Combination Forecast Meaning, Payouts & How Combination Bets Work
If you’ve ever looked at betting options and wondered how to boost your chances without making things too complicated, you might have spotted something called a Combination Forecast. It sounds technical, but it’s a practical bet type that offers flexibility for players who want broader coverage of a race.
Curious about how it works, why it’s common in horse and greyhound racing, and what sort of payouts you could expect? This article explains the mechanics, the maths behind payouts and combinations, and how situational events such as non-runners or dead heats affect your returns.
Read on and you’ll get a clear picture of whether Combination Forecasts suit your approach—and what to check before placing one.
What Is a Combination Forecast?
A Combination Forecast lets you back three or more runners in the same race and win if any two of your chosen selections finish first and second, in any order. Unlike a Straight Forecast, where you must predict the exact first and second in order, a Combination Forecast creates multiple forecast bets from your selections so you have more possible winning outcomes.
Each pair of selected runners is treated as an individual forecast bet. For three selections, for example, you end up with six separate forecast bets; add more runners and the number of bets rises quickly. That increase in combinations is useful because it widens the field of outcomes covered, but it also raises your total stake proportionally.
Before you place this type of bet, check the number of combinations and your total outlay. Understanding that a Combination Forecast is simply a package of several forecast bets helps make clear how costs and potential returns are constructed.
How Do Combination Bets Work In Horse Racing?
When placing a Combination Forecast in horse racing you nominate at least three horses from the same race. The bookmaker then treats every possible first-and-second pairing among those selections as an individual forecast bet, all placed together under the one instruction.
For example, picking Horse A, Horse B and Horse C will form the following forecast pairs: A-B, B-A, A-C, C-A, B-C and C-B. If any two of those horses occupy the top two finishing positions in any order, the corresponding forecast bet(s) pay out according to the declared dividend for that pairing.
Because each combination is a separate bet, your chosen stake per forecast is multiplied by the number of combinations. That makes it straightforward to calculate your total stake and, with the official dividends in mind, to estimate potential returns.
Now that you know how bets are formed, let’s look at how those bets are paid out.
Combination Forecast Payouts Explained
Payouts for a Combination Forecast are determined by the forecast dividend for each winning pairing among your selections. When two of your chosen horses finish first and second (in either order), the industry-set dividend for that precise pairing is applied to the corresponding forecast bet.
Each successful pairing is paid independently, so if more than one of your combinations wins you receive separate returns for each. The size of each dividend depends on the final odds and how the market has been betting on those horses. Favourites generally produce smaller dividends, while horses with longer odds can produce larger ones when they place.
Bear in mind that the total money you receive is the sum of the payouts for the winning forecast bets, less the portion of your stake spent on combinations that did not win. Checking the potential number of winning pairs and their likely dividends can help you assess the value of a Combination Forecast before committing funds.
Moving on from payouts, the role of odds in those calculations is the next topic.
How Are Odds Used To Calculate Combination Forecast Returns?
Odds feed directly into the calculation of forecast dividends. When a specific pairing of horses takes the first two places, the dividend shown for that pairing reflects how the market priced those horses at the start of the race and how much money was placed on that result.
Practically, this means that if two heavily backed favourites finish first and second, the forecast dividend will typically be modest. Conversely, if one or both of the pair were less fancied at the off, the dividend can be much larger. Because prices shift before the race, the final dividend you receive uses the official starting prices and pool totals, not the prices you may have seen earlier.
Every combination within a Combination Forecast is independent: only the forecasts corresponding to the actual finishing order pay out, and each pays according to its own dividend.
If you want to compare bet types, the difference between Combination and Straight Forecasts explains when one might be preferable to the other.
Combination Forecast vs Straight Forecast: What’s The Difference?
A Straight Forecast requires you to predict the exact first and second in order. It is a single, lower-cost bet with a narrower path to a win. A Combination Forecast, by contrast, picks three or more runners and creates multiple forecast bets so any two of your selections finishing first and second will produce a payout.
The practical trade-off is clear: a Straight Forecast costs less but demands a precise outcome; a Combination Forecast costs more because it covers many possible ordered pairs, giving you a greater chance that one of those pairs will occur. Deciding which to use depends on whether you prefer a focused, cheaper wager or broader coverage with a larger stake.
Next, it helps to be precise about how much a Combination Forecast will cost you in different cases.
How Much Does a Combination Forecast Cost?
The cost is driven by the number of selections and the stake you place on each individual forecast. Each pair of selections is one forecast bet, so a higher number of selections multiplies the total number of bets and the total cost.
For three selections there are six forecast bets; at £1 per forecast that totals £6. Add a fourth selection and the count increases to 12 forecast bets, so the same £1 stake would make the total £12. The basic relationship is simple: total bets = n × (n − 1), where n is the number of selections, and total cost equals that number multiplied by your stake per forecast.
Always verify the displayed number of bets and the total price before confirming a wager so you know the precise exposure you’re taking.
Now that costs are clear, the next section shows the formula in practical examples.
How Many Bets Are Needed For Multiple Selections?
This section gives a few direct examples to make the formula concrete. Start with the general idea that each selection pairs with every other selection to form ordered forecast bets. In an ordered forecast the finishing order matters, so each distinct pair is a separate bet.
Examples:
- For three selections: 3 × 2 = 6 bets
- For four selections: 4 × 3 = 12 bets
- For five selections: 5 × 4 = 20 bets
Each result above shows how quickly the number of bets, and therefore the total stake, rises as you add selections. Even a small increase in the number of runners covered can multiply the number of individual bets you place, which has a direct effect on cost.
Knowing this helps you plan how many runners you want to cover without exceeding your budget. It is sensible to set a clear staking limit before placing combination bets and to consider lowering the stake per line if you expand the number of selections.
Unforeseen race events can affect those bets, so it helps to understand how operators settle Combination Forecasts when things change. Common issues include:
- A non-runner or late withdrawal
- A dead heat for a placed position
- A race being voided or abandoned
Operators have specific rules for each situation, which can change the number of winning lines or how returns are calculated. Check the operator’s terms and rules before betting so you know how such events will be handled.
What Happens If A Horse Is A Non-Runner Or There Is A Dead Heat?
Races do not always go to plan, and operators follow established rules to settle bets fairly when events change the field or finishing positions.
Non-Runners
If one of your selected horses is withdrawn before the race, bets that include that horse are void and the stake for those specific bets is returned. The remaining combinations that do not involve the withdrawn horse remain active and are settled as normal.
Dead Heats
When two horses cross the line together and cannot be separated even by a photo finish, the result is a dead heat. In such cases, dividends are adjusted according to industry guidelines so the payout reflects the shared finish. How the split affects individual forecast bets depends on which positions are tied and which selections you included.
After the race, check the published race result and your bet slip to see exactly how affected bets have been settled. If anything is unclear, customer support at your chosen operator can explain how the official rules have been applied.
This wraps up the main points on how Combination Forecasts are formed, costed and settled. If you plan to use them, make sure you understand the number of combinations, potential outlay and how dividends are determined so you place considered bets that fit your approach.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.