| If you want to lay horses for a living then you need to | | | | Weight. If the favourite is running in a handicap race |
| adopt a professional approach to picking out "false | | | | and is carrying significantly more weight for the first |
| favourites," or horses which are unjustified in their | | | | time then this could affect its chances. |
| position as the favourite for a particular race. | | | | Date Since Last Run. If a horse has not run for 60 |
| As high as 90% of all punters base their selections | | | | days then it is akin to a footballer lacking match |
| solely on form which leads to such horses being | | | | practice! Similarly, if a horse is running again within four |
| overbet and therefore a potential laying opportunity. | | | | days of its last race then arguably it may not have |
| While a horse's form does count in its favour to some | | | | fully recovered. However, some horses are fully |
| extent, it is not the be all and end all. | | | | capable of running several days in a row so make |
| Take a look at today's racecard and pick out the | | | | sure you check past race history. |
| short-priced bookmakers favourites for each race of | | | | Field Size. The more horses there are in a race, the |
| odds under 4/1. In this article we will attempt to identify | | | | greater the chance there is of them getting in each |
| some factors which suggest the horse is in fact a | | | | other's way. This is particularly true of maiden races. |
| "false favourite" and a potential opportunity to lay. | | | | Opposition. Rather than being drawn into analysing the |
| Going. The ground conditions are our first port of call. | | | | form of other horses in the race, quickly scan the |
| Some horses are content to run on any type of | | | | racing history for them to try and find one with similar |
| ground but a lot prefer one type to another. We want | | | | ability to that of the favourite. You can use the above |
| to find a favourite which has never run on a particular | | | | checklist to try and see whether there is a worthy |
| going before, or a favourite with a poor record on this | | | | challenger to the favourite also taking part in the race. |
| type of going. | | | | This is of course not a definitive guide to finding a |
| Distance. The second most important factor for | | | | favourite which will lose and you will lay winning horses |
| identifying potential laying opportunities is the length of | | | | from time to time. This is inevitable and part of laying |
| the race. Look out for favourites which are stepping | | | | horses. When this happens, study the race in more |
| up in distance for the first time or a horse which has a | | | | detail and see if there was anything you first missed. |
| poor record at this particular distance. | | | | Learn from your mistakes and move on to the next |
| Experience. If the horse is a short priced favourite | | | | laying opportunity. |
| despite the race being it's first run then it should be | | | | Start off by paper trading, i.e. not gambling with real |
| earmarked as a potential lay. In this situation the horse | | | | money and then move on to laying with small stakes. |
| is usually two years old and running in a maiden race. | | | | When you get to grips with the art of laying horses |
| First-time horses at this age are impossible to judge | | | | and spotting potential losing favourites, you can |
| and it's price will be based due to the owner having | | | | increase your stakes accordingly as your bank grows. |
| paid a lot of money for it or having a popular trainer. | | | | |