It is enough to mention that Ascot Racecourse hosts 13, i.e. one third, out of Britain’s 36 Group 1 flat races every year to explain its significance in the horse racing scene of the United Kingdom. The racecourse receives approximately 600,000 annual visitors, which accounts for about 10% of all UK racegoers.
Established by Queen Anne in 1711, Ascot Racecourse has been supported by many monarchs throughout its history. These ties with the royalty have been maintained until modern times. Today, no Royal Ascot racing week is complete without the royal family arriving at the racecourse.
And while Royal Ascot is the most famous event conducted at the venue, Ascot Racecourse stays active all year round, hosting both flat and jump races as part of the official Ascot races fixtures calendar.
Ascot races betting is very much part of the racing day experience. In this article we will take a look at types of horse racing bets, especially those popular at Ascot, review what factors affect betting odds, and share some tips for smart and responsible horse betting.
Types of Bets Available at Ascot
As any major racecourse, Ascot provides various opportunities for betting at the venue and online. They also offer a vast variety of horse betting markets, but as the racecourse management admit themselves, the most popular ones are the following:
- Win: With this bet you are trying to predict the winner of a single race. Place it on the horse that you find the most capable of reaching the finish first.
- Place: If you think a horse can become the winner but has an equally capable strong opponent, or if you want to somewhat safeguard your bet, you can bet that your selected horse will place in the top two to four (depending on the number of runners) in a single race. Your bet will win if the horse comes to the finish in any of these places.
- First Two (or First Three): Want to predict not only the first place winner but all winning places? Then place your wager on the first two (or first three) horses to reach the finish line. Remember that you have to not only name those horses but also the order in which they will finish the race.
- Two From Three: This bet is somewhat similar to the previous one but will be considered by many to be easier. You have to name two out of the three horses to finish the race first. The order in which they come to the finish line doesn’t matter, as long as the two horses you named were among the first three.
- Placepot: As many races taking place at Ascot are part of a meeting (an event combining a number of horse races during the course of several days), this wager makes a lot of sense for Ascot betting. The horse you place your stake on has to be placed (i.e. finish in a top winning position) in all of the first six races.
Where to Bet Online on Ascot Races
Any bookmaker that includes horse racing into their selection will be offering Ascot betting odds if they are worth their salt. At 7bet, we offer a wide range of horse race betting markets and you are most welcome to check them out.
Horse betting odds at 7bet are published a few days prior to the event, so don’t forget to visit our horse betting page.
As we mentioned before, there are a number of rapidly changing factors that affect horse betting odds, that’s why they change quickly. For bettors this means that they have to check the updated bets right before placing a wager to make sure they are making an informed decision.
What Influences Betting Odds?
Betting odds are formed and changed depending on a lot of factors taking place at the racecourse. Some of them are universal for most sports, some are specific to horse racing. The most important factors that bookies base betting odds on and that you should be considering are the following:
- Form of the horse and jockey. This is probably the most obvious aspect for the betting odds formation. The physical form of the horse and its jockey is the most important factor that influences the results. If one of them is recovering from an injury or hasn’t been showing great results lately, there is a far lesser chance for them to win.
- Track conditions. Referred to as “going”, this aspect indicates if the tracks the horses will be running on will be standard, good, soft, hard, or mixed (in this case you are likely to see something like “good to soft in places”). Track conditions may change several times before the start of the race, and so will the odds.
- Draw bias. The stall position from which the horse will have to start the race plays a huge role as it may give them a big advantage or an equally big disadvantage. This is especially relevant in larger fields. Draw bias varies for every racecourse depending on its layout and size.
- Trainer and owner history at Ascot. When forming betting odds, bookmakers will always pay attention to trainer and owner history of victories at Ascot. If they have produced one or more winners who are known for regularly winning Ascot races, their current charge has more chances to be considered as a favourite (with consideration of other circumstances).
- Market sentiment and late changes in the odds. Bettors have their own expectations and attitudes towards the contestants, which they express in the bets they place. Bookmakers take those sentiments into consideration, reflecting them in the late changes in the odds.
Ascot Betting Tips
At 7bet, we advocate for responsible gambling, that is why we wanted to share some betting tips for Ascot races that will enhance your overall experience and ensure safe gambling practice.
- Watch past races and trends at Ascot. As with any sport, knowing past trends and developments at this particular venue or competition helps you understand the overall picture and maybe predict what will happen this time around. This is one of the essential betting tips for anyone looking to make informed decisions.
- Use form guides and race previews. There are a lot of online and other types of resources providing information on the form of each horse participating in major races. They also discuss race favourites as well as the physical form of the jockeys. This will help you get an idea if your prediction has chances to come true. If you are visiting the racecourse, study the race card and visit the Parade Ring to see how the horses and jockeys look before the start of the race.
- Follow trainer/jockey records at the course. Not only the horses, but also the jockeys and even the trainers perform better on some courses than others. When betting at Ascot, learn how your favourite team of horse, jockey, and trainer has performed at this course before.
- Pay attention to draw bias and field size. Draw bias is an advantage or disadvantage a horse gains based on its stall position in the race. Draw bias is not universal and varies from racecourse to racecourse, depending on several factors: race distance, field size, condition of the track, as well as the track layout. You will have to understand how these factors work specifically at Ascot Racecourse. Always pay attention to which stall the horse you want to bet on starts the race from.
- Consider the timing of your bet. Any type of sport betting involves a phenomenon called “market move”. Essentially, it means the change in the odds for an athlete, or in case of horse racing, for a horse. You should be aware that there is no one definitive answer as to whether it is better to bet early or late. Betting markets are always moving, so there is no way to know how it will be in a certain moment in time. However, the aspects that do influence which way the market goes are track conditions, market percentage, and prices provided by trustworthy sources. Paying attention to these factors will help you make a decision if you should bet early or late.
Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned punter, applying these Ascot race betting tips can make your experience more enjoyable and informed while helping you stay within safe gambling practices.
Betting at Racecourse
If you are visiting Ascot during a racing day and would like to add some excitement to your experience by placing a wager on a horse, you have multiple opportunities to do so at the venue.
Bet With Ascot kiosks and Betting Shops are ready to accept your bets, but if you would like to add a bit of traditional vibe to your betting experience, you will find bookmaker stands in front of the racing tracks, equipped with chalkboards and accepting bets the way it was done decades ago. They usually offer fixed odds.
Tote betting is a very popular method in British horse race betting. It basically works like a lottery, with all bets on a specific horse placed in one pool and the winning tickets sharing the pool.
Ascot Racecourse offers World Pool betting that operates with a similar mechanism. However, you should remember that it is only available at Royal Ascot, King George Day, and QIPCO British Champions Day. If you want to participate in the World Pool, make sure to check which bets are eligible.
Betting at the venue creates an immersive experience where you get to participate in the common thrill. Besides, you don’t have to constantly check the bookmaker’s website to see any changes in the odds, as you can observe the market changes live. And if your wager happens to win, you get an instant payout.
To have a positive experience, you are advised to arrive well in advance and check out various bookmakers. Of course, the market might change later but you can form an overall picture of who offers the best odds on the betting markets you are interested in.
Don’t forget to check the minimum stake requirements to stay within your budget. Also make sure to bring some cash with you. While Ascot Racecourse is both cash and card friendly, individual bookies, as well as other outlets (for example, food and drink stalls), might not accept digital payments.
Betting is only available to participants above 18 years. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org