Horse Racing Betting Guide – Stick to Handicap Races Updated for September 2025
Updated: 25th September 2025
Whether it is at the races, at the pub on a Saturday afternoon, or once a year on the Grand National, many people enjoy a “flutter” on the horses. Backing a winner makes the experience all the more enjoyable.
Horse Racing Betting Guide – Handicap Betting is The way to Go
All punters, serious or otherwise, are always looking for value. One place in which it can be found is in handicaps, on the Flat or over Jumps.
In theory, British Horseracing Authority (BHA) handicappers try to give each runner in a handicap an equal chance of winning.
In practice, they almost always fail.
Understanding the Role of Class in Handicaps
When analysing handicaps, consider the class of the race.
Higher-class races often feature more competitive fields, where each horse has shown strong form.
The betting market in these races is usually well-informed.
In lower-class races, there can be greater disparity among horses, offering astute punters a chance to find value.
Understanding how class impacts the spread of abilities can guide decisions, helping identify opportunities that others might overlook.
However more often than not, the betting market in handicaps is more open and easier to exploit, than the betting market in non-handicaps.
- The best value-for-money is often to be found in handicaps run over seven furlongs or further.
- Especially in which the horses are three years old, or older and all of them have fully exposed form.
In other words, all of the runners have run at least, say, half a dozen times in total and once or twice during the current season.
If you only have the basic form figures, such as those found on the racing page of any national newspaper, to go by, look for horses that finished first, second or third on their last two starts and have a “D”, for distance winner, next to their names. For a clearer picture, assess the strength of the horse's last outings.
Question if they faced tough competition or enjoyed favourable conditions.
This insight into a horse's recent form helps in distinguishing runners ready for a strong performance in upcoming races.
Only Back Recent Runners
Racehorses, especially those that race exclusively on the Flat, can only be held at peak fitness for a relatively short time.
If you have access to the information, concentrate on those that have run within the last six weeks.
Ignore any horses with longer absences. That way, you can be reasonably sure that the horse you back is at least fit and ready to do itself justice.
It is true that some horses do win after an absence of a year, two years or longer.
However without “inside” information you are always taking a chance if you back a horse that has been off the course for longer than six weeks.
Horse Racing Tipsters
Studying horse racing form is a complex and time-consuming process. This is something you may not want to get involved in.
If that is the case, you will need to rely on racing journalists, pundits and tipsters for your selections.
You can find racing tips in any national newspaper. In specialist racing publications, such as the Racing Post and on numerous websites.
It's a good idea to note the selections of any tipster for a trial period, perhaps a week or two, to see if they are successful before you start backing them with real money.
Choose a decent horse racing bookmaker that offers good odds, best odds guaranteed and other racing related promotions; suggestions for this would be sites like Betfred and Hollywoodbets.
You can read more of the first mentioned in our Betfred review of the bookmaker.
Importance of Jockeys and Trainers in Handicaps
The skill and experience of jockeys and trainers play a significant role in handicaps.
A well-regarded jockey can manoeuvre a horse more effectively during a race, making strategic decisions that improve chances of winning.
Likewise, trainers with a record of success often prepare their horses with great care, ensuring they peak at the right times.
Checking these professionals' track records can provide added insight into potential outcomes.
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