If you are a seasoned visitor or a newcomer arriving for the first time you are looking to win big at your time at the races. To make sure you do this you are going to need to be clued up on things if you have any hope of leaving with profits. Horse racing events such as Cheltenham, the Grand National, Kentucky Derby and Melbourne Cup have increasingly become a popular event in people’s annual calendars, but many come home with nothing wondering just how to pick that winner. That's what we are here for! Let's find out how to dawn that flatcap or fascinator and head to the horse races with knowledge as well as luck.

When betting you really have 3 avenues to take before sticking your bet on a horse, but no matter your choice, it is made easy with sites like Timeform. You can pick a winner from a racecard, by eye on the day or rely on that trusty old companion - luck. But for you to win big you are either going to need to have good knowledge or a lot of luck. Notoriously unpredictable, horse racing is not about picking the favourite every time. We have all been culprits of this come your day out at the races. Favourites actually return wins less than a third of races. It is about learning tricks of the trade to get the most value for the money and increasing the chance you can make good returns on your choice. Importantly, it's not all about the horses. Jockeys, trainers and owners are all indicators of success which should influence your pick.

Wisdom is knowledge and knowledge is power. Upon landing at the races you will be able to secure yourself a racecard. Now in any sports betting, knowing what you are sticking money on helps with your chance of winning and, unlike football's matchday programmes, racecards in horse racing provide valuable information. Learning the form of horses' previous races and understanding the terminology in the race card is going to really help you understand the logic behind your selections. The race card not only gives you a synopsis of their form but also how they have performed in previous races and if they are on a streak or setting records. Have a look here for more info on racecards and how to use them.

If you are not one for researching your selections by paper and stats, then there is another option when you are at the races. You will have big enough gaps between the races to head down to the Parade Ring before the race begins. Here you can catch a glimpse of the horses and jockeys and this can really show how the horse is going to perform. Things like how the horse is walking, its body language, how it runs on specific surfaces (much like tennis-players, some horses are better on softer ground, some better on harder) or general well-being of the horse like the sheen on its coat and its hind legs muscle definition are all indicators over how it may perform and must be considered. This is a more superstitious option but certainly valid and many swear by it.

If you aren’t keen on doing your research you can always just take a punt on the best named horse, best dressed jockey or highest odds horse and take a punt. But just remember, if you put a little bit of research into your selection you are more likely to come away with the winnings.

Everyone is looking for a fun day out and to hopefully hit the jackpot during their time at the races. Dressed up to the nines it would always be nice to have a bigger pot to use for your post-race drinks right? Well, if you want to win more, you have to research more. By understanding the ways you can use the race card or Parade ring then you can boost your chances of sticking on a winner - you can thank us later!