Forecast Doubles are a popular type of betting in horse and greyhound racing. You predict the exact finishing order of two runners in two separate events. In this guide, we’ll break it down step by step: the types of forecast stakes, how to place them quickly, and whether you can calculate the potential returns yourself.
Forecast Betting Term Meaning
Let’s start with the first word in the term to get to grips with what forecast doubles are. Forecast bets are most common in horse racing. They require you to predict which competitors will finish 1st and 2nd in a race. There are two main types:
- Straight Forecast (SFC): You predict the exact finishing order of two participants. For example, if you bet on Horse A to finish 1st and Horse B to finish 2nd, they must cross the line in that exact order for your wager to win. It is a single bet, so a £1 stake costs £1.
- Reverse Forecast (RFC): You select two participants to finish 1st and 2nd in any order. This wager covers both possible outcomes: Horse A 1st and Horse B 2nd, or Horse B 1st and Horse A 2nd. Since it involves two wagers, your stake doubles. For instance, a £1 wager costs £2 (£1 on each combination).
These bets can be rewarding but are also challenging, as predicting the exact positions requires more precision than a standard win stake. Let’s look closer at the ‘doubles’ option and find out why we should use it instead of the standard forecast.
The Basics of Forecast Doubles
This stake is a more advanced bet than a simple forecast. With a straight forecast double (SFD), you’re betting on two separate events instead of just one. These two predictions are linked. You need to pick the first and second finishers in both races correctly.
The potential returns from the first forecast roll over as the stake for the second one. If your first prediction fails, the wager ends there, as there’s no stake left for the second forecast. The good news is that you don’t have to keep track of the results. Many bookmakers will make things easier for you by automatically placing a second bet if you win the first one.
Example:
Let’s use two Doncaster races, available on the Betfred platform, to illustrate. We’ll pick horses from the race cards provided:
- Race 1: Choose Mariner to finish 1st and Melon 2nd.
- Race 2: Pick Charging Thunder to finish 1st and Windsurfer 2nd.
If you place a £1 forecast double, the bet works as follows:
- Race 1 Result: If Mariner finishes 1st and Melon 2nd, you win the first wager. The payout from this race becomes the stake for Race 2.
- Race 2 Result: If Charging Thunder finishes 1st and Windsurfer 2nd, the winnings from the second forecast determine your total return.
However, if the first prediction fails (e.g., Mariner and Melon don’t finish in the exact order), the second bet is cancelled, and you lose the entire stake.
Predicting the exact finishing order can be tricky. You may wonder if there is a way to avoid specifying the сoncrete places. Fortunately, there is—and we’re about to explain how.
Reverse Forecast Doubles: Expanding Your Betting Options
It is a bit like forecast doubles but with more flexibility. This bet isn’t about predicting the finish order of the top two participants in each race. Instead, it covers all possible combinations of their finishing positions.
The main thing about a reverse forecast double (RFD) is that it’s made up of four linked bets, so your stake is quadrupled. So, a £1 will cost £4 in total, as you’re placing £1 on each of the four possible combinations.
This type of wager gives you more chances to win than a straight version, as it doesn’t rely on getting the exact order right. But, the increased flexibility comes with a higher cost.
Let’s look at the same races again as an example. The bet covers these four combinations:
- Mariner 1st, Melon 2nd; Charging Thunder 1st, Windsurfer 2nd.
- Mariner 1st, Melon 2nd; Windsurfer 1st, Charging Thunder 2nd.
- Melon 1st, Mariner 2nd; Charging Thunder 1st, Windsurfer 2nd.
- Melon 1st, Mariner 2nd; Windsurfer 1st, Charging Thunder 2nd.
If any of these combinations match the actual results, you win. The payout depends on the combined odds of successful predictions. While the upfront cost is higher, this bet increases your chances of a return.
How to Place a Forecast Double Bet
It’s straightforward to place this type of stake. The top bookmakers have tools that automatically combine your picks into the double stake. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to placing an SFD wager, using Betfred as an example:
- Go to the sports tab you wish to bet on and click on the first event.
- Select the Forecast option and tick ‘1st’ and ‘2nd’ against the horses you think will finish first and second.
- Go to the second event and select two horses again. You will now have two separate straight forecast wagers in your bet slip.
- At the bottom of the bet slip, you will see the ‘Straight Forecast Doubles’ option. Enter the stake amount in the box and click ‘Place a Bet’.
How to Place a Reverse Forecast Double
This bet is as easy to place as the straight option. The only difference is that you can select horses to finish in any order. We have prepared detailed instructions for you:
- Go to the Horse Racing section and select the first event.
- Click on the Forecast tab.
- Select the ‘Any’ option next to the runners you think will finish in the top two places.
- Pick the two horses in the other race by repeating steps 1 to 3.
- On the bet slip, enter the amount in the ‘Reverse Forecast Doubles‘ box and confirm your stake.
Remember that this bet is four times the stake of a straight double. A £1 stake on each selection costs a total of £4.
How to Calculate Forecast Double Bets
As mentioned, straight forecast doubles for two races consist of one bet, while reverse ones involve four stakes. But what if you want to wager on more than two events? The number of bets increases significantly with additional races. Below is a forecast doubles chart showing the count of stakes for different numbers of events:
| Number of races | SFD | RFD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — |
| 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | 3 | 12 |
| 4 | 6 | 24 |
| 5 | 10 | 40 |
You can calculate the number of bets yourself using simple formulas. Here’s how it works:
SFD Formula:
(Number of races × (Number of races − 1)) ÷ 2
For four races:
(4 × 3) ÷ 2 = 6 bets
RFD Formula:
((Number of races × (Number of races − 1)) ÷ 2) ×4
For four races:
((4 × 3) ÷ 2) × 4 = 24 stakes
Forecast Double Returns Calculator
Some online resources and bookmaker platforms, like Unibet, have horse and greyhound forecast doubles calculators. These tools help you determine how much you might win without risking any money. As a result, you can decide if a bet is worth making.
To use these calculators, you need to input the odds of your forecast wagers. However, not all bookmakers offer fixed odds for them. Instead, many use the Starting Price (SP) system, where payouts are determined only after the race ends. It means you may not know your potential returns beforehand.
Operators often use the Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) formula to determine prices. This complex algorithm considers the number of runners, individual horse odds, and race competitiveness. Because of this, forecast prices aren’t as straightforward as single bets, making pre-race calculations more challenging.
Tips & Strategy
Forecast doubles can boost potential payouts but come with a higher risk factor. To give yourself the best chance of success, do your research. It’s essential to look at the details of the race, the track conditions, and the participants’ form to make better decisions. Another good strategy is to focus on races with smaller fields. With fewer runners, it’s easier to predict the finishing order, which increases your chance of winning.
If there’s a clear favourite in both races, this bet can turn low odds into a better return. For instance, if you pair two favourites to win and identify their likely second-place challengers, you can get higher odds than if you just back the favourites outright.
Reverse forecast doubles are a great option if you’re confident about the top two finishers in each race but not sure about their exact order. This type of bet gives you more flexibility and increases your chances of success by covering multiple outcomes.
