Best Backed Horses Today

British Racecourses uncover the best backed horses today to help you find a winner. So if you’re on the hunt for “Today’s Horse Racing Steamers,” you’re in the right place!

Tracking the most backed horses of the day is a powerful betting indicator, often signaling that a horse is in prime condition and poised for a strong performance. A surge in backing—or a significant drift in the market—can provide keen insights into the confidence levels of the connections behind the horse and jockey. When a horse is heavily backed, it’s typically a sign that it stands a solid chance of winning.

Experienced horse racing tipsters often say, “money talks,” and the most backed horses of the day are among the most sought-after statistics for punters. Understanding which horses are gaining momentum in the betting markets can be a game-changer for any savvy bettor.

In our comprehensive Best Backed Horses Today guide, we bring you all the latest steamers, including the early market movers for today’s horse racing events across the UK and Ireland. Stay informed and up-to-date with the latest market movers to enhance your betting strategy.

Discover today’s best-backed horses:

Today’s Horse Racing Market Movers

Here is the full list of market movers for today’s horse races.

What Does “Best Backed Horses Today” Mean?

In horse racing, the term “best-backed horses” refers to the runners that have attracted the most betting interest from the public on a particular day. These horses, often called “steamers,” see a surge in betting activity, leading to a shortening of their odds. This increased market backing can often indicate a positive expectation from connections (trainers, jockeys, and owners) or other insiders that a horse is well-prepared to run a big race.

When a horse becomes a “steamer”, it is generally seen as a strong betting signal. This movement in the betting market suggests:

• The horse is in peak condition and ready to perform.
• The connections are confident about the horse’s chances.
• There may be insider information or whispers in the betting community indicating the horse’s potential.

Why Are Best Backed Horses Important for Punters?

Understanding the best-backed horses in today’s races is essential for any punter looking to make informed betting decisions. Horses that receive substantial backing tend to have one or more of the following factors in their favour:

1. Recent Good Form: A horse that has recently won or placed well in races is more likely to attract bets.
2. Top Trainer and Jockey Combination: Horses trained and ridden by well-known names in the racing world often see a flurry of betting activity.
3. Favourable Ground Conditions: If the ground is expected to suit a particular horse’s running style, punters may rally behind it.
4. Positive Market Movement: Significant betting indicates a strong market move, suggesting confidence in the horse’s ability.

Experienced horse racing tipsters often say, “money talks,” and this couldn’t be more accurate in the world of horse racing. Monitoring the market for steamers and well-backed horses is a strategy many successful bettors use.

How Do We Identify Today’s Best Backed Horses?

At British Racecourses, we closely monitor all UK and Ireland race meetings to identify the most backed horses today. Our expert team analyses market moves, bet volumes, and odds changes to bring you accurate and timely information on which horses are gaining traction in the betting markets.

We provide comprehensive data on early market movers, which can often reveal which horses have garnered significant backing right from the off. These insights can be crucial for anyone looking to get value before the odds shorten further.

The Importance of Market Drifters

While steamers indicate strong market confidence, horses that are drifting in the market (those whose odds are lengthening) are equally noteworthy. Drifters might suggest that:

• The horse may not be in top form or is facing issues.
• Connections are not confident in the horse’s chances.
• Late changes in weather or ground conditions may not favour the horse.

By keeping an eye on both steamers and drifters, punters can make more rounded and informed decisions.

What Are Market Movers in Horse Racing?

The horse racing market movers are when a racehorse’s price has shifted markedly from its opening odds from when the market was formed.

There are two types of market movers for horse racing:

• Drifter in the betting market – this is when a horse’s odds increase. Essentially a sign that connections and punters are not confident in a horse’s chance.
• Steamer in the betting market – this is when a horse’s odds shorten, this is a sign that there is confidence behind it and punters are backing it.

For betting odds to shorten substantially a lot of money will have been wagered on the selection and this can be seen as a big gamble on the horse.

When are Market Movers Updated?

The horse racing market movers are updated in real-time to show the popular bets and horses shortening in betting odds.

The early market movers are usually updated around 9am in the morning and regular updates happen throughout the day.

The biggest moves in betting odds will be listed from low-grade all-weather races to high-level group one races in UK and Ireland.

Punters will get to see the full list of runners today that are hot horses, whose price has been “slashed” or show where the money is being punted on.

Examples of Horse Racing Steamers

Here are several examples of horse racing steamers in the betting ring:

• Horse racing steamer backed in from 4-7 odds into 2-7 odds
• Banker backed in from 7-2 odds into 2-1 odds
• Big gamble selection backed in from 15-2 odds into 2-1 odds favourite
• A racehorse heavily backed in from 25-1 odds to 7-1 odds
• An outsider punted in from 33-1 odds to 12-1 odds

Big gambles take place because punters jump on the back wagon when betting odds are shortening as they believe “money talks” and it can cause more bets to be wagered on runners that get backed in. It is like a snowball effect.

The horses hugely punted on and shortening in price are well known in the betting industry as “horse racing steamers” or “hot horses”.

Why do Horse Racing Steamers Occur?

Here are the main reasons why horse racing steamers happen and a big gamble takes place:

• Connections believe the pick is a well-handicapped horse.
• It is a popular tipsters NAP OF THE DAY PICK.
• Positive market mover having a snowball effect in the early betting markets.
• The horse was unlucky in running previously, so punters are jumping to get on the early price.
• In form trainer or the jockey is in great form.
• Savvy punters check the stats on the jockey trainer combination statistics.
• News travels fast with tips and people tend to jump onto the bandwagon.
• Special mention on horse racing trainer stable tours and on morning shows.
• Jockey says that a horse is “doing well at home” and showing potential.
• Added to punters horse tracker as a great bet next time out.
• A sole horse is travelling a long distance to the racecourse.
• Ground conditions making an outcome more likely for the selection.
• Having the first run since having a wind operation (can likely improve the horse form).
• Running in first-time blinkers (which can assist the horse to concentrate better).
• The racehorse is significantly dropping in class today.
• Has great course and distance form at the Irish Racecourse or UK Racecourse.

Many shrewd backers do not collapse the price on early market movers and wait to closer the race time which allows them to wager higher bets on the maximum payout betting sites online.

Do All Hot Horses Win?

No not all “hot horses” win and there is no such thing as a certainty.

Here are the most common misconceptions about a market mover is that if it’s well-backed:

• No outcome is a certainty and is a gamble (please gamble responsibly)
• Many factors can influence the odds to shorten so do not always follow the money
• Gambles can take place for many reasons and drifters sometimes win races
• Horses aren’t machines and can have an off day, just like us humans
• A horse does not know its price or odds

Gambling on horse racing is a game of opinions and many knowledgeable horse racing fans can regularly have different predictions on who is going to win.

A well-backed horse shows confidence and is a ‘fancied runner’ but don’t let the market change your opinion if you fancy a particular racehorse.

Whether or not you choose to “follow the money” it is always a good idea to keep a close eye on the horse racing market movers.

Other Places to find Best-backed Horses Today?

Here is a list of places you can find the best backed horses for today’s horse racing.

Racing Post Market Movers

The Racing Post have a section for market movers as they issue “The Briefing”.

In “The Briefing” section highlights all runners with the slightest changes in betting odds so you need to filter for the biggest backed horses.

Sporting Life Market Movers

Sporting Life publishes SkyBet market movers across all today’s horse racing meetings.

Other bookmakers’ prices are not shown and the market moves are only showing Skybet odds being slashed.

Betfair Market Movers

To check for the well-backed horses in Betfair it is inside “Wheres the Money”.

The “Wheres the Money” tab shows all the market value on the betting event and by clicking on the selections it will show you how much money has been wagered on each selection in the race.

Betfair market movers and drifters are listed from 9 am every morning and are updated every 5 minutes throughout today’s racing. 

Oddschecker Market Movers

The Oddschecker website is a superb resource for comparing all the betting sites’ odds on all sporting events.

Oddschecker publishes a “Money Horse”, their idea of the best-backed horse of the day.

On the Oddschecker comparison bookmaker website, it also lists 5 popular bets in real time for fancied runners and riders.

On the betting events page, all the selections are listed with the betting odds from the best horse racing online betting sites in April 2025.

If your selection on oddschecker.com has pink boxes it means the odds are drifting in the betting market.

If your selection on oddschecker.com has light blue boxes it means the odds are drifting in the betting market.

Many shrewd horse racing bettors use Oddschecker market movers as it shows the prices from all leading bookmakers in one place.

At The Races Market Movers

Horse racing market movers ATR page lists the top steamers (horses with odds being slashed) and the top drifters (horses showing a lack of support in the betting ring).

The ATR market movers index is influenced by the market share of the horse and how fixed odds bookmakers offer that price.

The top 10 steamers list the ten best-backed horses for UK and Irish Horse Racing Today.

The top 10 drifters list the ten least fancied horses for horse racing in UK and Ireland Today.

ITV Racing Market Movers

ITV Racing pick out today’s best-backed horses and list them at the start of the horse racing programme.

The horse racing steamers listed on ITV Racing tend to focus on televised races.

Matt Chapman who is the main ITV racing pundit will usually note any later gambles when the racing is off the air.

FAQs on Best Backed Horses Today

1. What are steamers in horse racing?
Steamers are horses whose odds have shortened significantly due to strong backing in the betting markets. This usually indicates confidence in the horse’s chances.

2. How do I find the best-backed horses today?
You can find the best-backed horses today by checking our regularly updated guide on British Racecourses, which highlights the top market movers and steamers for all UK and Ireland horse racing meetings.

3. What does it mean if a horse is drifting in the market?
If a horse is drifting in the market, it means its odds are lengthening. This could indicate a lack of confidence from connections or changing conditions that may not favour the horse.

4. Should I always back the most backed horses?
While backing the most backed horses can be a good strategy, it’s essential to consider other factors like form, trainer, jockey, and ground conditions. Betting solely based on market moves might not always be profitable.

5. Can I use best-backed horse data for each-way betting?
Yes, understanding which horses are being heavily backed can be useful for each-way betting, particularly if you believe the horse has a strong chance of placing but not necessarily winning.

By staying updated with British Racecourses, you can make well-informed betting decisions and keep your finger on the pulse of the latest market movers.

Summary of the Best Backed Horses Today Guide

Tracking the best-backed horses today and understanding the nuances of market movements is an invaluable tool for anyone involved in horse racing betting. At British Racecourses, we provide a daily updated guide on today’s horse racing steamers and market movers, covering all meetings across the UK and Ireland. Whether you are a seasoned bettor or a casual punter, staying updated with these insights can significantly improve your chances of making profitable bets.

One of the biggest parts of finding winners is checking the big market movers which indicate the confidence behind a horse and its chance on the day.

Some punters like to wager bets the night before the selections are running to beat the early market movers.

Big market moves to create a snowball effect for punters to wager bets on the selection that causes the price to collapse. The horse racing steamer can be because a horse is well-handicapped, but bettors need to be careful with false positives, where punters latch onto an early move in the market and create a “false hype”.

If placing bets online make sure you make the most of all the horse racing free bet bonuses from the UK’s biggest bookmakers.

We list all of today’s best-backed horses to assist sports bettors in finding value in the horse racing betting markets.

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