Reverse forecast bets

Reverse forecast bets are offered for both horse and greyhound racing. Unlike in a straight forecast (SF), the order in which the two selections finish doesn’t matter, provided they take first and second place. So if you pick two horses (or greyhounds) and they’re the first two to cross the finish line, you’ll win a return irrespective of which of the two is in the lead.

This is the type of bet to go for if you’re confident that two specific horses or greyhounds will lead the field in a race, but don’t fancy the challenge of having to decide which of the two will place first and which will place second.

How does a reverse forecast bet work?

A reverse forecast bet combines two straight forecast bets into a single bet. This bet covers the two variations in finishing order for two entries finishing a race in the top two.

For example, say you place a £2 reverse forecast bet that horse A and horse B will take the first two places in a race. In this case, your actual stake, or liability, will be £4, with £2 placed on each of two bets:

• a forecast that horse A will place first and horse B will place second
• a forecast that horse B will place first and horse A will place second.

This is a simple form of risk reduction, ensuring that you’ll get a return in either case.

How to place a reverse forecast bet

To place a reverse forecast bet:

1. Open the forecast betting market for the race of interest.
2. Select the ‘Any’ option for the two race entries you are backing to finish in the top two.
3. Once you have placed a checkmark beside each horse, enter the stake for your bet.
4. Your stake will automatically be doubled to cover both possible variations in finishing order for your selections.
5. Confirm your bet.

Pros and cons of reverse forecast bets

The advantage of a reverse forecast bet is that it’s less difficult to win than a straight forecast. This doesn’t mean that winning a reverse forecast bet is easy though. It’s hard enough picking a single race winner, but a forecast depends on you successfully picking both a winner and a runner-up.

As is the case for straight forecasts, the high risk is rewarded with high payouts – so despite the difficulty of reverse forecasts, these bets are very popular with punters. Even with a small stake, you stand a chance of winning a respectable payout, and the associated risk is at least lower than for straight forecasts.

Reverse forecast bets can also be used as part of an effective strategy for minimising your risks when you have win, place and multiple bets on the same races.