Using Speed Figures in Horse Racing Betting: Complete Guide

Practical guide to using Timeform ratings, Raceform speed figures, and Racing Post Ratings in your horse racing selection process.

Advanced9 min readLast updated: March 5, 2026Editorial Team
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Editorial Team

Betting Expert

Key Takeaways

  • ✓Speed figures measure a horse's actual race performance adjusted for conditions, providing an objective comparison tool.
  • ✓Timeform ratings, Racing Post Ratings (RPR), and Topspeed figures each use different methodologies but serve the same purpose.
  • ✓The highest speed figure is less important than consistency — a horse that regularly runs 85-90 is more reliable than one that ranges from 70-100.
  • ✓Figures must be adjusted for going, wind, and track configuration to be meaningful comparisons across different race days.
  • ✓Speed figures work best in handicaps where you are comparing horses of similar official ratings but different actual ability.

Speed figures strip away the subjectivity of horse racing analysis and give you an objective measurement of how fast each horse ran. For handicap betting in particular, they are an essential tool.

Step 1: Understand the Main Rating Systems

Three speed figure systems dominate UK horse racing:

Timeform Ratings

The industry standard since 1948. Timeform assesses a horse's overall ability, adjusting for conditions and quality of opposition. Their master ratings represent a horse's best assessed performance.

  • Scale: 140+ = world-class; 120+ = top Group level; 100+ = solid handicapper; 80+ = moderate
  • Suffixes: p = likely improvement; d = doubtful; t = form only on that track type

Racing Post Ratings (RPR)

Published free alongside every result on Racing Post. RPR uses a similar scale to Timeform but applies its own methodology. Useful as a quick reference when you do not have a Timeform subscription.

Topspeed Figures

Focuses on finishing speed rather than overall race performance. Particularly useful for identifying horses with strong late runs who may have been disadvantaged by pace scenarios.

Step 2: Assess Consistency Over Peak

A horse's highest ever speed figure is less important than its average figure over recent runs. Consider two horses:

  • Horse A: Last five figures — 92, 88, 90, 91, 89 (average 90, range 4)
  • Horse B: Last five figures — 100, 75, 82, 95, 68 (average 84, range 32)

Horse A is the more reliable betting proposition despite Horse B's higher peak. Consistency indicates the horse delivers its ability repeatedly, while large ranges suggest unreliability.

Step 3: Adjust for Conditions

Raw speed figures need context:

  • Going adjustment — A figure of 90 on heavy ground may represent a better performance than 95 on good ground if the conditions severely disadvantaged the horse
  • Wind factor — Strong headwinds slow times; tailwinds inflate them
  • Track configuration — Uphill finishes (Cheltenham) naturally produce slower times than flat tracks (Chester)

Professional speed figure providers like Timeform already incorporate these adjustments, but free figures from other sources may not.

Step 4: Apply Figures to Handicaps

Speed figures are most powerful in handicaps, where the official BHA rating determines the weight each horse carries. The key insight is:

A horse whose speed figures consistently exceed its official rating is well handicapped and likely to outperform the market.

For example, a horse rated 85 by the BHA but consistently running speed figures of 90-92 is effectively racing off a lenient mark. This represents value.

Step 5: Build a Speed Figure Method

A practical approach for handicap betting:

  1. Record the top-rated horse by speed figures in each race
  2. Filter out horses whose figures are inflated by one exceptional run
  3. Focus on consistent performers whose figures exceed their BHA rating
  4. Cross-check with going preferences and course form
  5. Track your results over at least 100 bets before committing to the method

Speed figures reward disciplined, data-driven bettors. They will not pick every winner, but they will consistently point you towards horses that the market undervalues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are speed figures in horse racing?+
Speed figures are numerical ratings that measure how fast a horse ran in a specific race, adjusted for track conditions, going, wind, and other variables. They allow you to compare performances across different racecourses and dates on a like-for-like basis.
What is the difference between Timeform and Racing Post Ratings?+
Timeform ratings assess overall ability on a scale where 140+ is world-class and 50 is modest. Racing Post Ratings (RPR) use a similar scale but with different methodology. Topspeed figures focus purely on finishing speed. Each system has strengths — many professionals cross-reference all three.
How do I read Timeform ratings?+
Timeform rates horses on a numerical scale. Key benchmarks: 70-80 is modest handicap class, 90-100 is competitive handicap level, 110-120 is Group race class, 120-130 is Group 1 level, and 130+ is exceptional. A 'p' suffix indicates likely improvement, while a 'd' suffix flags a doubtful form figure.
Can speed figures predict winners?+
Speed figures are a strong tool but not a crystal ball. They identify the horse with the best proven ability, but racing involves many variables — ground conditions, pace scenarios, jockey tactics, and fitness. The top-rated horse wins more often than chance would suggest, but far from always.
Are speed figures worth paying for?+
For serious handicap bettors, yes. Free ratings are available from Racing Post and At The Races, but Timeform's premium service provides deeper analysis. If you bet regularly on handicaps and use figures as a core part of your method, the subscription cost is typically justified.

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