For the finest minds and the best judges in horse racing betting, perhaps the peak of their powers comes when they accurately predict the 1-2-3 in a race.
It’s an outcome that can yield serious odds for backers, and especially when they are packaged up as a combination tricast.
But what is a combination tricast, you cry? Well, first of all, let’s refresh our memories on what a standard tricast is.
Simply put, a tricast requires you to predict which of the horses in a field will finish first, second and third in that exact order – a difficult task, no doubt, but one that pays out at serious odds, depending on the prices of the runners backed.
A combination tricast is the sibling to that bet type, in that here all we have to do is guess the first three horses home… it doesn’t actually matter which order they finish in.
How to Place a Combination Tricast
The rules of engagement are different with each betting site and app, of course, but as you can see below we have thrown a few darts at the afternoon card at Sandown via bet365:
It’s easy to find the tricast tab – it’s bang in the middle of the main race menu, and so then we can start building our bet.
In the 16:40, we fancy Magnificence, Qipao and Dreams of Thunder to all finish in the top three. If we had a really strong inkling about the exact 1-2-3 order, we might place a straight tricast. But in this case we’re not completely sure, and so we tick the boxes under the ‘Any’ header instead.
This adds our picks to our betslip, which we can see below:
You’ll notice that it states: ‘Unit Stake – 6x’. This is because we’re placing six bets to cover each of the various combinations in which Magnificence, Qipao and Dreams of Thunder can finish inside the top three.
So enter your stake, baring in mind that 6x requirement, and then hit Place Bet.
How to Calculate Combination Tricast Winnings
The good news about betting on combination tricasts is that you’re wagering at fixed odds, which are confirmed before the off.
The scale of the prices you are taking depends upon the three horses’ individual SPs – the higher their odds, the greater your return should your tricast land.
For context, our odds in this Sandown example are 10/1 (Magnificence, wearing number one), 4/1 (Qipao, wearing number two) and 11/2 (Dreams of Thunder, wearing number four).
Here’s what we stand to win, depending on the finishing order:
| Finish | Odds |
|---|---|
| 1-2-4 | 248.5/1 |
| 1-4-2 | 261.7/1 |
| 2-1-4 | 223/1 |
| 2-4-1 | 206.7/1 |
| 4-1-2 | 246.2/1 |
| 4-2-1 | 216.7/1 |
As you can see from the odds column, we’d love Magnificence to win, Days of Thunder to finish second and Qipao back in third to maximise our return. But with combination tricast betting, it pays not to be too fussy!
Are Combination Tricasts Worth It?
If we consult the odds table above, we see that our average win for this bet is in the region of 220/1. So even with a £1 stake for each of our six combinations, we’re still enjoying a considerable return.
Other permutations – such as straight win bets and a combination of each way punts – would nowhere near return as much, albeit our risk would be less than by trying to get the 1-2-3 on the nose.
A combination tricast is a better option than a straight tricast for those who want to hedge their bets somewhat, and if you have a strong fancy for three in the field – opportunities like that tend to present themselves in maiden races and lower grade renewals – there’s no harm in pushing the boat out a little and aiming for that perfect prediction.
If only it was as easy as 1-2-3….