How to make the most (potential profit) betting at Ascot this week
5 mins readThis week promises to live long in the memory as Royal Ascot 2022 makes its return to Berkshire for five days of top-notch flat racing.
If you’re wondering why Ascot festival gets so much attention at this time of year, it’s because the best horses, mostly from the UK and Ireland, take to the track to win millions in prize money for their owners.
An incentive like that makes the betting markets pretty tight.
Six ways you can make the most of betting on races at Ascot this week.
Make your picks early
As each race approaches, odds will change up to the very last minute based on betting trends. Therefore if you make a bet well ahead of race time, you could end up with better odds.
The odds for a horse will shorten or drift depending on where the money is going. The market is driven by informed punters who’ll be assessing a horse’s form and who they’re up against in the race.
So if you bet on a horse in the morning at 12/1 and with a few minutes to go until race time, the odds have shortened to 3/1 because others think it will win, you’ll get the better odds early doors. In money terms, a £10 bet at 12/1 will pay out £130 winnings while at 3/1 the winnings are only £40.
This can go both ways – maybe you pick a dud horse that drifts from 12/1 to 25/1 because no one fancies it!
Use E/W betting for higher odds
For those who aren’t aware, Each Way betting (abbreviated as E/W) is when bookies give you a fraction of the winnings if your horse doesn’t win but comes 2nd or 3rd.
The number of places that are paid as E/W depends on the number of runners in the race. Sometimes it can only be two places paid or sometimes it’ll go up to four or five for special races. The bookies give you a fraction of the winnings – usually 1/4 or 1/5 (quarter or a fifth) – for coming in the top places.
So, if you back a horse at 6/1 or more, you can still make a profit if it lands in the E/W places.
That’s because if you bet £10 E/W (total combined stake of £20), and your horse doesn’t win but comes in the top three, the odds on the place will be 6/5, meaning a payout of £22. Therefore you’ve got your stake back and a small bit on top as profit.
If it’s 10/1 and the horse places, the E/W value is 2/1, meaning £30 returns.
And remember, an E/W bet takes two bets. One based on the win, one for a place. So a £10 E/W bet at 10/1 will pay out £30 if your horse places, PLUS £110 if it wins, totalling £140!
If you back a horse that places at 25/1, the place odds will be shortened to 5/1, and you’ll make more in winnings simply down to the odds of the horse.
Take advantage of new offers
Expect social media and TV to be flooded with ads promoting bonuses from online sports betting sites all week.
Any winnings from the £50 free bets* are yours to keep. There are no wagering requirements, meaning that any money you win will go straight into your account.
Follow the market
As mentioned, ahead of each race the betting market will move. This is usually driven by punters making decisions based on the horse’s race form and the competition it’s up against, and occasionally alternative factors, such as the weather or trainer’s reputation.
If you’re one to leave things late – or simply unsure which horse to bet on – look at what’s the favourite in the minutes leading up to the race.
The bookies are obviously looking to lose as little as possible, so the horse with the shortest odds will be the one they’re worried about the most.
The market is fairly reliable, especially for Ascot, and the favourite or favourites will typically be steady bets.
But also look at the next shortest odds – is there a big difference in price between first and second favourite?
Go one step further and study the horse’s form for yourself. Does the outsider at 50/1 have some form to suggest it could end up first past the post? Every horse has four legs, after all!!
Watch live
The best online bookies will provide streaming for your bets, so you can watch the action as it unfolds. It’s easier nowadays as people’s watching preferences have changed from TV to mobile or tablet.
BetUK will be streaming every race you bet on for free. And don’t forget to claim their £50 in free bets* with a first-time bet of £10 or more when you create a new account here.
Don’t chase losses
The most important message if you bet on Ascot this week is to bet responsibly. If you lose, don’t make impulse decisions to try and make it up with a bet on the next race.
There are 28 races from Tuesday until Saturday. That’s 28 opportunities to pick a winner. But make your bets rationally and don’t bet what you can’t afford to lose.
Terms and Conditions
- Open only to new BetUK.com players. Aged 18 or over.
- Offer runs from 09:00 Monday 13th June – 23:59 Sunday 19th June.
- Qualifying bet must be made within 7 days of registration.
- Only bets with minimum odds of 1.5 qualify for this promotion.
- Qualifying bet must be a bet of at least £10.
- Qualifying bets can be on Desktop or Mobile.
- Void, cashed out, or partially cashed out bets do not qualify for this promotion.
- Once the qualifying bet settles, 3x £10 and x4 £5 free bets will be awarded to your account. Free Bets can be used on Desktop or Mobile.
- £10 (x3) free bets must be used on bets with 4 or more selections. Each selection must be at odds of 1.5 or greater.
- £5 Free bet on Horse Racing can be singles and upwards.
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General Bet UK terms and conditions apply.
