Forecast Bet at Cheltenham Explained

Last Updated 2 months ago

Among the many betting options at the Cheltenham Festival, the forecast is one of the more rewarding for punters who fancy the shape of a race.

Unlike a simple win or each-way bet, a forecast requires predicting the first two horses home in the correct order.

How a forecast bet works

The bet is settled on the official result, so the first selection must win and the second must finish runner-up exactly as stated.

Because that is harder to land, a forecast can return far bigger dividends than a standard win bet.

The reverse forecast option

A reverse forecast doubles the stake but covers both possible finishing orders, so the two selections can come home first and second in any order and the bet still pays.

At Cheltenham, reverse forecasts are popular in big-field handicaps, where calling the top two in the right order is especially tough.

How forecast dividends are calculated

Forecast bets are settled using the Tote dividend or the industry computer straight forecast, known as the CSF. Both draw on the starting prices and the weight of money, so payouts vary with how fancied the selections are.

When outsiders fill the top two, dividends can be large, which is what draws value-seeking punters to the market.

A Festival example

In the 2025 Champion Hurdle, 25/1 outsider Golden Ace won after the two market leaders fell, the kind of result that produces a sizeable forecast dividend for anyone who paired the winner with the runner-up.

Where forecasts work best at Cheltenham

Forecast betting suits handicaps and wide-open Grade 1s, where several horses are closely matched and surprises are common.

For punters wanting to go a step further, the tricast extends the challenge to the first three home in the correct order, with even larger potential dividends.

The forecast sits alongside the other core markets covered in the site’s Cheltenham Festival betting guides, including the tricast and the win and each-way bet.