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<\/p>\nSo, what does NAP mean in betting? A \u2018NAP\u2019 is a tipster\u2019s number one suggested bet of the day. It is most common in horse racing, but it can be found in other sports, and in greyhounds in particular. This page will go into detail about the NAP meaning in betting, where the term came from, and much more besides.<\/p>\n
Many people are confused about what does NAP mean in betting, but it\u2019s quite a simple term. The top tipsters in newspapers and online will usually select a range of tips for that day\u2019s race cards. They will, though, select one tip as their \u2018NAP\u2019 \u2013 which is just the tip out of all their tips that they think has the best chance of winning. If you are only going to place a single bet on any given day, then the tipster is suggesting that their \u2018NAP\u2019 is the tip to follow.<\/p>\n
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It is largely thought that the term \u2018NAP\u2019 comes from an old French card game called Napoleon<\/a>. It\u2019s a very simple, trick-taking game for three to seven players. Named after Napoleon III, players bid to attempt to win a specific number of tricks. One of the bids is called \u2018Nap\u2019 in which the bidder will bid to take all five tricks. It\u2019s not the highest bid, but the two bids better than it are very risky, so are seldom bid. Nap is, therefore, recognised as the most common top bid.<\/p>\n The term \u2018Nap\u2019 moved across to other forms of gambling and eventually to the world of horse racing betting sites<\/a> where the term became interchangeable with \u2018dead-cert\u2019.<\/p>\n As previously explained, when learning what does NAP mean in betting, it\u2019s most commonly associated with horse racing. Betting tipsters \u2013 mostly those employed by newspapers and other gambling-based periodicals \u2013 will select a decent number of tips every day, usually one for each race unless they think a race is too close to call and that a bet on it is unwise.<\/p>\n The tipsters will go through their selections and choose one as their \u2018NAP of the day\u2019 \u2013 the tip that they think is most likely to be correct. As most newspapers employ multiple tipsters, you can usually find a table of NAPs showing each tipster\u2019s NAP pick.<\/p>\n Some newspapers and gambling-based periodicals will have each tipster\u2019s \u2018NAP of the day\u2019 but also may present an overall NAP of the day. This is the horse (or selection, if another sport) that has been napped the most times by the tipsters, or the selection thought most likely to win on that day\u2019s race card selected by looking at the combined tips of all tipsters.<\/p>\n You can usually find online a running summary of how successful NAPs of the day have been over the past week\/month\/season, per publication or even per tipster.<\/p>\n The NAP bet is overwhelmingly associated with horse racing. It\u2019s a term that has been in use for well over 100 years and is the \u2018tip of the day\u2019 from horse racing betting experts. You may find it used for other sports, such as greyhound betting, but with most sports you can bet on, the term is not used.<\/p>\n The NAP in horse racing is usually a UK term. In America \u2018the nuts\u2019 or \u2018shoo-in<\/a>\u2019 may be used in the same way the betting NAP term is used in the UK.<\/p>\n When coming up with that day\u2019s NAP in horse racing, a tipster will look at multiple aspects of all races. Below are some of the aspects of a race the tipster will consider. You may want to take these into consideration too if you intend to come up with your own NAP bet tips.<\/p>\n \n <\/ol>\n \n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n You can just follow NAPs and consult NAP tables to make your daily racing picks, or you could take things a little further. Here are some tips that should enable you to enhance your NAP betting skills.<\/p>\n There are so many races in the UK and abroad that evaluating the chances of every single horse is virtually impossible. You can, therefore, collect information from multiple horse racing NAP tables to create your shortlist of potential tips before you go on and do your own research.<\/p>\n <\/div><\/div> If you are going to make NAP betting your regular source of betting selection information, then it\u2019s best to spend a little time seeing how your NAP betting strategy does before you start using it with real money. We recommend a month at least of dummy betting using spreadsheets or good old pen, paper and a calculator before you start backing your NAP in horse racing selections with money at the best UK bookies<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div><\/div>The NAP in Horse Racing<\/h2>\n
What are NAPs of the Day?<\/h2>\n
The NAP Bet in Other Sports<\/h2>\n
\n How Does a Tipster Select Their NAP Bet?<\/h2>\n
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Past Performance<\/h3>
How has each horse performed in its past races? Has it won any, does it place frequently or does it fall, pull up or unseat its jockey more often than is normally expected?<\/div><\/li><\/p>\nCourse and Distance<\/h3>
All racecourses have their own attributes. Some have numerous turns, while others have lengthy straights. Which type of course does a horse perform better at? Also, some horses are fast but tire over distance, while others are slow starters but good at grinding out a decent pace over longer distances that sees them overtake horses that tire. Also, for National Hunt races, the type of fence or hurdle on the track is important, as is the number of jumps a horse is expected to deal with.<\/div><\/li><\/p>\nThe Going<\/h3>
Depending on the recent weather and location of a course, the going (state of the course) can be anything from soft (muddy) to hard (bone dry). Different horses prefer different goings. Some might hate soft going but love hard going, and vice versa. The going is an important factor when coming up with NAP selections.<\/div><\/li><\/p>\nJockey Bookings<\/h3>
Having the right jockey is key to a horse\u2019s success in a race. A skilled jockey knows when to attack, when to hold back and when to keep free of bunching. A horse that falters when bunched that\u2019s drawn tight to the rail will need to be pushed into clearer running to succeed. The weight of the jockey is important too, as is their experience, their recent performance, and their knowledge of the course and the horse.<\/div><\/li><\/p>\nQuality of the Competition<\/h3>
A favoured horse may become unfancied if it turns out another fancied horse will be running in the same race. Tipsters will have their favourite mounts but won\u2019t select them as their NAP of the day if their competition is of too high a quality.<\/div><\/li><\/p>\nThe Draw<\/h3>
For races where horses start in stalls (or traps in greyhound racing), the draw is important. Some horses become hesitant when bunched and cannot fight their way out of the pack. Others hate being bunched against the rail as they are fearful of being pushed into it. Some horses, however, enjoy fighting their way out, which is why where the horse is drawn is crucial. Some horses, too, hate being in the stall and can be slow starters when released, reducing their chances in sprints in particular.<\/div><\/li><\/p>\nHow to Make the Most of NAPs in Betting<\/h2>\n
\nUse a NAPs Table as a Ready-Made Shortlist<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nPaper Trade NAP Selection<\/h3>\n