Patent

A Patent is a seven-bet wager on three selections, made up of three singles, three doubles and one treble, so that just one winning selection is enough to return some money. It is the full-cover cousin of the Trixie, adding the three single bets that the Trixie leaves out, which is why a Patent costs seven unit stakes rather than four. Because every selection is backed as a single, a Patent guarantees a return whenever at least one of the three wins, unlike an accumulator that collapses on a single loser. That safety net is paid for up front: your total outlay is always seven times your unit stake, and one winner rarely covers the full cost. Worked example: you place a £1 Patent (£7 total) on three horses at odds of 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 (decimal). If only the 5.0 selection wins, its single returns £5, so you get £5 back for a £7 outlay, a £2 net loss. If all three win, the singles return £3 + £4 + £5 = £12; the three doubles pay £12 + £15 + £20 = £47; and the treble pays 3.0 × 4.0 × 5.0 × £1 = £60. The total return is £119 from your £7 stake, a £112 profit before any each-way or bonus factors. The common mistake is treating the "one winner returns money" feature as a profit guarantee. At short odds a single winner often returns less than the seven-unit outlay, so a Patent only shines when at least two selections land or the winning odds are long. Compare with the Trixie, Lucky 15, Yankee and other system bets.