A forecast bet is one where you predict the first and second in a horse or greyhound race. Computer forecast dividends are declared after each race. They are based on starting prices and quoted to a £1 stake.
Straight Forecast – A straight forecast (or SFC) is one bet involving two selections in the same race to finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order. For example:
1:20 Lingfield
1st: Tommy’s Boy
2nd: Fred’s Lad
A £1 SFC = 1 x £1 unit stake = Total £1.00
The first named selection (Tommy’s Boy) must be placed 1st, and the second named (Fred’s Lad) must be placed 2nd for this bet to win. If successful you would receive 1 times the Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) dividend.
Straight Forecast Doubles – SFC doubles are staked in exactly the same way as ordinary doubles. The only difference is that you take two selections per race. For example:
1:00 Ayr
1st: Lucky Nick
2nd: Joker Joe
1:20 Lingfield
1st: Tommy’s Boy
2nd; Fred’s Lad
A £1 SFC double = 1 x £1 unit stake = Total £1.00
Both SFC predictions must be correct for there to be any return. In this example, Lucky Nick must finish first and Joker Joe second in the 1.00 at Ayr and Tommy’s Boy must finish first and Fred’s Lad second in the 1.20 at Lingfield in order for there to be any returns. Returns are calculated in the same way as a standard ‘double’, with the returns from the first forecast reinvested on the second.
Straight Forecast Trebles – SFC Trebles are staked in exactly the same way as ordinary trebles. The only difference is that you take two selections per race. For example:
1:00 Ayr
1st: Lucky Nick
2nd: Joker Joe
1:20 Lingfield
1st: Tommy’s Boy
2nd; Fred’s Lad
1:30 Ascot
1st: Knight Error
2nd: Bob’s Return
A £1 SFC treble = 1 x £1 unit stake = Total £1.00
All 3 SFC predictions must be successful for there to be any return. In this example, Lucky Nick must finish first and Joker Joe second in the 1.00 at Ayr, Tommy’s Boy must finish first and Fred’s Lad second in the 1.20 at Lingfield and Knight Error must finish first and Bob’s Return second in the 1.30 at Ascot in order for there to be any returns. Returns are calculated in the same way as a standard ‘treble’, with the returns from the first forecast reinvested on the second and then onto the third.
Reversed Forecast – A reversed forecast (or RFC) is two bets involving 2 selections in the same race finishing 1st and 2nd in either order. As such it is two straight forecasts, for example:
1:20 Lingfield
Tommy’s Boy
Fred’s Lad
A £1 RFC = 2 x £1 unit stake = Total £2.00
The named selections can finish 1st or 2nd in either order. If successful you would receive 1 times the CSF dividend.
Reversed Forecast Doubles – A RFC Double consists of 4 individual doubles. For example:
1:00 Ayr
1st: Lucky Nick
2nd: Joker Joe
1:20 Lingfield
1st: Tommy’s Boy
2nd: Fred’s Lad
This breaks down into the following possible forecast doubles:
1 – 1:00 Ayr – 1st Lucky Nick, 2nd Joker Joe; 1:20 Lingfield – 1st Tommy’s Boy, 2nd Fred’s Lad
2 – 1:00 Ayr – 1st Lucky Nick, 2nd Joker Joe; 1:20 Lingfield – 1st Fred’s Lad, 2nd Tommy’s Boy
3 – 1:00 Ayr – 1st Joker Joe, 2nd Lucky Nick; 1:20 Lingfield – 1st Tommy’s Boy, 2nd Fred’s Lad
4 – 1:00 Ayr – 1st Joker Joe, 2nd Lucky Nick; 1:20 Lingfield – 1st Fred’s Lad, 2nd Tommy’s Boy
The number of RFC doubles can be calculated by multiplying the number of doubles in the total number of races by 4.
Reversed Forecast Trebles – A RFC Treble consists of 8 individual trebles. For example:
1:00 Ayr
1st: Lucky Nick
2nd: Joker Joe
1:20 Lingfield
1st: Tommy’s Boy
2nd: Fred’s Lad
1:30 Ascot
1st: Knight Error
2nd: Bob’s Return
This breaks down into the following possible forecast trebles:
1 – 1:00 Ayr – 1st Lucky Nick, 2nd Joker Joe; 1:20 Lingfield – 1st Tommy’s Boy, 2nd Fred’s Lad; 1:30 Ascot – 1st Knight Error, 2nd Bob’s Return
2 – 1:00 Ayr – 1st Lucky Nick, 2nd Joker Joe; 1:20 Lingfield – 1st Fred’s Lad, 2nd Tommy’s Boy; 1:30 Ascot – 1st Knight Error, 2nd Bob’s Return
3 – 1:00 Ayr – 1st Lucky Nick, 2nd Joker Joe; 1:20 Lingfield – 1st Tommy’s Boy, 2nd Fred’s Lad; 1:30 Ascot – 1st Bob’s Return, 2nd Knight Error
4 – 1:00 Ayr – 1st Lucky Nick, 2nd Joker Joe; 1:20 Lingfield – 1st Fred’s Lad, 2nd Tommy’s Boy; 1:30 Ascot – 1st Bob’s Return, 2nd Knight Error
5 – 1:00 Ayr – 1st Joker Joe, 2nd Lucky Nick; 1:20 Lingfield – 1st Tommy’s Boy, 2nd Fred’s Lad; 1:30 Ascot – 1st Knight Error, 2nd Bob’s Return
6 – 1:00 Ayr – 1st Joker Joe, 2nd Lucky Nick; 1:20 Lingfield – 1st Fred’s Lad, 2nd Tommy’s Boy; 1:30 Ascot – 1st Knight Error, 2nd Bob’s Return
7 – 1:00 Ayr – 1st Joker Joe, 2nd Lucky Nick; 1:20 Lingfield – 1st Tommy’s Boy, 2nd Fred’s Lad; 1:30 Ascot – 1st Bob’s Return, 2nd Knight Error
8 – 1:00 Ayr – 1st Joker Joe, 2nd Lucky Nick; 1:20 Lingfield – 1st Fred’s Lad, 2nd Tommy’s Boy; 1:30 Ascot – 1st Bob’s Return, 2nd Knight Error
The number of RFC trebles can be calculated by multiplying the number of trebles in the total number of races by 8.
Combination Forecasts – A combination forecast involves three or more selections in one event, two of which must finish 1st and 2nd in any order. In effect, a combination forecast is a series of straight forecast bets and therefore requires multiple stakes according to the number of selections specified. For example:
1.20 Lingfield
Tommy’s Boy
Fred’s Lad
Dave’s Delight
The bet breaks down into the following possible forecasts:
1st, 2nd
Tommy’s Boy, Fred’s Lad
Tommy’s Boy, Dave’s Delight
Fred’s Lad, Tommy’s Boy
Fred’s Lad, Dave’s Delight
Dave’s Delight, Tommy’s Boy
Dave’s Delight, Fred’s Lad
The easiest way to calculate the number of bets in a CFC is:
Number of selections x preceding number
So, for 3 selections, 3 x 2 = 6
A £1 combination forecast (or CFC) for three selections = 6 x £1 unit stake = Total £6
If you picked 5 selections in a race, you would have 20 combination forecast bets (5 x 4 = 20).
Combination Forecast Doubles and Trebles – These bets involve combination forecasts across two races (doubles) or three races (trebles). To win you must have included the first two finishers in two races for doubles or three races for trebles. The total number of bets in a cfc double or cfc treble is calculated by multiplying the number of bets in each cfc together. For example:
1:00 Ayr
Lucky Nick
Joker Joe
Milly’s Mate
1.20 Lingfield
Tommy’s Boy
Fred’s Lad
Dave’s Delight
£1 combination forecast double (6 bets x 6 bets) = 36 bets x £1 unit stake = Total £36.00
Each combination forecast must be successful for the bet to win, with returns reinvested on subsequent selections.
Tricasts – Tricast betting involves predicting 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in a horse or greyhound race. Tricast dividends (like forecasts) are declared after each race, based on starting prices and quoted to a £1 stake. Tricasts are usually only available on handicap horse races with eight or more runners and featured greyhound race meetings. See ‘Tricasts’ under ‘General Rules‘ for full confirmation of which races we accept tricasts on.
Straight Tricasts – This bet involves three selections in a race finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the order named. (The closest equivalent to a Tricast in many countries is a Trifecta or a Tierce). For example:
1.20 Lingfield
Tommy’s Boy
Fred’s Lad
Dave’s Delight
A £1 Straight Tricast (STC or TC) = 1 x £1 unit stake = Total £1
In order for the bet to win, Tommy’s Boy must finish 1st, Fred’s Lad must finish 2nd and Dave’s Delight must finish 3rd.
Combination Tricasts – This bet involves three or more selections in the same race finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd in any order.
To calculate the number of bets in a Combination Tricast:
Number of selections x 2 preceding numbers. For example:
1.20 Lingfield
Tommy’s Boy
Fred’s Lad
Dave’s Delight
