Punters’ Guide to Identifying the Winning Runner

The Grand National 2021 just ended with Rachel Blackmore being the first female Jockey to grace the winners’ enclosure as she saddled Minella Times. The Aintree event had many punters smiling to the bank, while others can only count their losses.

However, other events are coming up later in the year, and it leaves punters with an opportunity to turn series of losses into a profitable gambling streak. Punters can navigate the difficult waters of beating bookmakers by getting tips from noteworthy jockeys like Brian Hughes, and adhering to reputable methods for predicting winning runners. Here are some tips to help you place those winning horse racing bets that you’ve always imagined.

Analyzing the entry list

To identify the likely winner, it’s best to analyze every horse on the entry list based on certain parameters. Every experienced off-track bettor watches out for all these metrics.

Gate/Stall Position

While some races don’t start at the stalls, a lot of interesting ones do. It’s imperative to watch out for the positions of the runners as that can affect the outcome of the race. Generally, sprint races often favour horses with outside stall position, while long-distance races are best for horses with inside stall position.

Previous race performances

Popularly called the “form” of a horse is an essential factor that’s used by both bookmakers and punters to determine the winning horse. But, circumstances differ, thus, this shouldn’t be the ultimate criteria to consider.

However, it’s a particular piece of fact to consider before placing a stake. Your aim here is to watch out for any pattern that suggests that a particular horse will be victorious. For example, horses with a recent winning streak often perform well in subsequent races.

To make this strategy more effective, it’s best to research the conditions that surround the horse’s past victories. This will give insight on the factors that are responsible for his victory, and watch out if the same factor can propel it into victory in an intending race.

Some horses perform well when the track material is one that they’re accustomed to; some common track materials to watch out for are turns, dirt, and synthetics. Never place a winning bet on a horse without a track record of performing successfully on a track material.

Previous Course Wins and Distances

Some horses perform best in short distance races, while some horses only reach their full potential in long-distance races. You can also eliminate horses based on past wins, for example, questions like; have any horse succeeded both at Aintree and Newmarket Historical facts like this can help to guide your decision.

Days since the last competitive race

Watch out for a horse that’s rested but hasn’t been absent from a competitive race for an extended period. The most ideal time to watch out for is 30-60 days. You can extend or shorten the duration a bit if other metrics suggest that it’s a noteworthy contender. Horses that haven’t raced for an extended period need one or two competitive races to reach their optimum capacity.

To further weigh the potential of a horse winning, you should sum up its total races in the last 2 years and watch out for 45-60 days overall. Horses that have started in 14 races over a 2-year period stand a good chance of winning.

Official Rating

Experts analyze different metrics and rank each horse based on those metrics. Punters have been known to place winning bets based on handicapper ratings however, it’s best to watch out for other factors.

Trainer Data

Although this information is less relevant, every piece of information needs to be considered to win competitive events like the Ascot 2021.

The trainer can also have an impact in unleashing the inner potential of a horse. Some top horseracing trainers have shown their capacity to consistently train a horse to perform better.

It’s in your best interest to acquaint yourself with the trainer of any horse you’re betting on; it can be a useful way to come to a conclusion when you’re confused about choosing one in two horses.