How to Bet on the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup

The Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup is a National Hunt horse race which is annually held in the UK towards the end of November. The race takes place over 3.25 miles of track at Newbury Racecourse in Berkshire and includes 21 fences. The Hennessy ranks as one of the most important races of the National Hunt season.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Do your research. Unless you’re betting tiny amounts just for fun, it’s important to know a little about the horses you are betting on so as not to throw your money away. Consult the racing pullouts that many of the weekend national newspapers carry for advice on which horses are in good condition, and which have been running well recently. The Racing Post also provides an even more in-depth guide to the forms of all the horses running in the Gold Cup.
2. Choose which horse you think looks the most promising then compare its standard with the odds on offer to maximise your chances of winning big. For example, if your horse is a hot favourite at 3/1, your returns if he wins will be small compared to a bet you place on an outsider or dark horse with odds of 10/1 who has been on good form recently and comes in the winner.
3. Decide if you are going to bet on the Gold Cup either from the comfort of your own home via the internet, by going to the bookmakers or by attending the Gold Cup day yourself. To bet online, you’ll need to follow the instructions to sign up for an account with a reputable betting website before you can place a bet on the race.
4. Go to the bookies if you’d rather place the bet in person. There are branches of leading betting shops like Ladbrokes and William Hill in most towns throughout the country, and you can search for your nearest branch through their respective websites.
5. Take a trip to Newbury Racecourse to really experience the Gold Cup. Here you will be able to bet on the races in person from the bookies stalls that fill the grounds. To bet at the racecourse, walk around and compare the odds given for your horse. Remember that odds at stalls on the day will be constantly changing according to who puts money on what horse, and how much they put on. Bookmakers are often competing against each other too, so do a fair bit of investigating before committing your money.
6. Decide what kind of bet you are going to place. You can either opt for an "Each Way" bet which means you’ll win something if your horse comes in first, second or third – but the returns will be less than that of a "To Win" bet where you only win if your horse comes in first place.
7. Watch the race. Tickets for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup are available to buy through the Newbury Racecourse website, or the race is shown every year on terrestrial television.
8. Take your slip back to the bookmakers or to the stall where you bought it from if your horse wins to claim your prize. You will be paid the full sum in cash, but ensure that you don’t lose your betting slip as there’s no way to pick up your prize without it.

Tips & Warnings

• Try joining or creating a company syndicate to bet on the Gold Cup and other major races – you’ll have more to invest in the bets, and therefore a higher chance of winning big.
• Set yourself a budget for betting, as it’s all too easy to get carried away in the heat if the moment and spend much more than you bargained for. If you’re betting at the stalls at Newbury, you’ll have to pay in cash, so only take what you can afford to lose.