The punter’s guide: MyRacing’s top tips for betting on big field handicaps

Handicaps are always interesting and tricky puzzles to try and solve because there are so many factors to consider. Big fields exacerbate the difficulty because they add more elements to the puzzle. We at MyRacing are big on safer gambling and as such, we’ve put together this guide which provides punting pointers for betting on big field handicaps across both codes. Why not check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing, or our greyhound tips for the dog racing fans.

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Keep your stake small

Anything can happen when there are 20 or more runners in a race and that increases the chance of horses getting hampered or inconvenienced. This makes every bet a little riskier and as such, you should wager accordingly. Small stakes keeps betting fun and ensures bad results have a reduced significance.

Find some each-way value

Never be afraid to look at horses at bigger prices, as they often provide better value for each-way betting. The number of runners effects the number of each-way places available and bookies tend to offer extra places for the bigger races.

Shop around for the best prices

Bookmakers are always competing for your custom so it’s a good idea to shop around. You need to choose if extra places and a shorter price is better than longer odds and fewer places. This should be decided on a case-by-case basis and value can be found by doing so.

Flat vs National Hunt

Big field handicaps on the Flat have one major factor that can be crucial and that is the draw. If a track has a particular bias, those drawn on the wrong side will have an uphill battle to compete for the places. You’ll need to consider this when making a selection.

Horses won’t always get to see the hurdles or fences that they’re about to jump until very late in some cases. With that in mind, if you’re considering a sticky jumper that isn’t a front-runner, this is a factor that will make a difference. Some jockeys such as Harry Cobden will alleviate these risks by often choosing to make the running and it’s a good idea to have all the information at your disposal.

If you back any of our selections you can watch them live on the free Racing Post app or racingpost.com. Simply log in to one of your bookmaker accounts and click ‘Watch live’ on the racecards.

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