28/7/2000 edition

Favourite Versus Field

This form of betting is becoming very popular with some bookmakers and punters. If you do not like the favourite you can take the field to beat it. If the favourite loses you win. It is that simple. The total market quoted by the bookmakers is also usually below 110% eg. Favourite 6/4 ( 40% ), Field 1/2 ( 66.67 % ), total market 106.67%.

Some years ago a successful punting friend of mine considered this form of betting and then dismissed it. He reasoned along the following lines:

" If you do not like the favourite and want to back against it you would not back every horse in the race to beat it. But that is what you are doing when you take a price for the field, for example 1/2 (two to one on). If you are betting $100 on the field you might be effectively placing $40 on the second favourite, $30 on the next horse in the betting down to $1.50 on the 100/1 no hoper in the race. It is a great way for bookies to lay horses that punters would not normally back and so balance their books and guarantee they win from the race no matter what the outcome."

Using that logic he decided to leave that bet type alone. I do not disagree with his reasoning. However if there is clearly a false favourite the odds about that favourite not winning - the price you are given for the field, can still be generous and offer value.

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Races to avoid and save your money.

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