A straight forecast selects the first two finishers in the correct order. A straight tricast selects the first three in order. Reversed and combination versions cover additional ordered outcomes, increasing the number of constituent bets and therefore the total cost.
Straight, reversed and combination structures
A straight forecast A then B contains one ordered outcome. A reversed forecast on A and B covers A-B and B-A: two bets. A combination tricast using exactly three selections covers their six possible finishing orders.
Read whether the stake field applies to each combination or to the overall bet. The operator may describe products differently, so confirm the number of bets and total amount on the receipt.
Worked example: counting the cost
At a hypothetical 50p unit stake, a reversed forecast costs £1 because it contains two bets. A combination tricast on exactly three selections costs £3 because it contains six ordered combinations.
A combination forecast using three selections has six ordered pairs: A-B, A-C, B-A, B-C, C-A and C-B. At 50p per pair it also costs £3. The number of selections is not the number of constituent bets.
More selections increase combinations quickly
For ordered forecasts using n distinct selections, the count is n x (n - 1). For ordered tricasts, it is n x (n - 1) x (n - 2). Four selections therefore produce 12 forecast combinations or 24 tricast combinations.
At a 50p unit stake, those structures cost £6 and £12 respectively. These are counting formulas, not recommended staking amounts. Check the total rather than treating a small unit label as a small overall commitment.
Fixed odds and dividends differ
Some products quote a fixed combined price; others settle from a declared forecast or tricast dividend. A dividend expressed per £1 must be scaled to the winning constituent stake. It should not be multiplied by the total stake across losing combinations.
Betfair’s racing rules describe forecast and tricast settlement and fallback treatment. Check what happens if the required dividend is unavailable, too few runners take part or a selection becomes a non-runner.
Source notes: 1.
Worked example: a winning constituent
Assume a hypothetical winning 50p constituent with a declared return dividend of £18 per £1. Its return is £9. If it was one of six 50p combinations, the overall outlay was £3, producing £6 net profit from that result before any other adjustment.
A different finishing order outside the covered combinations can return nothing. Covering more orders increases cost; it does not eliminate the possibility that the selected horses fail to occupy the required positions.
Common questions
Does selecting three horses make a tricast one bet?
A straight tricast in one specified order is one bet. Covering all orders of those three horses creates six constituent bets.
Is a forecast dividend the same as a single horse’s odds?
No. It is a combined-outcome settlement figure. Use the product’s quoted price or declared dividend as specified.
Sources and editorial notes
Official source material consulted for this edition. Operator examples are dated illustrations, not a guarantee of current terms or personal eligibility. Worked examples are hypothetical.
Published by eLand, Lda. See our editorial policy. Report a correction.