While it may not have the same following as horse racing and football, greyhound racing is still one of the most popular betting mediums in the UK. It may looks like a bit of a lottery trying to select which of the six competing greyhounds will be victorious but there are various ways you can tip the odds in your favour and make betting on the dogs a consistently profitable hobby. Follow the advice laid out in this guide and your success rate with greyhound punting should definitely improve.
Know your Track
There are a number of greyhound tracks in the UK and Ireland and all have pose very different challenges for the dogs running at these venues. A greyhound might perform like a superstar round Wimbledon for example but take the same runner to Harlow, and you might not see the same level of performance. Weather conditions can affect track bias and this is another thing to consider before placing your bet. If you have a track local to you, spend time there and get to know the place inside out. This will give you a huge edge over punters sitting at home doing their work from the newspaper or PC. Not only do you get to know how the track runs at different times of the year and under different conditions, you also meet other knowledgeable punters and get to know the greyhounds based at said track better than most.
Watch the Draw
Which trap your greyhound has been drawn in can have a huge impact on its chances of winning. There are some basic things to look for such as the importance of backing a sole wide or rails runner. These greyhounds have a huge advantage as they are far less likely to meet trouble in running and this is what often scuppers us greyhound punters. Some dogs are classy enough to win from a bad draw but equally, a good dog can be stopped if it’s stuck in an unsuitable box. Keep stakes to a minimum if you think your selection has been drawn badly or better still, wait for a more suitable opportunity. When your selection does have a plum draw, make the most of it! This is a simple but effective approach that will pay off in the long term.
Don’t be Greedy
A 6/4 winner is better than an 8/1 loser. The majority of winning greyhounds come from the first two in the market and while it’s fine to back at big prices if you have a fancy for something, don’t try and take on the favourites for the sake of it. Concentrate your efforts on the more fancied runners, be selective and you’ll have a much better strike rate and profit margin than if you try to look for that elusive winner at double figures. It just doesn’t happen on a regular basis at the dog track.
Specialise
Personally, I only back in open races with an occasional bet in high class graded events. Other punters prefer graded action and make those races their favoured greyhound betting medium. If you specialise in one area, you’ll get a much better grasp on the form book and make your greyhound betting more enjoyable and consistently profitable. This does take discipline and hard work but is worthwhile. Hurdles races and extreme distances are worth serious consideration. Gain an edge in these events and you’ll be making your bookmaker pay on a regular basis.
If you have any of your own selection methods you’d like to share, do so in the comments section, via our Twitter account or on our Facebook page.
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