How To Make Accumulators For Horse Racing

Generally speaking the astute punter is best playing in level stakes and betting win or each way singles. It is no coincidence that the off-course bookmakers offer up a range of attractive accumulator bets trying to seduce those punters searching out a life changing big win. Products such as Yankees, Union Jacks, Lucky 15s, Round Robins etc are high margin winners for all bookmakers over a period of time. However, if you are tempted to play accumulators, what should you be concentrating on for profitability? Here we look at five ideas that may help.

#1 – Play the Tote Placepot or Jackpot when the pool is likely to be filled with plenty of public money

You are fighting against a 30% deduction when playing into totepools these days, but there can be some value particularly if you play on Saturdays or at the major racing Festivals where the pools are swelled by a lot of recreational, once a year punters investing small stakes focussed in mainly around the front of the market public horses. Search instead for runners in the 11.0 to 21.0 price bracket who might reach the frame but be largely ignored by the weight of money on the favourites/tipped up horses. Check also for any carry overs from previously not won jackpots. There can then be a lot of dead money you are fighting for and the terms are unusually favourable.

#2 – Focus on bad each-way races and do each-way doubles and trebles

Put together two or three races where the place terms are very much in the backers favour. For example, select the second favourite when the favourite is long odds on and there are 8 or more runners. Maidens or novice hurdles often throw up such uncompetitive races and the astute punter can simply multiply up terrific value if he can identify the right ones to reach the frame. Tellingly, bookmakers hate laying these sort of each-way patents or trixies, and often issue warnings to managers each morning on their screens in the betting shops to identify the races where stakes should be severely limited or rejected…but there are still ways of slipping through the net if you are ingenious.

#3 – Avoid putting in bad value long odds on favourites

Many punters fall into the trap of adding in short priced “good things” to their accas in a bid to boost the returns. Time and time again they will be let down by a 1.20 chance who they would normally have no intention of backing singularly. If something is far too short a price then there is little long term value in putting it in any bet, regardless of the tempting nature to multiply up the returns through such a seeminlgy simple task. Don't let short prices drive your betting, focus on value and back horses each-way when the terms are favourable.

#4 – Always take a price and do not rely on SP

Leaving an accumulator to be settled at SP (Starting Price) is a bad idea, and the more experienced punter should always shop around and take the best morning price available. By using an odds comparison site he can easily identify who is offering up the top prices about his selections, and with Best Odds Guaranteed he really is better off always securing an early price. One of the most infamous days in bookmaking history, when Frankie Dettori rode all seven winners at Ascot, would have been far far worse for the industry if all the winning punters had taken morning prices about his rides, rather than relying on the SP (which the off course layers shortened up understandably in the later races to try and stop the bleeding and limit their losses).

#5- Take advantage of all concession and enhancements

If you must play Lucky 15s or similar accumulators then shop around. Plenty of bookmakers are falling over themselves for your business and have some amazingly good offers available. Double the odds for one winner is a fairly common one in the betting shops for Lucky 15s, while enhanced place offers, BOG, price pushes and 25% bonuses if all the selections are correct is another valuable incentive for punters.

---

Read more bettingexpert Horse Racing guides