Why do bookmakers keep screwing us with these terrible odds on the big races?

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Lads, I’m absolutely fed up with these bookmakers and their rubbish odds on the big races. It’s like they’re mocking us. Take the Grand National coming up—prime chance for a decent payout, right? Wrong. They’ve slashed the odds so much on the favorites that it’s barely worth the punt. You’d think with all the hype and the unpredictable nature of horse racing, they’d give us something fair to work with, but no. It’s the same old story: they dangle a carrot, then yank it away when it matters most.
I’ve been digging into the form lately, and it’s not even like the favorites are dead certs. Look at last year’s winner—came out of nowhere at 50/1, and half the bookies were probably sweating bullets. But instead of reflecting that chaos in the odds, they tighten everything up, leaving us with scraps. Even the each-way bets feel like a trap now—five places at a fifth of the odds? Come on, that’s daylight robbery when you’ve got 40 runners in the field.
I’m not saying I’ve got all the answers, but I’ve been cross-checking the trainers and jockeys with some success. Nicholls and Mullins always bring strong contenders, and yet the bookies act like their horses are guaranteed gold. Meanwhile, the mid-tier runners with solid track records—like soft ground specialists at Aintree—get overlooked, and we’re stuck with pathetic returns. I’d love to hear if anyone’s found a bookie that doesn’t pull this nonsense, or maybe a strategy to squeeze some value out of these rigged boards. Because right now, it feels like we’re just handing them our cash and saying “thanks for nothing.”

 

[maxxam]

Lads, I’m absolutely fed up with these bookmakers and their rubbish odds on the big races. It’s like they’re mocking us. Take the Grand National coming up—prime chance for a decent payout, right? Wrong. They’ve slashed the odds so much on the favorites that it’s barely worth the punt. You’d think with all the hype and the unpredictable nature of horse racing, they’d give us something fair to work with, but no. It’s the same old story: they dangle a carrot, then yank it away when it matters most.
I’ve been digging into the form lately, and it’s not even like the favorites are dead certs. Look at last year’s winner—came out of nowhere at 50/1, and half the bookies were probably sweating bullets. But instead of reflecting that chaos in the odds, they tighten everything up, leaving us with scraps. Even the each-way bets feel like a trap now—five places at a fifth of the odds? Come on, that’s daylight robbery when you’ve got 40 runners in the field.
I’m not saying I’ve got all the answers, but I’ve been cross-checking the trainers and jockeys with some success. Nicholls and Mullins always bring strong contenders, and yet the bookies act like their horses are guaranteed gold. Meanwhile, the mid-tier runners with solid track records—like soft ground specialists at Aintree—get overlooked, and we’re stuck with pathetic returns. I’d love to hear if anyone’s found a bookie that doesn’t pull this nonsense, or maybe a strategy to squeeze some value out of these rigged boards. Because right now, it feels like we’re just handing them our cash and saying “thanks for nothing.”

Alright, mate, I feel your pain on this one—those odds are like a punch to the gut every time a big race rolls around. It’s almost as if the bookmakers sit there rubbing their hands, knowing they’ve got us by the short and curlies. The Grand National’s a perfect example: massive field, total chaos, and yet they churn out odds that make you wonder if they’ve even watched a race before. I’ve been mucking about with betting systems for a while now, trying to find something that doesn’t feel like banging my head against a wall, and I’ll share a bit of what I’ve learned to maybe help navigate this mess.

First off, you’re spot on about the favorites getting hammered with tight odds. It’s not just lazy—it’s deliberate. Bookies know the casual punters pile in on the big names, the ones with the shiny form or the famous jockeys, so they slash those prices to protect their margins. Doesn’t matter if the horse has a dodgy leg or hates soft ground; if it’s got hype, it’s 2/1 and you’re left squinting at the rest of the board for value. Last year’s National was a classic case—nobody saw that 50/1 shot coming, and it’s exactly why I’ve been testing systems that lean away from the obvious picks. One approach I’ve tinkered with is focusing on trainers with a sneaky good record at specific tracks. You mentioned Nicholls and Mullins, and yeah, they’re beasts, but their horses are priced like they’re running unopposed. I’ve had better luck digging into the likes of Gordon Elliott or even smaller stables with a knack for prepping outsiders for Aintree’s quirks—think heavy ground or long-distance specialists.

Another thing I’ve been playing with is splitting my stakes across a couple of mid-tier runners, usually in the 10/1 to 20/1 range, and combining that with a small punt on a proper longshot. It’s not foolproof—nothing is when bookies are this stingy—but it’s kept me from feeling like I’m just donating to their holiday fund. For the National, I look at horses with proven stamina over 4 miles and a bit of class on softer ground, then cross-reference their jockeys’ track records. Last time I tried this, I hit a 16/1 place on an each-way bet, which wasn’t life-changing but at least covered the round at the pub. The trick is avoiding the trap of chasing the bookies’ “safe” five-place payouts—those fractions are brutal, and with 40 runners, you’re better off shopping around for a bookie offering six or seven places, even if the odds take a slight hit.

On the bookie front, I’ve been comparing a few to see who’s less awful. Most of the big names are as bad as each other, but I’ve noticed some of the smaller online ones—like the ones that pop up in casino ads—occasionally throw out better each-way terms or boosted odds for the big races. They’re not saints, but they’re fighting for market share, so you might catch them slipping with a decent offer. I’ve also been using odds comparison sites religiously; they’re a lifesaver for spotting when one bookie’s sleeping on a horse the others have overlooked. Still, it’s grim out there—feels like no matter how much you study the form, the bookies have rigged the game before you even place your bet.

If you’re after a strategy to claw back some value, I’d say keep digging into those mid-tier runners like you mentioned, but also track how the odds shift in the week before the race. Sometimes the bookies overreact to late money on a favorite and let a solid contender drift to a tastier price. I’ve been logging this stuff in a spreadsheet—nerdy, I know, but it’s helped me spot patterns. Like you, I’m fed up with feeling like a mug, so it’s either this or I start betting on the weather instead. Anyone else got a system that’s actually working against these miserly odds? I’m all ears.

 

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Lads, I’m absolutely fed up with these bookmakers and their rubbish odds on the big races. It’s like they’re mocking us. Take the Grand National coming up—prime chance for a decent payout, right? Wrong. They’ve slashed the odds so much on the favorites that it’s barely worth the punt. You’d think with all the hype and the unpredictable nature of horse racing, they’d give us something fair to work with, but no. It’s the same old story: they dangle a carrot, then yank it away when it matters most.
I’ve been digging into the form lately, and it’s not even like the favorites are dead certs. Look at last year’s winner—came out of nowhere at 50/1, and half the bookies were probably sweating bullets. But instead of reflecting that chaos in the odds, they tighten everything up, leaving us with scraps. Even the each-way bets feel like a trap now—five places at a fifth of the odds? Come on, that’s daylight robbery when you’ve got 40 runners in the field.
I’m not saying I’ve got all the answers, but I’ve been cross-checking the trainers and jockeys with some success. Nicholls and Mullins always bring strong contenders, and yet the bookies act like their horses are guaranteed gold. Meanwhile, the mid-tier runners with solid track records—like soft ground specialists at Aintree—get overlooked, and we’re stuck with pathetic returns. I’d love to hear if anyone’s found a bookie that doesn’t pull this nonsense, or maybe a strategy to squeeze some value out of these rigged boards. Because right now, it feels like we’re just handing them our cash and saying “thanks for nothing.”

Been chewing over this one, and it’s grim how predictable the bookies’ game has become. The Grand National odds are a classic stitch-up—tighten the favorites, starve the value, and leave us scrapping for crumbs. You’re spot-on about the chaos of these races not matching the boards. Last year’s 50/1 shocker should’ve been a wake-up call, but instead, they double down, squeezing every favorite like it’s a sure thing. It’s not just lazy; it’s calculated.

Diving into the slots world for a second, it’s a similar vibe—algorithms rigged to look generous while the house always holds the edge. With racing, the odds are their lever, and they’re not shy about pulling it. Look at the data: favorites in the National win maybe 10-15% of the time since the 90s, yet bookies price them like they’re untouchable. The mid-tier runners, like you said, get shafted—horses with decent form on soft ground or strong Aintree records are barely given a nod. It’s not random; they’re banking on us chasing the hype.

I’ve been mucking about with some angles to claw back value. One trick is focusing on trainers with a knack for prepping outsiders—think Gordon Elliott’s knack for sneaking in a dark horse. Cross-reference that with jockeys who perform under pressure, like Sam Twiston-Davies on big fields. Bookies undervalue these combos because they’re obsessed with the Mullins-Nicholls show. Also, shop around the smaller bookies or exchanges late—sometimes they lag on adjusting odds for mid-runners when the ground changes.

As for each-way bets, it’s a minefield. Five places sound nice, but a fifth of the odds on a 40-runner field is a joke—your return’s gutted unless you’re psychic. I’d rather hunt for a bookie offering six or seven places, even if the odds are slightly shaved; the math holds up better. Problem is, the big players know we’re desperate for action on races like this, so they don’t bother competing.

Anyone got a bookie that doesn’t play these games? Or a system to spot the oversights in their odds? I’m all ears, because right now, it’s like betting against a slot machine that’s already paid out.

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