A Guide to Winning at the Race Course

Winning on the horses is not an art - it's quite scientific. So I find it sad when I see people wasting their money on horses that don't have a cat's chance of winning. Here's my guide to winning at the races...

1. Pick a race course and stick to it

Race courses are peculiar things, full of undulations, turns and characteristics that certain horses like, and certain horses hate. The Irish, for example, love a Cheltenham free bet offer, and flood the online websites looking for offers before they go. They understand the course, and they know exactly what it takes to find a winner there because they haven't spread themselves too thin. That's what I did when I lived in France - I made sure that I understood Longchamp and the types of horse that won there, and I dramatically increased my winning ratio as a result.

2. Consider the going

The going is perhaps the most important factor of all, and you will hear horse racing experts tell you time and time again that the going is crucial. Some horses are known as "mudlarks" and they will run forever in the mud. Other horses like the ground to be firmer, and will really struggle in the softer ground. It's your job to sift through the freely available data (just pick up a racing newspaper) and look at which horses have good records on the going that you have on the day. That will give you a shortlist to start with.

3. Consider the trainer's mindset

One wise gambler told me that he only gambled once a year, and he walked off with a very handsome profit as a result. Of course, he did a huge amount of research, but one thing stuck out - he always looked for a horse that was primed for a particular race. The Arc de Triomphe in Paris is a key, late-season race for which the French trainers prepare enormously. They ensure that a horse is in prime condition for this particular day, while other trainers have gone for the Arc meeting simply because it's there. Pick out those trainers who have entered horses specifically to win this race, and you will improve your winnings substantially. Look at the trainer's record at the racecourse, and also for the race in question.

4. Consider the distance

There are always horses who are stepping up or stepping down in distance, and this makes it difficult for the gambler - in fact, when there is a variable that raises a question mark, you are best off leaving the race alone. However, you should always consider a horse's chances at a certain distance. Hurricane Run was a legendary horse who came second in the French Derby, the Prix du Jockey Club. He didn't have a chance because the stewards had shortened the race from 2400m to 2100m - exactly the distance at which Hurrican Run started to accelerate. In longer races, he mauled his opposition. In this shorter race, it was just too little too late. Check the distances horses have won at, and those at which it has lost.

5. Scour the online bookmakers for better odds

There are some bookmakers who offer cashback deals if a certain horse wins a race, and there are some who offer free bets as an introductory offer when you sign up. There are a few who actually give you your money back on the first bet. All of these can really improve your betting chances, and if you have several bookie accounts, you can compare the odds, check trends and see odds in real time. Irish gamblers, for example, love a. It's quite frightening for a novice, and perhaps best left to those with an intimate knowledge of the actual race. But do make sure that you look around, as odds vary greatly between bookmakers.

6. Don't go mad

Lots of people go mad after losing and start spending money they don't even have. There is one system that says you should double your stake every time you lose, and every time you win, pocket the winnings and return to your original stake. However, I don't advocate that - have a budget in mind that you're prepared to lose, and stick to it. If you lose it, then you've lost it - accept it and start again another day.

Above all, enjoy the horse racing - there are plenty of other factors, and many think that going to see the horses in the paddock can tell you a lot about their chances (I don't - I've seen horses going berserk and their odds went out massively - they won). There are plenty who wait until the very last minute, but me, I like to know in advance before I place a bet. Stay clever, stay sensible, and above all, enjoy the races!

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