Cheltenham race week is coming up, and the question that might be on most people’s minds is how do I place my bet? Of course, you have the book makers at the stands, and then there are the hundreds of betting apps, or of course the classic betting shop. But what’s going to get you the most out of your money? If you win that is…
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The Main ways to bet:
Book Makers
Book makers are an easy and quick way of placing a bet at the races. Any odds that you see in a booking shop during race week will all come from the book makers at the track. Let’s say you have 20 book makers at the track, someone will then take an average of those 20 odds which is what you’ll see in the betting shop. All the odds you see first come from the track, that’s where you get your first-hand odds and you’re more likely to pinch a better price.
Betting Apps
Downloading a betting app is a great way to place a bet. You need to check the apps as they do tend to give lots of things away, lots of different firms have lots of different offers. For example, ‘if the favourite wins you get your money back’, so it is worth shopping around. And if it’s your first time registering to an app you normally get introductory offers.
Betting Shops
On the track, your only able to place a bet to win or each way, but sometimes bookies may only take a win. However, if you go into a betting shop you can do lots of accumulations and lots of different types of bets. You can do this at the track because there will be betting shops all over, but when your betting with the book makers can only tend to make selective bets.
What the apps are offering:
There are lots of betting apps out there and each have their own offers for Cheltenham race week, but which are the best ones for you? Here is a list of what the top apps are offering;
William Hill- 5 places on all 10 handicap races
Betfred- Welcome offer, bet £10 get £40 in free bets
Ladbrokes- Non-runners get money back
Coral- Double your winnings, up to £25 in cash if your horse wins
Paddy Power- Live prize draw, win £250,000
*terms and conditions apply*
The main phrases you need to know:
Combination Bet When you bet on a selected number of horses to finish first and second in either order.
Combination Tricast A bet type where you pick which horses will finish first, second and third in no certain order.
Each Way A wager where you bet on a horse to win and place.
Flat Racing A race run on a level track with no jumps or obstacles.
Photo Finish When two or more horses cross the finish line so close together that the only way to distinguish the winner is by examining a photograph taken at the exact moment of the competitors crossing.
What the odds mean:
- 9/1 for every £1 you bet, you will win £9.
- 4/1for every £1 you bet, you will win £4.
- 1/1 for every £1 you bet, you will win £1.
- 1/4 for every £4 you bet, you will win £1.
What the experts think:
Ex-bookie owner Phil Owen has been in the betting business for over 22 years. First working in his Dads shop at 18, he knows all the ticks of the trade. He later took over the 4-generation family business and owned his bookies for 10 years until he eventually decided to sell up shop. These are the main tips he has for you for this year’s Cheltenham festival.
What advice would you give to people who are betting for the first time?
“When I worked in the bookies Cheltenham race week was massively busy, five times busier than a normal day. I’ve never been to Cheltenham race week, I guess because I was always busy in the betting shop but if I had any advice for first time betters it would be to bet small. Expect to lose, take a certain amount of money that your happy to lose and expect to lose it. But, enjoy the occasion, and if you do win something then know you’ve had a good day”.
What would you recommend is the best way to place a bet at the races?
“I’d say that it’s bit more fun betting at the track, your living the experience which I love, but there are offers that you can get by opening a new account with different apps. Just remember if you go to the track and haven’t got a betting app, then the only time you’ll bet is at the track, but if you have an app you’ll be betting every day of the week if you wanted, so as far as anyone who has a problem with gambling goes, it’s very easy now a days through your phone to bet, whereas in the old days it wasn’t. You had to either go to the bookies or races. There is no best way to place a bet, it’s all about having fun, but when you start worrying about how much to bet and the fun stops then its defiantly time to stop”.
View this post on InstagramStruggling with gambling can be hard to face alone. But you don’t have to.
Cheltenham race week is all about getting dressed up, having fun with your friends and placing the odd bet. So, enjoy yourself, have a few drinks and when the fun stops, stop.
T-minus six days and counting…
Ready for Four Days of Extraordinary? pic.twitter.com/0KXjQkVeOt — CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 6, 2019
If you believe you have a problem with gambling, please visit www.gamcare.org.uk
When the fun stops, stop.
