Greyhounds betting guide for UK punters

Biggest greyhound betting markets

Some of these betting options might be new to you, so let’s take a closer look and explain each option:

• Winning Bet – Predict which dog will come first to win the bet.

• Place Bet – Predict which dog will finish in first or second to win the bet.

• Daily Double Bet – Predict the winners of two individual races to win the bet.

• Each Way Bet – A double-stake bet where you back a dog to win alongside an insurance bet if the dog finishes in a placed position. The number of placed positions will depend on the number of runners (1st/2nd with 5-7 runners or 1st/2nd/3rd with 8 runners).

Advanced greyhound betting markets

Forecast betting is popular in greyhound racing and allows the punter to pick out multiple dogs to finish in placed positions, with the overall idea of increasing the odds for bigger returns. If forecast betting is new to you then we’ll explain what it means next:

• Quinella /Forecast – Pick out the top two dogs who will finish as first and second in the exact order. A reverse forecast is also available where your two dogs can finish in the top two in any order, your betting stake will be double though. Another popular bet for beginners is the ‘quinella box” bet where you can pick out three or more dogs, and you only need two of them to come in as first and second to win.

• Trifecta/Tricast – Pick out the top three dogs and their exact finishing order to win the bet. Often called the ‘straight trifecta’, it’s a tricky bet to predict but pays well if you do get it right! Again, the reverse tricast is also available where your top three dogs can finish in any order.

• Trifecta Key – Pick out a ‘key’ dog and then combine it with two other dogs. You’re ‘key’ dog must win the race but the other two can finish second and third in any order.

• Trifecta Wheel – Pick out one dog to either place first, second, or third, and then you ‘wheel’ every other selection with it. This means you’ll be placing 42 different combinations on one bet which will obviously cost you a lot more, but you’ll have a bigger chance of winning if you’re certain your main dog will finish in the top three.

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Top greyhound racing strategy

• Racing conditions
  The UK is renowned for its wet weather and track conditions on race day can greatly affect the racing. On wet days, it’s even worth holding off on making any bets until you’ve seen how the track runs in the first couple of races.
  The wider runners can often benefit from wet tracks due to the resulting difficulty of the inside rail section. Front-runners are hard to overcome in the wet because of the muddy kickback and intensified inside-track conditions. If it’s wet then it can work in your favor, our recommendation is to hold off and inspect the scene and then look for any value on the outside traps.
  
• Back the energy of youngsters
  The younger dogs have a lot more potential to surprise rather than the older dogs who have over a hundred races under their collar. Younger greyhounds who are still in the process of learning how to start out of the traps better and run the bends more effectively, often show a lot more inspiration and pace than the seasoned veterans. Catching a talented young greyhound early on in its career can prove profitable as you follow it up through the grades.
  
• Visualize the race
  The ability to read the race only comes with experience and so it’s best that you start as soon as possible. Many tracks are known to show the winner within the first straight, with the course proving too difficult to come from behind.
  Be sure to make a note of these important stats, as it might end up being the deciding factor between a winning and losing bet in the future.
  
• Specialize your knowledge at a certain track
  Trying to place bets at every opportunity will drain your betting balance quickly, especially with the number of races throughout the season. Our tip is to narrow it down and become a specialist at one or maybe two specific tracks.
  Put your time into all of the races at your chosen track(s) and you’ll then be able to bet a lot wiser with your specialist knowledge. Staying on top of the racing form is crucial in becoming a successful greyhound bettor and narrowing down the number of meetings a week will help you win more bets.
  A lot of stadiums around the UK have websites where you can watch and study all of the recent races, this is perfect for you to gain every bit of advantage possible against the bookies.
  
• Understand how trainers operate
  The world of greyhound racing is full of trainers, some good, some not so good, some are excellent at improving the skills of young pups, some rely on their seasoned veterans who know the tracks. If you stick to one or two tracks then you’ll start to become familiar with the trainers who turn up to regular meetings.
  It’s not uncommon for trainers to bring in an experienced dog after a seasonal break, and so following where the money goes instead of the form or lack of it, in this case, can prove to be a clever piece of betting. Knowing how the trainers work or knowing someone who knows them can open up a lot of betting opportunities.

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