Horse running styles
Even though every race is considered a unique event, professional race analysts agree that each race has a beginning, middle and end.
Therefore in order for a jockey to maximise a horses chances of winning they must keep their mount close to the pace without expending too much energy, to soon. In jumps racing the most important factor to consider is a horses jumping ability, as poor jumpers rarely win.
Naturally each animal has at its own preferred racing style; of which there are two main types to look for:
- Horses that like to lead (front runners)
- Horses that like to be held up (hold-up runners)
Key fact 1:
Front runners like to lead in their races, although not all of them actually go onto win, even after leading all the way.
Key fact 2:
If there are several front runners in a race it maybe difficult to know which horse will take the lead or race prominently first, so avoid those races.
Key fact 3:
Hold up horses are usually raced with the pack, just off the pace, until the closing stages of a race when they are prompted by their jockeys to quicken and make a challenge for the lead.
You can assess a horses running style using the Racing Post com. The simplest way to do this is by clicking a horses name in the Racingpost betting forecast, then hover your mouse cursor over each of its last few races in the RACE OUTCOME BOX of it`s form history.
- Made all, soon clear. ( Took the lead and was never in danger.
- Chased leaders until led over 10f. ( Raced close to leaders eventually taking the lead)
- Led after the 5f. ( 5f into the race its was in the lead)
- Led soon clear, hit 3 out. (Took the lead clear of the rest of the field but hit 3rd hurdle )
- Made all, soon clear, 6 lengths clear 2 out. (Led from the start, clear of the field by 6 lengths)
- Soon led. (Took the up an early lead)
- Led 3rd. (Led until the 3rd hurdle)
- Always prominent, left in lead 4 out. (Good position with leaders, beat off opposition 4 hurdles out.
Staking & bet placement
Everyone has a preferred staking plan, however it’s worth bearing in mind that in every race at least 50% of the horses will trade at bigger odds in play than just before the start of the race, and 50% will trade lower.
After all, horses are not machines which maintain the same position or speed throughout an entire race.
For example, a horse with odds of 2.0 at SP is likely to trade above this in play, and this is where you can find value. Simply watching a few live races will confirm this.
Alternatively...
Useful reading
