The term non-runner no bet is specifically centred around betting on horse racing. On top of this, you will only ever hear the term used when you are seeing information about ante-post horse racing. This is when you are betting on events in advance rather than after the 48-hour declarations have been made.
While non-runner no bet isn’t something that will enhance your winnings, it can give you your money back to try again if you use it on eligible bets, so for that reason, it is certainly something to look out for.
There’s plenty to know here, including how ante-post betting works as standard without this consolation in place and how rule 4 deductions can be added if you take non-runner no bet. By understanding it all, you will be able to work out when taking non-runner no bet is a good idea, what it could save you and what it could lose you with smaller prices and rule 4 deductions.
Standard Ante-Post Betting Terms
Before we get into the non-runner no bet offer that is available, it is important to understand what the standard terms are around ante-post betting on horse racing. When you place a bet on a horse race that is in advance ahead of the 48-hour declaration stage, this is classed as an ante-post bet.
Many people use these markets to get early value, and with big races, you can bet 12 months in advance if you are wanting to secure a price early. This is certainly the case with races such as the big classics on the flat and events like the Grand National and Cheltenham Festival over jumps.
Any bet placed in this time frame is subject to ante-post betting rules. These state that if your horse does not run, then you will not receive your money back. The exception is if your horse is balloted out, which can happen from time to time in big handicaps. When this happens, your horse has been prevented from running rather than pulling out, so you will receive your money back.
Standard Terms for Non-Runners with Regular Racing Bets
The majority of people will not be affected by non-runner no bet as they bet on horse racing because they place regular bets rather than ante-post wagers. Standard terms for regular racing, which is any bet that is placed after the 48-hour declarations have taken place, is that should your horse not run for any reason, you will get your money back.
It is important to distinguish the two here because if you are placing regular bets, you will always get your money back when you have a non-runner, so make sure you claim it.
Non-Runner No Bet Offers
Ante-post betting markets will always offer bigger prices because you are adding an element of risk to your bet. Not only are you doing placing the bet well before the race is due to take place, but also you know that if your horse doesn’t run, your money is lost.
Having a non-runner no bet offer would change that, though, this is something you should really look out for when looking across prices with different bookmakers. This offer would give you the benefits of ante-post betting, including cashing in on potentially bigger prices, while also giving you the security of knowing that if your horse doesn’t run, you will receive your money back.
The only races on which you will be able to place ante-post bets are big ones in the calendar, so look out for these coming on the horizon and check to see if any non-runner no bet offers exist.
Non-Runner No Bet at Major Festivals
The best place to find non-runner no bet offers is when the major festivals come around. The biggest of these is the Cheltenham Festival, and it is also the biggest for ante-post betting, with many people getting involved in the months leading up to the meeting.
Bookmakers will change to non-runner no bet at different stages, looking out for the more prominent names to go first, and when they do, others will follow. Some will go non-runner no bet on the Championship races before they do it for every race at the meeting, while others will cover every race with the same rules at once.
With the non-runner no bet consolation offer at these events, you can join in and bet on the big races in advance if you want to get your wagers fixed early. While taking the bigger prices on offer, you can also cover yourself and know that if your horses don’t run, you will receive your money back.
How Do Rule 4 Deductions Affect Non-Runner No Bet
One important aspect to note is how the ante-post markets run differently with or without non-runner no bet attached to them. In terms of influencing your returns, the biggest difference comes with rule 4 deductions.
To put this in simple terms, if you have non-runner no bet attached to the market as a consolation offer, then should a non-runner be pulled out, your bet will be subject to a rule 4 deduction. This is how regular horse racing markets work. If you take a price in the morning and there is a non-runner later in the day, your bet will be subject to a rule 4 deduction.
Without non-runner no bet attached, bookmakers will also not enforce the rule 4 deduction to the market. Whatever the price you took on your bet is the one you will receive. This is how standard ante-post markets work. Those that use these will be experienced in this and know what to expect.
It’s a conundrum of risk and reward for punters. Rewards are larger with more risk, prices are bigger, and there is no rule 4 if you take ante-post markets without non-runner no bet. However, if you want to cover yourself, non-runner no bet adds that, though you may be hit with lower prices and the potential for a rule 4 deduction to be added.