Betting Strategies for Flat Racing - 4 things to know!
Flat racing takes place all year round in the UK, but the main flat turf season begins towards the end of March, sometimes at the beginning of April and it ends in November. Many people bet on flat racing, and whether you are completely new to the sport, or you have placed a few bets in the past, learning more about horse racing is always a good idea. There is a lot to learn and take in when you are looking at racing, and often for newcomers it can seem very complicated. If you would like to know more and enhance your flat racing knowledge then here are four things to consider that will greatly help your horse racing betting.
1. Get to Know the Trainers
Horse racing trainers are vitally important, and each one of them has their own methods that they believe gives them the best chance of success. It is important to know as much as you can about each trainer, and what patterns they have that you can follow. Look out for ones that target big meetings such as Royal Ascot and the Glorious Goodwood meeting. However, you should also look out for individual race stats, especially for classics like the 1000 & 2000 Guineas held at Newmarket and the Epsom Derby and Oaks.
Try and remember things about methods, does a particular trainer have a lot of horses win after they have had a break, does another train do poorly with those returning because his horses need a run for fitness? Information like this is gold for punters, and the more you can digest and remember, the better your punting will be.
2. Get to Know the Jockeys
Knowing the jockeys is another important part of becoming a better punter. You should always know who the best are, and watch out for them at the big meetings. For example, jockeys like Ryan Moore will be in demand at Royal Ascot, so his rides are worth noting. However, just as much as that, it also pays to find jockeys travelling to smaller meetings. For example, if Ryan Moore was to ride at a small meeting at Pontefract on an evening, this would be very significant because he must be going for something special.
The more you know about the jockeys, the more you can work out what is significant with the horses they are riding, which is something you can use to form a better opinion about a horse.
3. Understand the Going
Horses will not perform to their best on different ground. Some prefer it fast, others prefer it soft and some prefer it in the middle. It is vitally important to your betting that you understand the going and the impact it is going to have on the runners. If you can work out which runners will be ok on the ground, and which will struggle then this will help you narrow down the field for the upcoming race.
Generally the ground during the flat season is pretty fast due to the good weather we have in the summer. However, it can also be very soft if we have bad weather, and adapting your punting when the going changes is one of the hardest things to do. Should you master that, you are going to find some big priced winners when betting.
4. Watch for Course Specialists
Something a lot of punters forget or don’t realise is that every single racecourse in the UK is different. Some courses are downhill, some are on level ground and some uphill. Some go left handed, some go right handed and some have straight courses attached to them. This is all a minefield, but something that you can understand if you learn the differences.
Horses will perform differently on the different courses they face, so try and work out horses that have ran well in the past on the course you are betting on, or those that have ran at similar courses. For example, Epsom is a unique test because of the turns and the slope, so previous course winners at Epsom are always sought after by the experienced punters betting there.
Horse Racing Betting Offers
When betting on horse racing you should always be looking to take advantage of a betting offer. Here are just a couple you can use when next placing your horse racing bets.
Betfair – ITV Racing Free Bet for Every Winner at 3/1 or Bigger
If you like to bet on the big race meetings then you will be on televised racing a lot of the time. When a race is televised on ITV and you back a winner with an SP or 3/1 or bigger, you are eligible for a free bet with betfair. This is to the value of your stake and up to a maximum of £25. If you keep backing winners, they keep giving you free bets so this is a great offer for those betting on ITV racing.
Ladbrokes – Extra EW Places on Selected Races
If you bet each way then you should always look for value with your place terms. Every day Ladbrokes boost the place terms on at least two races, giving you an extra place or a better each way term. By taking advantage of these you will enhance your each way betting, and you could back winners that would be classed as losers with other bookmakers who only offer standard terms.
You might also be interested in:
Betting Strategies for Jumps Racing
What is "Best Odds Guaranteed" and why you should ALWAYS take it!
Top 20 Betting Offers
18+ New customers only. Place a £5+ bet at minimum odds of 1/1 (2.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get £25 in Free Sports Bets + 50 Free Spins (valued at £0.10 each), valid for 7 days on selected bets and games. Free stake not returned with winnings. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org | |||||
18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile or app and bet £10 on any sports market (odds of 2.00+) within 7 days of registration. Get 3x£10 Free Bets on selected sports markets, which expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly | |||||
New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. One welcome offer per customer. Bet a minimum of £/€10 at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £/€10 Win + £/€10 Place) within 7 days of registration to qualify. Receive £/€20 Tote Credit, £/€10 sports Free Bet and 20 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool or sports bet added to the bet slip. 7-day expiry. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org. Full T&Cs apply. | |||||
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply. | |||||
T&Cs apply. 18+ New customers only. You must place a single win-only bet of £10 or more with odds of evens (2.00) or greater to qualify. Money back as £10 in free bets. Free bet is credited the day after the qualifying bet has settled. Must use code B10G10 when creating an account. | |||||
New Customers Only. Sign up with bonus code: EB20. Bet £20 and get £20 in Free Bets. Paid as £5 Free Bet on Soccer, £5 Free Bet on Horse Racing, £5 Free Bet on Multiples and a £5 Free Bet on any Market. Terms apply 18+ gambleaware.org. | |||||
New customers Only. New customer must place and settle £50 in bets on Matchbook markets only. The user must bet on at least 4 different events to qualify. The user must place and settle bets at odds of 2.0 or more. Bets can be placed on singles, multiples and Bet Builders. The user must place and settle bets before the closing date of the promotion to qualify. . T's and C's Apply. Be Gamble Aware. 18+ | |||||
18+. New customers only. Min first deposit £20. Opt-in for the "Welcome Offer" during registration. Free Bet 1: 50% of your stake back as a Free bet (up to £30) if your first qualifying bet loses. Free Bet 2: 50% of your stake back as a Free Bet (up to £20) if your second qualifying bet loses. Min odds to qualify Evens (2.0). T&Cs Apply. Please gamble responsibly. | |||||
New Customers use code EPL10. Deposit £10 and place a bet of £10 on any Premier League Outrights 2025/26 market at minimum odds of 2.0. Free Bet credited within 24 hours and must be wagered on English Premier League markets only. Full Terms apply. Bangers N'Cash rewards are a separate promotional scheme and must be opted into during the weekly promotional period via the BetWright Rewards Section. 18+ begambleaware. | |||||
*New UK customers only. Min Stake: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football, Horse Racing, Tennis, Cricket or Basketball multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. 100 Free Spins on More Unusual Suspects (£0.10 per spin) credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Earn a £30 Uber Eats Voucher on successful Acca qualification. Debit Card deposit only (exclusions apply). This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. 18+ GambleAware.org. Bet the Responsible Way. Full Terms apply | |||||
Place a £10 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2 and get 3 x £10 free fixed odds bets, 3 x £5 Total Goals football spread bets and 3 x £5 Winning Favourites spread bets and a £1 racing Race Index spread bet.18+ www.gambleaware.org. | |||||
New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. | |||||
18+ New Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4 x £5 free bets. Free bet available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. | |||||
18+ New Customers Only. Place a single £10 bet within 3 calendar days of registration. Bet must settle on the same day of placement. Min odds Evens (2.00). 4 x £5 Free Bets valid for 7 days. Max win £250. T&Cs apply. Ends 28/02/25. GB residents only. Gamble responsibly | |||||
18+. Play Safe. Online only. For new UK register customers using promo code G40. Deposit & place £10 cash single bet (min odds 1/2) on sportsbook (excl. Virtuals). Get £40 in Free Bets (4x£10), valid for sportsbook (excl. Virtuals), 7 days expiry, must use in full (£10 each). Not valid with deposits via PayPal, Neosurf, Paysafe, Apple Pay, NETELLER, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay or WH PLUS Card. One per customer. Full T&Cs apply. www.gambleaware.org #ad | |||||
New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, payment method exclusions apply; New customers only. T&C apply; 18+ Please gamble responsibly. | |||||
18+. BeGambleAware.org. New customers only. Min. £10 deposit, debit card only. Up to 50x wagering, game contributions vary, max. stake applies, 7 day expiry. See full terms. #AD | |||||
New customers place a £10 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2. Get 2 x £10 free bets. 18+ begambleaware | |||||
New Customer only. £10 in real money. Bets placed on sports at odds of 2.00 or more to qualify. Bets must be placed 24 hours within registration. £10 free bets must be wagered on sports. Full terms apply. Gambling can be addictive, play responsibly. 18+ | |||||
New Customers Only. £10 in real money. Bets placed on sports at odds of 2.00 or more. Bets must be placed within 24 hours of registration. £10 free bets must be wagered on sports. UK residents. Full terms apply. Gambling can be addictive, play responsibly. 18+ |
