Foolproof five-minute guide to the 2024 Big Dance for the once-a-year punter
Wondering who you should have your money on in Tuesday’s Big Dance at Randwick? Need some handy stats to impress your colleagues? Get your dancing shoes on and look no further.
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Wondering who you should have your money on in Tuesday’s Big Dance at Randwick? Need some handy stats to impress your friends and colleagues?
Here’s the five-minute guide to the race … you can check out the field and form here. and if you're also having a bet in the Melbourne Cup down south, check out our special guide here.
MUST-KNOW BIG DANCE FACTS
Held on the same day as the Melbourne Cup, the Big Dance was introduced in 2022 and carries a rich purse of $3 million.
A unique concept means the field is determined through 25 Country Cup races throughout NSW across the year with the first and second placegetters in the selected events eligible to qualify. The final field is then determined by benchmark ratings of the horses eligible.
It’s run over 1600m, or a mile in the old term, exactly half the trip of the Melbourne Cup.
No favourite has won in the two editions of the race with both winners saluting at double figure odds ($10 or more).
WHO ARE THIS YEAR’S FAVOURITES?
Gringotts was the early favourite for the race and he’s kept his spot at the top of the market all the way through.
As of Monday afternoon, bookmakers have Gringotts as the $4.40 favourite ahead of Here To Shock and Tavi Time – both $5.50 chances. No other horses are in single figures.
If you had $10 on Gringotts, you would get back $44 if he went on to win the Big Dance.
WHICH HORSE HAS THE BEST FORM?
Here To Shock is the only right answer. He beat the favourite (Gringotts) the last time he raced and did it fair and square. In the lead-up to this, he’s won two from three and the only horse that beat him has won a few races since.
Gringotts hasn’t won at both of his starts in the lead up to the Big Dance but has run second on both occasions. The extra distance is key to his winning chances.
Here To Shock is here to win! The @lindsayparkrace trained galloper takes the Alan Brown Stakes and it's a double to @nashhot!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/NEYJEVUYBr
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 12, 2024
WHICH HORSE IS THE BEST ROUGHIE?
The well named Cranky Harry has the chance to make punters happy if he’s to win at $34 (if you had $10 on, you would collect $340). The only time he raced at Randwick, he went home as a winner and it was also over the same distance of the Big Dance.
Cranky Harry 😤💥@nashhot had his feet up on the dashboard!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 13, 2024
Another @tabcomau Highway for @mattydunnracing. pic.twitter.com/MOQBPCOmSG
• Lloyd Williams’ Melbourne Cup tip … and one horse he doubts
At even longer odds, Green Shadows ($71) beat a strong field in the Goulburn Cup to qualify for this race. His form hasn’t been great in two runs since but if he can do something similar to what he did that day, he can run well at a massive price.
WHO IS THE BEST JOCKEY?
With most of the best jockeys down at Flemington for the Melbourne Cup, Nash Rawiller sticks out and is one to follow throughout the day. Rawiller won the first edition of the Big Dance and is on Here To Shock this year. Both times he’s been aboard, the duo have combined for a win.
Tommy Berry also remains in Sydney and is riding the favourite, Gringotts. He’s been aboard for both of Gringotts’ starts in the lead-up to the Big Dance and both have been runner-up finishes.
Jason Collett can match it with any jockey in Sydney. He rides Detonator Jack ($17).
Regan Bayliss notably won the race last year on a horse at big odds and is set to ride Ducasse ($14).
Chad Schofield, Tim Clark, Jay Ford and Josh Parr also deserve mentions.
WHERE CAN I GET EXPERT TIPS?
Look no further than Racenet’s Pro Tips section, which features some of Australia’s best tipsters including Mark Guest, James Molony and Greg Polson. If you subscribe to Racenet IQ, you’ll get not only their best bets for Big Dance Day, but EVERY day!
HOW TO PLACE A BET ON THE BIG DANCE
If you want to try your hand at punting for the 2024 Big Dance, the first step is to learn how to place a bet.
Lets just nut out the basics first, eh? Win and place bets.
A win bet is the main aim of the game. You back a horse to win and if it ends up being the first horse across the line, you collect your winnings.
A place bet means your horse must finish in first, second or third place for you to collect your winnings.
So grab your mobile phone or jump in front of a laptop and let’s get started.
1. Pick a horse you think will win or finish in the top 3
There are many different ways to pick a horse in this year’s Big Dance.
Some options include: Get an expert’s tips; Study the form guide; Choose your favourite horse name; Go with your favourite colours; Back your lucky numbers.
2. Open an account with a bookmaker
There are a lot of bookies out there. It can be difficult to understand which one is best for you. But don’t worry, the team at Punters has spent lots of time comparing and analysing all the major bookies.
We had to crunch a lot of data and stats but the good news for you is that it’s all displayed in a nice table. Check it out here.
3. Make a deposit into your bookmaker account
You can’t place a bet without any money. Transfer some spare cash into your bookmaker account to place your bet for the Big Dance.
Most bookmakers accept common forms of payment such as credit card, Poli, BPay, etc. so depositing is quick and easy.
4. Navigate to the correct race
So you’ve finally got some money deposited to bet on the Big Dance? The next step is finding your way to the Big Dance page on the bookmaker website or app.
The Big Dance is Race 5 at Randwick.
There are 10 races at Randwick on Big Dance day so make sure to select Race 5.
If you signed up with TAB earlier, head over to its Race 5 at Flemington page.
5. Select your horse and place your bet
Now you’re on the correct race page with the bookmaker, simply select your chosen horse from step 1 and click the betting odds for either the win or place option. Once you’ve selected the odds for your horse, this will place your bet into something called a “betslip”.
A betslip is similar to the shopping cart when you’re doing your online retail therapy. It’s essentially your pending order with the bookmaker. Double check your bet is correct and also see how much your potential return is going to be.
Click the submit button at the end of the betslip to complete your bet. Good luck!
OTHER TYPES OF BETS
Quinella: The Quinella requires you to pick the first two horses past the post, in no particular order.
Exacta: The Exacta requires you to pick the first two horses home in the correct order.
Trifecta: The Trifecta involves picking the first three horses past the post.
18+ Gamble Responsibly. Call Gambling Help on 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelpline.org.au
Originally published as Foolproof five-minute guide to the 2024 Big Dance for the once-a-year punter
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