A forecast asks for the first two finishers in the correct order. A tricast extends the puzzle to the first three. The attraction is obvious, but so is the trap: add more selections to a combination and the ticket grows much faster than it first appears.
| Bet | Selections | Exact-order lines |
|---|---|---|
| Straight forecast | 2 | 1 |
| Reverse forecast | 2 | 2 |
| 3-horse combination forecast | 3 | 6 |
| Straight tricast | 3 | 1 |
| 4-horse combination tricast | 4 | 24 |
| 5-horse combination tricast | 5 | 60 |
The formulas
A combination forecast with n selections contains n × (n − 1) lines. A combination tricast contains n × (n − 1) × (n − 2) lines. At £1 per line, five tricast selections therefore cost £60, not £5.
Why the calculator asks for a dividend
Forecast and tricast returns are normally settled from a declared dividend after the race. That figure cannot be known accurately in advance. Enter the final dividend per £1 once it is available, then the tool multiplies it by the stake carried by the successful line. For wider racing settlement questions, use the Bet Settlement Centre.
Check the orders before saving a receipt
Open the finishing-order panel to name your runners and see exactly which orders the ticket covers. A reverse forecast includes both A then B and B then A. A combination includes every different ordered pair or triple, not just the order in which you entered the names.
You can copy or download the calculation without sending runner names to BetOwl. It is a local working note, not proof of an accepted bet. If a total stake produces fractions of a penny per line, check the actual stakes and rounding on your bookmaker receipt.