What is Tricast?

How a Tricast Works

A tricast requires you to name three horses and specify the exact finishing order: first, second, and third. Because you must get all three positions right, it is considerably harder to win than a forecast, which covers only the first two home. Most bookmakers settle straight tricasts using a computer straight forecast (CSF) calculation adapted for three places, while the Tote operates its own pool-based equivalent. Rules on minimum fields and eligible race types vary between operators, so always check the terms before placing.

Combination tricasts are also available. Rather than locking in one specific order, a combination tricast covers every possible arrangement of your three chosen horses across the first three places — that is six separate bets in total. If your three selections fill the first three positions in any order, the bet wins. The stake is multiplied by six accordingly, so a £1 combination tricast costs £6. Some operators allow combination tricasts across four or more selections, which increases both the number of lines and the total outlay substantially.

Worked Example

Suppose you place a £1 straight tricast on a handicap race, selecting Horse A to win, Horse B to finish second, and Horse C to finish third. If the race result comes in A–B–C in exactly that order, the bet settles as a winner and the return is calculated by the operator's CSF formula or the relevant Tote pool, which factors in starting prices and field size. If any of the three finishes in a different position — for instance, B wins and A is second — the bet loses in full.

If instead you placed a £1 combination tricast on the same three horses at a total cost of £6, you would win so long as A, B, and C fill the first three places in any order: A–B–C, A–C–B, B–A–C, B–C–A, C–A–B, or C–B–A. The payout for a combination tricast is the straight tricast dividend, because you have effectively staked £1 on each of the six possible sequences and only one of those sequences matches the actual result.

Why Tricasts Matter When Judging a Tipster

Tricasts produce large, eye-catching returns when they land, which makes them a common feature in promotional screenshots and social media posts. When evaluating a tipster's tricast record, focus on the full sequence of results rather than individual wins. A tipster who lands one well-publicised tricast at long odds but loses dozens of smaller-staked bets around it may still be running at a loss overall. Always ask for a verified, independently proofed record before drawing conclusions.

Strike rate for tricasts is inherently low — even in a five-runner field, the probability of selecting the exact first three in order is 1 in 60 — so a meaningful sample size is essential before any judgement about skill versus luck. Yield figures are more useful than raw returns here, and you should check whether the tipster quotes advised odds that were genuinely available at the time of proofing, since tricast dividends can differ significantly between the Tote pool and bookmaker CSF calculations.

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