Cheltenham for Novices: Your ultimate survival guide

And if you’re a first-time bettor, maybe you just like the name of a horse or the silks of the jockey. That’s a fine way of making your selection too! 

Keep an eye on the Parade Ring

Whether you’re at the track or watching on TV, keep an eye on what the horses are doing before each race.  Fitness and wellbeing really count in racing, so look closely and it will help you find your winner.

Avoid horses that get fractious, sweat badly or look dull in their coat. And especially those that travel up to the start too fast – you don’t want to be backing a horse that’s used all its energy.

Some people even determine their selection based on whether the horse has made a deposit of its own around the parade ring. Science has yet to prove if that makes a difference, although it’s probably best to steer clear of making your choice using that method.

Horse racing glossary

On The Bridle

When a horse wins ‘on the bridle’ it has won easily, without being pushed out by the jockey.

Bumper

A National Hunt race but run over the flat for inexperienced horses with no hurdles or fences.

Chaser

 A horse which runs over fences – these are the bigger of the two obstacles used in National Hunt racing.

Course and Distance (C&D)

A sign that a horse has previously won over the course and distance that the race is taking place at. Usually, a big positive as it shows how a horse performs on the track.

Covered-up

Keeping a horse behind other runners to prevent it from running too freely in the early stages of a race. This is done to conserve their energy for the closing stages of the contest.

Drifter

A horse whose odds are getting longer due to lack of support in the betting. This is generally regarded as a negative sign.

Each-way

A bet where half the total stake is for the selection to win and the other half is for the selection to place. Place money is settled at a fraction of the total price depends on the number of runners in the race.

Furlong

Standard distance unit in racing. A furlong is equal to 200m and there are eight furlongs in a mile.

Going

This is the condition of the surface – goings range from heavy to firm.

Good Thing

A favourite which seemingly has no chance of getting beat. Things don’t always turn out that way, though.

Handicap

A race where horses carry different weights based on their official rating. The idea is that horses of different levels of ability are given an equal chance of winning.

Hurdler

A horse which runs over hurdles – these are the smaller of the two obstacles used in National Hunt racing.

Market Mover

A horse which fluctuates in price prior to the race, usually this means the price has shortened, which could mean there’s a lot of belief in the betting ring.

Steamer

A horse whose price shortens dramatically in the market due to relentless support.

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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing