How do you read a greyhound form guide and what do the symbols mean?

A greyhound form guide displays each dog's recent racing history in a condensed format. The most important element is the finishing position sequence — a string of numbers representing the dog's last six results, with the most recent on the right. A line reading 2 1 3 1 5 1 shows a dog that finished first in three of its last six races, including its latest run. Alongside these figures you will find the track, distance, grade, and finishing time for each run. Common abbreviations in the running comments include: Ld (led), Bmp (bumped by another runner), Crd (crowded), EvPce (even pace throughout), SAw (slow away from traps), RlsStt (railed to straight), and MidTr (middle track). These comments reveal the context behind the raw numbers. A dog that finished fourth but was recorded as "Bmp1,Crd2" was interfered with at the first and second bends — its finishing position may understate its true ability. Always read the comments alongside the form figures, not instead of them.

What is the difference between a forecast, reverse forecast, and tricast in greyhound betting?

A straight forecast requires you to name the first and second finishers in exact order. The payout is determined after the race by the Computer Straight Forecast formula, which uses the starting prices of the two placed dogs. A reverse forecast covers both possible orderings of your two selections — if either one finishes first and the other second, you win. It costs twice the unit stake because it is effectively two straight forecasts. A tricast extends the principle to the first three finishers in exact order. The Computer Tricast dividend is usually significantly larger than a forecast because the difficulty is greater. A combination tricast covers all six possible orderings of three selected dogs, costing six times the unit stake. In six-runner greyhound fields, these bets are more achievable than in horse racing, which is why forecast and tricast markets are among the most popular with experienced greyhound punters.

Does trap position really matter — and which traps win most at UK tracks?

Trap position matters, but the degree of its influence depends heavily on the specific track. In a perfectly balanced six-dog race, each trap would win about 16.7% of the time. In practice, certain traps at certain venues consistently outperform or underperform this baseline. At tight, sharp tracks where the run from the traps to the first bend is short, inside traps — particularly Trap 1 — tend to record higher win percentages, sometimes reaching 19-20%. At wider, galloping circuits with a longer run-in, the advantage is less pronounced and may shift toward middle traps. Weather complicates the picture further: rain can waterlog the inside rail and temporarily reverse the usual bias toward outside runners. The best approach is to consult track-specific trap statistics from the current season, available through data sites like GreyhoundStats.co.uk, and to watch the opening races of each meeting for signs of a live session bias before committing to selections.

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