I've spent over 20 years inside the betting industry. I'll guide you to avoid the hype, ignore the noise, and steer clear of the common pitfalls that catch out everyday punters.
What Is A Nap In Horse Racing
A NAP means a tipsters best bet of the day, so with that out of the way how does one go about deciding which of his selections is the NAP.
Some tipsters may have a NAP per meeting, others will have a single NAP for the day.
You can view today's OLBG tipsters horse racing naps here.
How Do I Decide My Nap Of The Day?
For my Nap should it be the best chance or the best price?
The Best Chance
This isn't always the case although it seems to fly in the face of reason to not NAP the selection you think has the best chance of winning.
Horse Racing Favourites
It may be that your selection does indeed have the best chance of winning its respective race, but if the odds reflect that and are very short, then I would not look to NAP a very short price.
101 Ways to find Winners in Horse Racing
If your Nap is always a short price then you will struggle to make a long term profit.
The Best Price
What defines the best price depends upon your perception of the term.
A Value Price?
I would consider a bigger price the best price as opposed to the shorter price being the best price.
The best betting sites will have a range of odds, for your NAP you need to hunt down the best price
I guess it comes down to your personal perception of the most overused word in horse racing betting, "Value".
Master the Art of Value Betting and Maximize Your Winnings
The price that is perceived as the best "value" would be a stronger candidate for the NAP of the day for me.
In effect the best bet at the best price.
So these are two reasons why it may be the NAP but still, I have yet to explain how I "decide" which is the NAP.
My Nap Selection Factors
I will look at races in which I know from my records that I have a higher success rate of finding the winner.
Different Types of Horse Races in the UK and Ireland
I know i am poor at selecting winners of five or six-furlong sprints on the flat but much better at novice hurdles, if there are selections in both these types of races on one day, the likelihood is that I would look to the hurdle race for the NAP.
If one of my selections has become so because it has been running in "unsuitable" conditions, whether that be over the "wrong" trip or on the "wrong" going, and it should be returning to "suitable" variables, again, this is a contributory factor to a likely NAP from me.
This may not be correct when I state "wrong", but it is my take on what I consider right or wrong for the horse, given how I have read the previous form in the book.
I will also look again at what I perceive to be value.
Lady jockeys will always add a point or two extra to the prices at which they are available, providing a long-term edge over the bookies if they are riding suitable horses.
Lady Jockeys
This, too, can go for less well-known jockeys and trainers.
I am likelier to NAP, a relatively unknown trainer or jockey of my horse, rather than a Ryan Moore-ridden or John Gosden-trained horse.
That is not to say they may not constitute the connections of my best bet on any day, but with those types of connections often leading to their runners being overbet and short on value, they are less likely to appear with the suffix of NAP in my advice.
Effectively, I am looking to my past success of picking winners and those runners that are more conducive to offering a better price than it should be.
Horse Racing Nap Criteria
Different tipsters select their horse racing Naps in different ways.
Its All In The Form Book
Horse Racing Form Made Easy
If you are looking to select a horse racing nap each day you may like to consider the following areas to narrow down your Nap.
| Horse Racing Nap Criteria | Horse Racing Nap Explanation |
|---|---|
| Course | Has the horse run well at the track before? |
| Going | Has the horse run well on the predicted going - Good, Good To Firm, Good To Soft, etc? |
| Distance | Has the horse shown that today's distance is within the horse's remit? |
| Trainer | Does the trainer do well in percentage and winner terms at the track? |
| Jockey | Does the jockey have a good strike rate at the track? |
| Down In Class | Is the horse running in a lower class race? |
| Handicap Mark | Has the horse's handicap mark come down? |
| Last Time Out | Did the horse run well last time it ran? |
| Betting | Was the horse supported in the betting last time out |
| Market Mover | Has the horse seen support in the betting market for this race? |
| Weakness Of Opposition | Are the horses the Nap is taking on weaker than previous races? |
| Long Distance Traveller | Has the trainer sent the horse a long-distance? |
So the above is how I decide what to NAP on a daily basis.
I hope it is helpful, especially If you are new to placing bets or writing your selections in the OLBG tipping competition.
Responsible Gambling
Whether we have just one Nap of the Day or place multiple bets, we all need to gamble responsibly. Over the years, we have trumpeted this approach, and the following articles were written with this in mind.
How to be Sensible and Gamble Responsibly (Examples)
Responsible Gambling Features, Function and Help
Editorial Information
Editor in Chief Steve Madgwick was the original author of this Nap article with updates added by betting expert Nigel Skinner.
Both have over 20 years experience in horse racing betting and regularly add their Naps on OLBG.
Steve Madgwick
Editor-In-Chief
With over two decades of experience in journalism and the gambling industry, I've seen every trend, every trap, and every tactic used to distract punters. As OLBG’s Editor in Chief, I've made it my mission to help readers make the correct decisions for their betting style and preference.
Let’s be honest — the betting industry isn’t always transparent.
Flashy offers aren’t always what they seem, the risks are real, and as a punter, you need to find the best site for you, be that sports betting or a casino. I know from experience how easy it is to get caught out, I'm here working with my team of guides to stop that from happening to you.
My team ensure our content doesn’t promote betting, they guide you to your best options. That means straight-talking guides, honest reviews, and no-nonsense advice shaped by years of knowledge.
Comparing bookmakers, understanding terms and conditions, or simply trying to bet responsibly. You can rely on my hand-picked team, they know what you need.
"The wrong decision can cost more than money. We are here to help you make the right call."
Nigel Skinner
Expert Guide
Political betting and football’s next manager markets are unpredictable, but that doesn’t mean you should go in blind. I specialise in these fast-moving, often volatile markets, helping you understand the signals, patterns, and pitfalls before placing a bet.
In political betting, it’s rarely just about polling numbers.
Momentum, media sentiment and timing all matter. I track the shifts and break down the info to help you spot where the value might be hiding.
In football, next manager odds can move fast on rumour alone.
That’s why I focus on context, boardroom dynamics, contract clauses, media leaks, the kind of detail that affects odds.
I’m here to give you a clearer view of the landscape, so you can bet smarter on two of the most reactive markets in betting.
"When the market moves on headlines, you need more than instinct. That’s where I come in."
