Lay Betting Explained On Horses

Lay Betting Explained On Horses In UK Races

Most punters will back on horses to win races as this is straightforward as the maths regarding betting stakes and decimal odds is easy to work out.

So, for example,

A £10 stake on a 2/1 would give us a total profitable return of £30 if the horse wins and a loss of £10 if the horse loses.

Now that is easy, and most punters can understand this.

Now let us look at the reverse with the above scenario we lay the horse for £10 at odds of 2/1. So, we win £10 if the horse loses the race and lose £20 if the horse wins the race. Our liability is larger for the lay bet as compared to the back bet. I think in my opinion this larger liability is the driving factor why most punters do not like laying horses to lose horse races.

Overcoming The Lay Betting Mindset

The punter must overcome this larger financial liability mindset of when a lay bet wins a race!

But hold on there, if we target the right horses and their decimal odds to win the race this fear is quashed, and I will explain.

Laying Horses In UK Handicap Horse Races Only

It is important to establish a lay the horse strategy when laying horses and my first point in my strategy is only to lay horses in UK handicap horse races.
I have been taking this approach for many years, and it works well for me.

The next part of my laying horse strategy or system is to target the favourite in the race whose decimal odds on the brilliant Betfair betting exchange are less than 2.8.

Doing the UK Horse Form When Laying Horses

You have a lay the horse strategy you know your race type and the maximum decimal odds you want to lay at. Now for the hard work, start studying the horses in the race to determine if there is a profitable lay the horse betting strategy selection.

Food For Thought

If you find a horse to lay like the favourite for the race at shortish decimal odds consider looking for a back bet on another horse also in the race as well. As this combination can produce a free bet if the horse you layed loses.

It’s your choice.

I wrote a very popular lay the favourite horse race strategy in UK handicap horses races and is very well reviewed.

Learn More

Lay The Favourite Betting Strategy