In-Running Betting: It's all about knowledge so get studying

Betting Strategy / Jack Houghton / 05 July 2008 / Leave a Comment

Ten tips for successful betting in-play, by Jack Houghton

I've received a reader email. Yes, for only the second time, someone was so inspired by my musings that they took virtual pen to virtual paper to let me know their reaction.

The first time this happened, the reader wasn't particularly complimentary. And Darren - this week's correspondent - doesn't exactly represent a step-up. The thrust of Darren's email was that last week's article, on whether or when it is right to trade out in-running, was of no use to someone who didn't know how to bet in-running in the first place. This is a fair point Darren, and a short message in the comment area below stating this would have seen me leap to action to address the shortcoming.

It would also have saved you the effort of writing that long email, with all those words so difficult to spell. For the record, "count" has an "o" in it; and there's no need to give me such a grand title. Jack works just fine.

So, in reaction to Darren's email, I'll give a more basic introduction to in-running betting. Please all feel free to add your opinion and advice below...

The overarching point is that betting in-running is exactly the same as betting pre-race. A horse has a "right" price based on its chances. The job is to assess what that "right" price is and bet accordingly. Following the tips below will help you assess that "right" price.

Tip one: Timing is crucial. Be aware of how up-to-date the pictures you are seeing are. All "live" television is actually slightly delayed by a few seconds. Terrestrial coverage is generally seen as having the shortest delay. Satellite operators vary. Try flicking between satellite and terrestrial coverage when a race is covered by both for the best guide.

Tip two: Know your horses. With in-running betting, it is their running style, rather than their outright form, that is most important. Are they a front runner? Are they ungenuine in a finish? Do they struggle to navigate tight tracks? Are they disposed to coming on-and-off the bridle?

Tip three: Know your courses. Knowing how far there is to run and how many fences are left to jump is the most basic information. More than this, know the intricacies of the course. Is it undulating? Is there a false rail? There's no substitute for visiting a course and getting first-hand experience. Also, beware the various myths that circulate about different tracks. York, for example, does not advantage front runners. And yet commentators repeatedly state that it does. Run the statistics yourself to find the truth.

Tip four: Know the ground. A horse with a ten length lead starting up the Sandown hill is a very different betting prospect on good ground versus heavy ground.

Tip five: Learn the colours. Before the race starts, familiarise yourself with any colour changes. In 2003, I lost a small fortune following a horse I thought to be Victory Moon in the King George, only to realise the colours were printed incorrectly in the newspaper.

Tip six: Be a race reader, not a punter. Very few punters can give you an objective description of what happened in a race. The reason is obvious and understandable - if you've backed a horse, you watch that one, and not much else. Having a blinkered view of what's happening can cost you dearly in-running.

Tip seven: Trust yourself. Only ever follow your view of what's happening. Taking a position on the basis of what a commentator tells you is punting hari-kari. No matter how good a commentator is, if you've done your preparation well, you should know more. Have confidence in yourself and turn the sound off. If you don't have this confidence, then in-running betting is not for you.

Tip eight: Pace is everything. We don't benefit from widespread sectional timing in Britain, so come to your own conclusions as to how fast they are going. Watch for the jockeys behind the leader. If they are struggling to settle their mounts, it's likely the leader is going slowly. As a general rule, a slow pace favours front-runners and a fast pace favours those held-up.

Tip nine: Get experience. If your idea of betting to date is a Saturday afternoon accumulator, then that's great - but the chances are you have a little way to go before you'll be an in-running winner. Start watching more races. Start keeping notes on horses and courses. Start watching the markets in-running and see how the action unfolds.

Tip ten: Start small. Limit yourself to £2 bets and see how you get on. Do this for a while. A successful race, day, or week is not proof of your in-running mastery.