A tricast and forecast calculator answers the two questions these bets raise: how many lines am I paying for, and what does the dividend actually give me? A forecast picks the first two home, a tricast the first three. Both pay a declared dividend rather than the starting prices you’d multiply in a double. Put in the bet, the stake per line and the dividend, and the free calculator above does the rest.
It starts on a £1 combination forecast on three horses, which is six lines and £6.
Tricast and forecast calculator: counting the lines
The straight version needs one exact finishing order, so it’s one line. A reverse forecast covers two horses in either order, so two lines. From there it grows quickly:
| Horses | Combination forecast | Combination tricast |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 (reverse) | – |
| 3 | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | 12 | 24 |
| 5 | 20 | 60 |
| 6 | 30 | 120 |
A combination forecast is n × (n − 1). A combination tricast is n × (n − 1) × (n − 2). Only one line can ever win, because there’s only one actual finishing order.
How the dividend pays
Forecasts usually settle at the computer straight forecast (CSF) dividend and tricasts at the declared tricast dividend. Both are quoted to a £1 stake, and the figure already includes that £1. So a CSF of £23.45 means £23.45 back for £1.
Two examples:
- £1 combination forecast on three horses: £6 staked. Two of them finish first and second, CSF £23.45. Back comes £23.45, a £17.45 profit.
- 50p combination tricast on four horses: 24 lines, £12. Three of your four fill the places and the tricast pays £142.60. Return: £71.30.
The handy number is the break-even dividend, which is simply the number of lines. A 24-line combination tricast needs a dividend over £24 to make money. With a short-priced favourite in the frame, tricasts often pay less than that, and the calculator flags it.
For win and each way bets on the same race, use the horse racing bet calculator or the each way calculator. Multiples across races are in the bet calculator.
Combination bets add lines fast. Look at the total stake, not the line stake. BeGambleAware.org is free and confidential if it stops being fun.