The Form Guide

There are ways in which even those who have not spent hours or days dissecting the form of the day's racing can pick a winner through a quick perusal of the form.

Here are the main things to look out for when reading the form guide to a race.

Recent form:

Fairly self-explanatory. Obviously if a horse has been running well in its last few races then we can surmise it is currently fit and will put up a good show. Conversely if a horse has failed to trouble the judge in its last few outings it may well be one to steer clear of. When you see a row of zeros (or duck eggs) next to a horse you can assume that a drastic improvement will be needed to feature.

However, as of all things, it is not so simple. A cursory look at the form may be misleading. You may see a horse that has won its last three races but it may have been running in a far lower class and is now taking on better horses in a more valuable race, known as 'stepping up' in class. Conversely you may see a horse that hasn't featured in the first 6 in any of its last five races but is now dropping significantly in class, it would be unwise to write such a horses chances off lightly as it may possess too much talent for its rivals.

One other small point to be aware of is a strange phenomenon known as 'bounce'. Often a horse will be off the track for several months and win well on its return to the racecourse. However on its next outing the horse may 'bounce' i.e. run very poorly. It is very hard to know if this will happen as some horses are more predisposed to it than others but it is always something to be wary of if a horse is having its second run after a long lay-off.

Going:

In Ireland the going (the state of the ground) plays a huge part in horse racing. Going in Ireland ranges from Firm (very hard ground) to heavy (very soft, almost bottomless ground). There are six main descriptions: firm, good to firm, good, yielding, soft and heavy.

Many horses have a particular preference for a certain going. You may find a horse that is a champion on firm ground looks like a handicapper on soft and vice versa. It is always prudent to check if your horse has won or run creditably on the going conditions of the day's meeting. The going will be announced, and is posted up, at the racecourse. You can also find the morning going in the newspapers.

Distance:

Flat races vary in distance from 5 furlongs to over 2 ½ miles. National hunt races vary from 1 mile 6 furlongs to 4 ½ miles.

Again it is always good to know that your horse has won or enjoys running over the distance of the race in which it is entered. Some horses don't have the speed to win over 5 furlongs and some don't have the stamina to win over 2 miles (they don't stay). Another small point is to watch a horse that is running in a race much shorter or longer than that of its last run. Often the trainer might feel that a big drop or step up in distance may help the horse.

Weight:

In flat races horses carry between 7 stone 12 pounds and 10 stone (disregarding allowances). In jumps races horses carry between 10 and 12 stone (again disregarding allowances).Obviously the more weight a horse carries the harder it will be for it to win. In races where older horses take on younger ones and where the males take on the females the older and male horses will often carry more weight however this is by no means always the case.

In a handicap each horse is allotted a weight according to its ability. The best horse gets the most weight and the worst gets the least. Then all the horses are meant to finish dead heated on the winning line, that's the theory anyway. A betting policy adopted quite successfully by some is to always back the top weight (supposedly the classiest horse) in a handicap race. It's a very simple strategy, that is, this is the best horse in the race so I'll back it.

Courses:

You will hear people talking about horses for courses. Some horses run better at certain tracks. They like the way the circuit is layed out or they prefer running left handed to right handed. It is said bigger horses prefer wide, open tracks so they can build momentum on their big stride while smaller faster horses run better on tight bending tracks where they can make advantage of their small frame and manoeuvrability.

It can often pay to back horses that have won at the track before. If they have a very good record at the track they are known as 'course specialists'.

Trainer and Jockey:

You will find that not only horses are specialists at certain tracks. Trainers and jockeys often have superb records at particular tracks. Check out 5-year trends where every race is analysed to see if the trainer has a particularly good record in it.

Punters can also make big returns by striking while the iron is hot. Often trainers and jockeys go through purple patches where they are having winners every day. The in-form trainers and jockeys can be found on our 'who's hot and who's not' section.

The Bookmakers

Betting with the bookies can seem intimidating but let me assure you they want you to come in to the betting ring and have a bet. Even if it is too much rough and tumble in the middle of the ring it can be enjoyable to watch seasoned punters parole up and down the ring searching for the best price and also to see a quick move on a horse when several punters strike their bets simultaneously.

These are the bets available to you in the bookies:

Win:

Pick a horse to finish first.

Each way:

Back a horse to win and place. You will get either 1/4 or 1/5 of the win odds for your place bet. You cannot back a horse to solely place in the bookies.

Without the favourite:

Many bookies bet without the favourite. They usually have a sign at the top of their board saying betting without and are shouting it out quite loudly. You will get reduced odds on your selection however you do a receive a greater chance of collecting as you will win if your horse

(a) Wins the race; or

(b) Finishes second to the favourite.

This can often be a popular bet when the favourite is very short odds and generally thought to be almost unbeatable.

Some bookies offer a two-race double, shouting 'this race and the next'. My advice to you is not to bother with these doubles, the value is generally very poor. Actually with the odds they offer it's practically stealing.

You don't have to be at the races to bet with the bookmakers. The number of off track betting shops has been growing steadily over the past few years with Paddy Powers, Boylesports, Ladbrokes and William Hill having the largest amount of shops in Ireland. Often you can get extra value by taking the morning prices offered by these shops instead of taking the starting price of a horse, especially when you know the horse will be fancied.

Online betting accounts also offer a very convenient way of getting a bet on. To set one up all you need is a credit card. These are very useful tools for the regular punters or people with little chance to get to the races or down to a betting office. Most bookmakers also offer a variety of free bets to people who open new accounts. Please view the variety of offers in our 'Free Bets' section.