
We may not be able to talk to horses but we can certainly understand their mood. When it comes to race day, spotting a horse that looks primed to run fast and not upset its jockey is one of the best ways to pick a winner.
Some punters keep an eye out for horses straining at the halter, while others watch how the jockey interacts with the horse when mounting. Some love to gaze into the horse’s eye and figure out if it has the spirit to win the race. This is called the ‘look of eagles’ and Paddy Power is here to explain more in our latest Demystifying Racing guide…
What is the ‘look of eagles’?
The ‘look of eagles’ is a phrase used occasionally by horse racing commentators, pundits and punters to describe a horse that is primed for action. It indicates a desire and focus found deep in the horse’s eyes.
Like an eagle, the horse is primed for the task in hand. It is confident and happy to run, and crucially is comfortable in its surroundings at the race course.
Spotting a horse that has the ‘look of eagles’ is one of the best ways to bet on hose racing if you like to follow a hunch. Of course, a confident horse doesn’t guarantee a win – but you can be sure it will give the race its all.
Can you spot winning horses?
One of the oldest conundrums in horse racing betting is how to spot a winning horse. Punters spend hours pouring over stats, form guides and race cards working out the statistically best chances of a horse winning or placing. Yet others will simply look in the eyes of a horse and decide to bet or not.
No racing tipster or expert punter is perfect, yet some know their stuff more than others. If you’re new to racing betting then make sure to check our Paddy Power’s daily horse racing tips from our expert tipsters, former jockeys and icons of the sport.

Eye Of An Eagle breaks forward at Lingfield (GETTY)
How to watch horse racing live
Of course, if you want to get a glimpse of whether your pick has the ‘look of eagles’ then you’ll have to either head to a racecourse or live stream racing online. Here at Paddy Power we offer horse racing live streams and betting on every UK and Irish meet in the year. Included in the streams are previews of upcoming races, so you’ll be able to check which horse has the ‘look of eagles’ before the start.
Fans who want to live stream racing and place bets can do so by signing up to Paddy Power today. What’s more, our streams come with commentary, updated stats, live odds and a full results service – as well as the best race cards in the business – to keep you informed during every race.
DEMYSTIFYING RACING
- What does it mean when a horse is On the Bridle?
- What is a Black type horse race?
- What are the different types of going in horse racing?
- What is a bumper horse race?
- What are blinkers and why do some horses wear them?
- What is an Allowance Race in horse racing?
- What is the difference between hurdles and fences in National Hunt racing?
- What is a halter and why do some horses wear them?
- What does it mean when a horse has spread a plate?
- What is the Rule 4 betting rule in horse racing?
- What is the difference between graded, handicap and selling horse races?
- What does a novice hurdle in horse racing mean?
- What is a listed horse race?
- What does a novice chase in horse racing mean?
- Why do race horses have different ratings and what do they mean?
- When does the National Hunt season start and when does it end?
- Why are there different grades of horse race?
- Why are there 3 different types of National Hunt race?
- Why are race horses given different weights and what does it mean?
- How many different classes of horse race are there?
- What is a claiming race and what do they mean?
- What is an optional claimer in horse racing?
- What is a shadow roll and why do some race horses wear them?
- Why do some races start from stalls and some not?
- What is the difference between Derby and Oaks races?
- What does it mean when a horse knuckles during a horse race?
- What is a stayer in horse racing?
- What is a yearling horse and when are they ready to race?
- What does it mean if a horse has won a point race?
- What does a maiden mean in horse racing?
- How are horses’ ages calculated and why is it not the same as humans?
- What advantages do apprentice jockeys get when riding against professionals?
- What is a conditional jockey?
- What does the term ‘connections’ mean in horse racing?
- Why do some horses wear cheekpieces?
- Who are the stewards in horse racing?
- What does ‘weighed in’ mean at the end of a horse race?
- What is a nursery race?
- Why are some National Hunt races run without fences?
- Why are some horses given a tongue tie during races?
- What does it mean when a horse is ‘pushed out’?
- How are horse racing ratings calculated?
- What does it mean when a horse has a ‘wind operation’?
- How high are the fences and hurdles in horse racing?
- What is an apprentice jockey?
- What is a Bull Ring in horse racing?
- Why do some horses wear a ‘weight cloth’ during races?
- What is the Triple Crown in horse racing?
- What is a Steeplechase race in horse racing?
- How high are the Cheltenham Festival fences and hurdles?
- Why is the Champion Chase named after the Queen Mother?
- Why does Cheltenham racecourse have an Old Course and a New Course? What’s the differences between the two?
- What is the Cheltenham roar? What difference does it make in races?
- Why are there no jumps in the Cheltenham Festival Champion Bumper?
- How many fans usually attend the Cheltenham Festival? How big is the capacity?
- What is a juvenile in horse racing?