What is a First Four Bet?

Michael Kruse

Betting Guides

3 November 2016

359 Views

Check out the video below to find out!

What is a First Four Bet?

A First Four bet is a type of wager where you predict the first four finishers in a race in the exact order. It is widely popular in horse racing and greyhound racing due to its high-risk, high-reward nature.

Key Types of First Four Bets:

1. Straight First Four: You select the first four finishers in the exact order.
   • Example: Horse A (1st), Horse B (2nd), Horse C (3rd), Horse D (4th).
2. Boxed First Four: Allows the selected horses to finish in any order. This creates multiple combinations but increases the cost of the bet.
   • Example: Horses A, B, C, D can finish in any order in the top four positions.
3. Flexi First Four: Lets you bet a percentage of the total bet, allowing more combinations within your budget.
4. Multiple First Four: Where two or more runners are selected to finish 1^st with a number of other runners to finish 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

Valuable Insights:

• Payouts: First Four bets typically offer very high payouts due to their difficulty, especially with long-odds selections.
• Betting Pool: These bets are part of a pari-mutuel system, so payouts depend on the total amount wagered in the pool and the number of winners.

Actionable Steps:

1. Research Form and Stats: Analyse race form, jockey or trainer records, and other conditions to improve your chances.
2. Start with a Boxed Bet: If you’re new, a Boxed First Four allows flexibility by increasing the chance of winning, though it costs more.
3. Use Flexi Betting: For a budget-friendly approach, consider Flexi betting to manage costs while covering multiple combinations.