HBF Annual Overround Survey – January 2020

The HBF Annual Overround Survey in January 2020 revealed:

*The HBF have concluded their annual Starting Price Survey looking at average overrounds per horse (OPH) by course – races with odds on favourites and fewer than 5 runners were removed for clarity.

*Ffos Las retain their spot as the worst value track for punters with an increased overround of 2.76% per horse (up 0.43% on 2019), followed in second by Cartmel at 2.49% (up 0.34% on 2019). The HBF are concerned that the average overall has risen from 1.82 in 2019 to 1.89, the HBF highlighted this to the Racecourse Association, however they have been unable to provide a response due to the lockdown.

*Of the 59 courses, 16 saw a lowering of the overround (congratulations to Chelmsford, Bath, Brighton, Beverley, Salisbury, Windsor, Pontefract, Sedgefield, York, Kelso, Kempton, Wetherby, Huntingdon, Newcastle, Redcar, and Nottingham), with three remaining the same, while Cheltenham and Nottingham both deserve a special mention for the lowest figure of 1.58% per horse. Another encouraging sign was at the AW tracks, where the OPH are holding or improving which is good to see as they often have small crowds in attendance.

*The per course figures with full details can be found here – well worth a look for any punter considering a Starting Price bet in the future – these will be updated in 2021 as part of the HBF’s annual reporting procedures.