A forecast bet asks you to name the first two finishers in a race, while a tricast asks for the first three. They are harder to land than a win bet, so the payouts can be much bigger, but the number of lines and the way dividends are worked out can catch people out. This guide explains the main types of forecast bet, how they are settled and what they cost, with a worked example.
Forecasts and tricasts in 30 seconds
- A straight forecast picks the first and second in the correct order.
- A reverse forecast covers two selections in either order, so it is two bets.
- A tricast picks the first three in the correct order.
- Payouts usually come from a declared dividend, not from multiplying the prices.
What is a forecast bet?
A forecast is a single race bet on the finishing order, most often used on horse racing and greyhounds. You choose who will finish first and who will finish second. Your winner alone isn’t enough: if the second selection finishes third, the bet loses.
That makes it different from an each-way bet, where a place return only needs one selection to finish in the places. If you want a simpler way to back a horse to finish near the front, our guide to each-way betting covers that.
Straight, reverse and combination forecast bets
The type you choose decides how many lines you are paying for. Your total stake is the unit stake multiplied by the number of lines.
| Bet | Selections | Lines | Cost at £1 a line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight forecast | 2, in order | 1 | £1 |
| Reverse forecast | 2, any order | 2 | £2 |
| Combination forecast | 3, any two in any order | 6 | £6 |
| Combination forecast | 4, any two in any order | 12 | £12 |
| Straight tricast | 3, in order | 1 | £1 |
| Combination tricast | 3, any order | 6 | £6 |
| Combination tricast | 4, any three in any order | 24 | £24 |
Only one line can win in each race, so a combination bet costs more without paying more. It simply gives you more ways to be right.
Tricast bets: picking the first three
A tricast works the same way but needs the first, second and third in order. Bookmakers normally limit tricasts to bigger handicap races and certain greyhound races, so you may not see the option on every card. Check the race page or the bookmaker’s rules before you plan a bet around one.
How a forecast bet pays out
On horse racing, forecasts are usually settled at the Computer Straight Forecast dividend, often shortened to CSF, and tricasts at the matching tricast dividend. These are calculated after the race from the starting prices and field details, and published per £1 staked. You won’t know the exact figure when you place the bet, and it isn’t the same as multiplying the two prices together.
Greyhounds use their own forecast and tricast dividends. Pool bets such as the Tote exacta and trifecta do a similar job, but those are paid from a pool of stakes, so they are separate products.
Worked forecast bet example
You place a £2 reverse forecast on two horses, Copper Lantern and Saffron Tide, in a handicap at Haydock. That is two lines, so it costs £4. Here is what happens if Copper Lantern wins, Saffron Tide is second and the declared dividend is an illustrative £18.40 to a £1 stake:
- The line Copper Lantern then Saffron Tide wins and returns £2 x £18.40 = £36.80.
- The line Saffron Tide then Copper Lantern loses its £2.
- Total return £36.80, for a profit of £32.80 after the £4 staked.
If Copper Lantern wins and Saffron Tide finishes third, both lines lose, even though you picked the winner.
When a forecast bet makes sense
This bet suits races where you have a clear view on the top two, or a strong favourite you expect to beat a small group. In a big field with no obvious shape, the chance of landing the exact order is small. Non-runners are also handled differently from one bookmaker to another, so read the rules: a forecast may be void, or be reduced to a win single on the remaining horse. Our guide to Rule 4 deductions explains another way late withdrawals affect returns, and best odds guaranteed explains which racing concessions usually apply to win and each-way bets.
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Forecast and tricast FAQs
Sometimes, but many free bets are limited to win or each-way singles or to set odds. Check the offer terms before you place it. They pick the same result, but an exacta is a pool bet with a dividend set by the Tote, while a forecast is settled by the bookmaker, usually at the CSF. Dead heats are settled under each bookmaker’s own rules, so returns can be reduced. Check the rules for the exact treatment.Can I use a free bet on a forecast?
Is a forecast the same as an exacta?
Do dead heats count?
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