particular meeting. The maximum distance for one race is set at 12 lengths for a flat race and 30 lengths for a jumps race. Distances under half a length are scored as follows: Short Head (0.1); Head (0.2); Neck (0.3).

Example: Ascot Winning Distances 11.5 - 12.5

This quote says that the combined winning distances at the meeting will be between 11.5 - 12.5

If you think it will be more than 12.5, you go higher (buy).

If you think it will be less than 11.5, you go lower (sell).

The combined winning distances at the meeting were 20

If you had bought at 12.5, you would win your stake multiplied by 7.5 (20 - 12.5)

If you had sold at 11.5, you would lose your stake multiplied by 8.5 (20 - 11.5)

Racecard No 1's

Explanation: Predict the combined total of points scored by the racecard number ones at a particular meeting. We award points to the horses wearing the number one saddlecloth in each race at a particular meeting. Points are awarded using the following criteria: Winner (25 points); Second (10); Third (5).

Example: Cheltenham racecard number ones 23 - 26

This quote says that the combined points total, using the above criteria, for the racecard number ones at the meeting will be between 23 - 26.

If you think it will be more than 26, you go higher (buy).

If you think it will be less than 23, you go lower (sell).

One horse wearing the number one saddlecloth wins, two finish third and the rest are unplaced. The market therefore settles at 35.

If you had bought at 26, you would win your stake multiplied by 9 (35 - 26)

If you had sold at 23, you would lose your stake multiplied by 12 (35 - 23)

Racing Post Favourites

Explanation: Predict the combined total of points scored by the Racing Post favourites (horses listed as favourites in each race by the Racing Post) at a particular meeting. We award points using the following criteria: Winner (25 points); Second (10); Third (5).

Example: Sandown Racing Post favourites (7) 64 - 68

This quote says that the combined points total, using the above criteria, for the Racing Post favourites at the meeting will be between 64 - 68.

If you think it will be more than 68, you go higher (buy).

If you think it will be less than 64, you go lower (sell).

No Racing Post favourites win. Three finish second, two finish third and the rest are unplaced. The market therefore settles at 40.

If you had bought at 68, you would lose your stake multiplied by 28 (68 - 40)

If you had sold at 64, you would win your stake multiplied by 24 (64 - 40)

Stop at a Winner

Explanation: Predict the number of races that pass until a favourite wins at a particular meeting. We award 10 points per race (ie, if the favourite does not win until the 4th race, we award 40 points). If there is no winning favourite, we award an extra 10 points (ie, for a six-race meeting where no favourite wins, we award a total of 70 points - 6 races x 10, plus an extra 10).

Example: Ayr Stop at a Winner: 34 - 37

This quote says that total points awarded before a race at the meeting is won by the favourite will be between 34 - 37.

If you think it will be more than 37, you go higher (buy).

If you think it will be less than 34, you go lower (sell).

The favourite does not win until the fifth race, meaning the points total for the meeting is 50.

If you had bought at 37, you would win your stake multiplied by 13 (50 - 37)

If you had sold at 34, you would lose your stake multiplied by 16 (50 - 34)

Jockey Index

Explanation: Predict the total number of points scored by a particular jockey after all their rides at a particular meeting. We award points to the jockey using the following criteria: Winner (25 points); Second (10); Third (5).

Example: Frankie Dettori 19 - 22

This quote says that after all his rides, Frankie Dettori's total points score for the meeting will be between 19 - 22.

If you think it will be more than 22, you go higher (buy).

If you think it will be less than 19, you go lower (sell).

Frankie Dettori rides one winner and one second place finish. The rest of his rides are unplaced. The market therefore settles at 35.

If you had bought at 22, you would win your stake multiplied by 13 (35 - 22)

If you had sold at 19, you would lose your stake multiplied by 16 (35 - 19)

Match Bet

Explanation: Predict the distance one named horse will beat another named horse by, in lengths, in a particular race. The maximum winning distance is set at plus or minus 12 lengths for flat races and plus or minus 15 lengths for jumps races. Distances under half a length are scored as follows: Short Head (0.1); Head (0.2); Neck (0.3).

Example: Kauto Star/Denman 1 - 2.5

This quote says that Kauto Star will beat Denman by a distance, in lengths, of between 1 - 2.5

If you think it will be more than 2.5, you go higher (buy).

If you think it will be less than 1, you go lower (sell).

Kauto Star beats Denman by 6 lengths.

If you had bought at 2.5, you would win your stake multiplied by 3.5 (6 - 2.5)

If you had sold at 1, you would lose your stake multiplied by 5 (6 - 1)