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Ian Bruce became interested in betting in 1987, when he landed a winning Yankee on his first attempt. That stroke of luck (and he its that's exactly what it was) sparked an interest in understanding the strategies behind successful wagers. Over the years, he has become one of the UK's most prolific writers on betting and gaming, and is best known for his systematic approach to winning. Ian's career in the industry now spans over three decades. His favorite betting method is Dutching because, in his words, "It's the one I win with more often than not."
All posts by Ian BruceA combination tricast bet in horse racing allows punters to select three horses that they think will finish first, second and third in any order. This guide takes a deep dive into the combination tricast meaning, making sure you’re up to speed so you can apply it to your own bets.
What is a Tricast?
A regular tricast is a bet where you must predict the exact first, second and third-place finishers in a race in the order they cross the line. For example, if you back Horse A to win, Horse B to finish second, and Horse C to place third, all three must finish in those exact positions for your bet to win.
Tricasts appeal to punters because they can deliver big payouts, often returning hefty profits from modest stakes. This is particularly true in competitive races with large fields, where the chances of correctly predicting the exact finishing order are relatively slim.
The difficulty of landing a tricast shouldn’t be underestimated. With even the slightest variation in finishing positions rendering your bet unsuccessful, many bettors find themselves frustrated when they pick the right three horses but in the wrong order. This is precisely why the combination tricast has become such a popular alternative among racing enthusiasts.
The Combination Tricast Explained
So, how many bets in a combination tricast? A combination tricast takes the concept of a straight tricast and makes it more forgiving by covering all possible finishing orders of your selected horses. When you place a combination tricast, you’re essentially placing six separate bets to cover every possible way your chosen three horses could finish first, second and third.
For instance, if you select horses A, B and C in a combination tricast, you’re covering these six possible outcomes:
- A-B-C
- A-C-B
- B-A-C
- B-C-A
- C-A-B
- C-B-A
This betting option is particularly popular at horse racing betting sites, but you’ll also find it available on greyhound racing at most UK bookmakers. Some betting sites might offer combination tricasts on other sports events where finishing orders are crucial, such as Formula 1 racing.
Because a combination tricast consists of six separate bets, your stake is multiplied by six. For example, a £1 combination tricast will cost you £6 in total. While this increases your initial outlay compared to a straight tricast, it significantly improves your chances of winning, as your selections can finish in any order within the top three positions.
It’s worth noting that you can select more than three horses in a combination tricast, though this will increase both the number of possible combinations and your total stake considerably. Each additional horse multiplies the number of potential combinations, making the bet more expensive but also giving you more chances to win. You can use a combination tricast calculator to figure out the number of bets needed, though we’ll also give you a handy reference chart for this shortly.
How Much Do Combination Tricasts Pay?
The payout for a combination tricast varies significantly based on the combination tricast odds of your chosen horses and their final finishing positions. Like a straight tricast, the more unlikely the finishing order, the bigger the potential returns.
For example, if three favourites finish in the expected order, your returns might be relatively modest. However, the payout could be substantial if a longshot comes in alongside two better-fancied runners or if all three selections are at longer odds. This is because tricast dividends are calculated based on the odds of achieving that specific combination.
Understanding that each possible combination within your bet will pay differently is important. If your selections finish first, second and third but in an unexpected order, you’ll typically receive a larger payout than if they had finished in a more predictable sequence. The key advantage of a combination tricast is that you’ll win something regardless of how your three selections arrange themselves in the top three positions, though the amount can vary considerably.
Bear in mind that tricast dividends are usually declared after the race, and these can sometimes deliver surprisingly generous returns even when backed horses are at shorter prices.
Is a Combination Tricast Bet For You?
Better Chance of Winning
Unlike a straight tricast where you need to predict the exact finishing order, a combination tricast gives you multiple chances to win. If you can identify three strong contenders but aren’t confident about their precise finishing positions, this bet type significantly improves your chances of success.Substantial Returns
When successful, combination tricasts can deliver impressive returns. Even with favourites, getting three specific horses in the first three places (in any order) is challenging enough that bookmakers offer generous payouts. If a longer-priced selection places, the returns can be substantial.Flexibility with Selections
You can include more than three selections if you wish, but this increases your stake. This flexibility allows you to cover more horses in competitive races where you fancy several runners to perform well.Multiple Sport Applications
While most commonly used in horse racing, combination tricasts can be placed on greyhound racing and, with some bookmakers, motorsport events. This versatility makes it a useful addition to your betting repertoire.
Combination Tricasts vs Combination Trifecta
While combination tricasts and combination trifectas both involve predicting the first three finishers in any order, there are crucial differences between these two betting types that UK punters should understand.
A combination trifecta is a pool bet, meaning your stake goes into a collective pool along with other bettors’ money. The total pool is then divided among the winning tickets after the deduction of the bookmaker’s commission. Because of this pool betting structure, you won’t know your potential returns when placing a trifecta bet – the dividend depends entirely on the size of the pool and the number of winners.
In contrast, a combination tricast is a fixed-odds bet offered directly by the majority of online bookmakers. While the exact returns aren’t displayed when you place the bet (as tricast dividends are declared after the race), the calculation method is more straightforward and isn’t affected by how many other punters have backed the same combinations.
How to Cover More Selections
While a standard combination tricast covers three horses, you can include additional selections to increase your chances of winning. The bookmaker will create multiple combination tricasts to cover every possible three-horse combination from your selections.
However, it’s crucial to understand that adding more selections significantly increases your stake, as each additional horse creates multiple new possible combinations that need to be covered. Here’s how the numbers break down:
| Selections | Number of Combinations | Total Stake (£1 per combination) |
| 3 | 6 | £6 |
| 4 | 24 | £24 |
| 5 | 60 | £60 |
| 6 | 120 | £120 |
| 7 | 210 | £210 |
| 8 | 336 | £336 |
For example, if you select four horses (A, B, C, and D), your bet will cover every possible combination of any three of these horses finishing in the top three positions. While this gives you more chances of winning, your £1 stake would multiply to £24 to cover all combinations.
This strategy can be particularly useful in very competitive races where you fancy several horses, but that the increased stake needs to be balanced against your potential returns.
How to Make a Combination Tricast Bet Online
Choose Your Race
Head to the horse racing section of your chosen bookmaker and select the race meeting and specific race you are interested in. Ensure the race has enough runners (usually minimum of 3).Find the Tricast Betting Option
Most bookies place this under a ‘Multiple Bets’ or ‘Exotic Bets’ tab. Some bookies have a special ‘Tricast’ horse racing button, while others require you to expand additional betting options to find it.Select Your Horses
Choose your three (or more) selections and click each horse to add it to your bet slip. Make sure you select ‘Combination Tricast’ rather than straight tricast. The bet slip will show how many combinations you’re covering.Enter Your Stake
Input your stake per combination and the bet slip will calculate your total stake. Always double-check the total cost before proceeding, as the final amount will be your unit stake multiplied by the number of combinations.Confirm Your Bet
Review all selections and stake amount carefully, then click ‘Place Bet’ or equivalent. You’ll receive confirmation of your bet once it’s processed.
Reverse Tricasts Explained
It’s important to know that there’s actually no such thing as a “reverse tricast” – this is a common misunderstanding among punters. What people often mean when they say “reverse tricast” is actually a combination tricast.
Some bettors mistakenly use the term “reverse tricast” because they’re familiar with reverse forecasts (where you predict two selections to finish first and second in either order). However, when it comes to predicting three horses to finish in the top three positions in any order, the correct term is “combination tricast”.
A combination tricast will cover all six possible combinations of your three selections automatically. Unlike a ‘Yankee’ or other multiple bet types, there’s no need to consider a “reverse” version of the tricast – the combination tricast already handles all possible permutations of your selections.
If you hear someone talking about a reverse tricast, they’re almost certainly referring to a standard combination tricast, which is the bet type we’ve been discussing throughout this guide.
Non-Runners and Other Confounding Variables
When circumstances affect your combination tricast bet, such as non-runners or dead heats, specific rules come into play (see the official BHA rules of racing.) Here’s what typically happens in these situations.
If one of your selections becomes a non-runner in a combination tricast before the race, most bookies will automatically convert your combination tricast into a combination forecast using your remaining selections. This means your bet will now cover the possible combinations of two horses finishing first and second rather than needing three placed horses. The stake per combination will remain the same, but you’ll cover fewer combinations overall. Should two or more of your selections be withdrawn, the bet is usually void, and your stake will be refunded in full.
Dead heats can make things a bit more complicated. If two horses tie for third place and you’ve selected one of them in your combination tricast, you’ll typically receive a portion of the tricast dividend. The exact proportion depends on how many horses are involved in the dead heat. Some bookmakers may handle photo finishes differently from others, particularly regarding when they declare official results and how quickly they settle bets. It’s also worth noting that if fewer than three horses finish the race, combination tricasts are typically void and stakes returned, as a full tricast dividend cannot be calculated.
Conclusion
The combination tricast offers a more flexible approach to betting on the top three finishers compared to a straight tricast. While it requires a higher initial stake to cover all possible combinations, it significantly increases your chances of winning by removing the need to predict the exact finishing order. For punters who can identify three strong contenders but aren’t sure about their precise finishing positions, this betting option provides a valuable middle ground between accuracy and probability. Use this guide to master combination tricast betting in your own strategy.
FAQs
What is a combination tricast?
How much does a combination tricast cost?
How do you work out a combination tricast?
How much does a tricast pay?
