What is a Forecast Bet?

A forecast bet is a type of multiple wager where you’re asked to correctly predict the first and second finishers in a race. It’s a well-known and commonly used option in both horse racing betting and greyhound betting. Because you need to identify not only the top two runners but also their exact finishing order, forecast bets can be challenging to land. That difficulty is also what makes the possible returns much higher than for a straight win.

Straight Forecast

A straight forecast works in a very similar way to a tricast bet. You need to predict the first and second finishers in a race in the correct order.

To win the bet, both selections must finish exactly as predicted, with your first choice winning the race and your second choice finishing runner up. If the two selections finish in the wrong order, or if either fails to finish in the top two, the bet loses.

Reverse Forecast

A reverse forecast is a bet where you pick two runners to finish first and second in a race, but the order doesn’t matter.

Instead of needing the exact finishing order, the bet covers both possible outcomes, meaning either selection can win as long as they finish in the top two. Because you’re effectively placing two straight forecast bets, the total stake is doubled.

Combination Forecast

A combination forecast allows you to include three or more selections in the same race. You win if any two of your selections finish first and second in any order. The more selections you include, the higher the total stake, as multiple forecast bets are created.

Typical combinations are:

3 selections create 6 bets
4 selections create 12 bets
5 selections create 20 bets
6 selections create 30 bets

Why place a forecast bet?

Placing a forecast bet can be appealing if you have a strong view on the two runners most likely to dominate a race.

It allows you to target bigger potential returns than a simple win bet because correctly predicting the top two finishers, especially in the right order, is a lot more challenging.

Forecast bets are also useful in races where the leading contenders stand out from the rest of the field. If you expect them to finish first and second, a forecast can offer better value than backing either runner to win on its own.

Forecast bets should be treated as a fun way to cover the outcome of a race. We have lots of helpful tools in our safer gambling hub to help you keep betting the Wright way.