Trying to find the winner of the Grand National is tricky enough but trying to forecast the first, second and third? Come on, you must be joking?

No, not at all. I genuinely believe that exactas and trifectas are a great way to try and have a big win from a relatively small stake.

More and more often, through whatever system you might use, big handicap races can be narrowed down to a short list of five or six horses that you have to make your final selection from. This gives you a perfect platform from which to perm your exactas and trifectas.

How Much Can You Win?

In the last five years the Exacta and Trifecta have returned the following amounts:

2007
Exacta 667.60
Trifecta 18020.60

2006
Exacta 96.90
Trifecta 401.30

2005
Exacta 612.70
Trifecta 44338.60

2004
Exacta 124.50
Trifecta 18711.60

2003
Exacta 533.90
Trifecta 27120.20

Even the lowest of these would be a nice return and the prospect of a large payment should you strike it lucky and get the 1-2-3 is very appealing.

How Much Does It Cost?

A combination of 4, 5, or 6 horses would be as follows:

4 horses
Exactas = 12 bets
Trifectas = 24 bets
5 horses
Exactas = 20 bets
Trifectas = 60 bets
6 horses
Exactas = 30 bets
Trifectas = 120 bets

Why not perm up your main selections and put in a big price outsider in the hope of boosting your winnings? I tried this bet last year and and came painfully close with Mckelvey, Slim Pickings and Philson Run. To say Silver Birch is not my favourite horse would be an understatement!

If you are unsure of who to go for why not try a combination of the main fancies from our selections thread. Most of the stats men and shrewd judges on this blog have been giving their opinions and I hope they won’t mind if I gather together what I think are the three most popular selections and the most popular outsider and give them as a combination exacta and trifecta:

Comply Or Die
D’Argent
Point Barrow
Black Apalachi
(Close between this one and Naunton Brook, Backbeat, Baily Breeze so take your pick)

Try a 12 x 1 point Exacta and 24 x 0.2 point Trifecta (i.e. it will cost you £16.80 if you deal in £1 points!). Place the bet with Tote bookmakers.

Good Luck To All

Good luck to everyone today, thanks for all your contributions and lets hope all the horses and jockeys come back safe and sound. Make sure you stick around though as we will continuing the blog throughout the year working towards the Grand National in 2009!