Tricast Combination Bet – How Does a Combination Tricast Work?

Looking into horse racing or greyhound betting, you might have seen something called a combination tricast pop up in your options. It can be unfamiliar at first, especially if you’re new to betting altogether. Many punters in the UK wonder what it actually means and how it differs from more straightforward bets.

If phrases like tricast or combination make you scratch your head, you’re not alone. Below, you’ll find clear, simple explanations and what sets a combination tricast apart, with a focus on how it works in practice with common examples.

What Is a Combination Tricast Bet?

A combination tricast lets you pick three different runners to fill the top three places in a race. You do not need to say who comes first, second or third. Instead, your bet covers every possible order those three could finish in. This makes it more flexible than a straight tricast, which needs the exact order.

With three selections, there are six possible ways they can finish in the top three. Each way is a separate bet. So if you place a £1 combination tricast, you are staking £6 in total, with £1 on each order.

Not every race offers tricast betting, particularly smaller fields, and some sites apply their own rules. Returns vary because they depend on the final finishing order and the odds of the runners involved. 

If you do decide to try your hand at sports betting, remember to do so responsibly and within your means; never wager more than you can afford to lose. 

How Does a Combination Tricast Work in Horse Racing?

In horse racing, a combination tricast covers your chosen trio finishing first, second and third in any order. The underlying idea is the same as above, but the settlement is based on the race’s official tricast dividend, typically produced by the Tote or the bookmaker after the result is confirmed.

Pick, say, Horses A, B and C. Your stake is split across every valid order for that trio. If all three make the places, your bet has a live line, and the return for that winning line is paid at the published tricast dividend for the exact 1-2-3.

Bookmakers may use slightly different systems for settling tricasts, and some races do not qualify, particularly those with fewer than eight runners. Checking the race rules on the bet slip could help avoid surprises.

How Many Bets Are in a Combination Tricast?

A combination tricast with three selections always creates six separate lines because it covers every possible order of your trio. If your unit stake is £1, the full bet costs £6.

You can add more than three runners, which increases the total lines quickly. Four selections create 24 lines, and five create 60. Each extra runner multiplies the ways those top three places could be filled by your picks.

Most betting sites show the number of lines and total stake clearly before you place the bet, so you can see your outlay upfront.

How Do You Calculate the Cost of a Combination Tricast Bet?

The total number of lines in a combination tricast is the number of different three-runner orders possible from your selections. Mathematically, the count is:

Number of combinations = n × (n – 1) × (n – 2) ÷ 6

where n is how many runners you have included. That gives 6 lines for three selections, 24 for four, and 60 for five.

Your cost is simply the number of lines multiplied by your unit stake. For example, four runners at £1 per line cost £24. Bet slips usually calculate this automatically so you can review the total before confirming.

Combination Tricast vs Straight Tricast: What’s the Difference?

Both bets involve picking the first three finishers. The difference is how specific you must be.

A straight tricast is one line on one exact order. If you name Runners 2, 7 and 5 to finish precisely 1-2-3 and they do, the bet pays. Any other order does not.

A combination tricast is more forgiving on order. You nominate three or more runners, and every valid order of those runners filling the first three places is covered as separate lines. This widens your chance of a return because any correct top-three order among your picks can land, but it also increases your potential total stake because you are backing multiple lines.

How Are Combination Tricast Winnings Worked Out?

Winnings are paid to the official tricast dividend for the exact 1-2-3 that occurred. After the race, the Tote or bookmaker calculates this dividend using the runners’ starting prices and the pool or market involved.

If you selected three runners, you will have six lines. Only the line that matches the exact finishing order can pay. For example, if the dividend returns £120 to a £1 stake and you staked £1 per line, you would receive £120 for the winning line. The other lines do not return anything.

If more than three runners are included, you have more lines and more chances for one to match the exact 1-2-3, but each paying line still depends on that single correct order. Reputable sites display the tricast dividend and your return clearly once results are confirmed, so you can see precisely how the payout was reached.