An ante-post bet is a bet struck before the day of the race, usually weeks or months ahead. The price can be tempting, but the rules are different from a normal day-of-race bet, especially if your horse does not run. This guide explains how ante-post bets work, what non-runner no bet changes and when the market closes. It sits with the rest of our horse racing betting guides.
The Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday 14 November and the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park on Saturday 21 November both have ante-post markets open now, which is why the rules are worth knowing. This is not a guide to who will win either race. It is about what happens to your stake.
What does ante-post mean in horse racing?
The Tattersalls Committee rules define an ante-post bet as “a bet on an event in advance of the day of the race”. In practice, bookmakers offer ante-post prices on selected races up to the final declaration stage, when the final list of runners is confirmed. William Hill describes it that way, and BoyleSports says ante-post betting ends at final declarations.
Final declarations are normally 24 or 48 hours before race day, according to Tattersalls. After that, you are betting on the day-of-race market, where different non-runner rules apply.
Ante-post prices are usually bigger than the prices on the day. That is because the horse is not guaranteed to line up, and the bookmaker has to allow for that.
What happens if your ante-post horse does not run?
Unless the market says otherwise, you lose your stake. Ante-post bets are normally struck “all in, run or not”, which means the bet stands whether or not your horse takes part. William Hill and bet365 both use that principle, and William Hill states that a horse withdrawn at any point after an ante-post bet loses it, unless it is balloted out.
Some situations do void an ante-post bet and return the stake. Under William Hill’s rules these include:
- the race is cancelled and not run
- your horse is balloted out under the rules of racing
- the race is run at a different venue
- entries for the race are re-opened
BoyleSports lists similar circumstances, and Tattersalls rule 4(A) covers abandoned or void races, changed race conditions and a change of venue. A horse being balloted out simply means it has been eliminated because the entries exceed the maximum field. At the time of writing, the Racing Post lists 41 entries for the Paddy Power Gold Cup against a maximum field of 20, so that rule matters for that race.
A horse withdrawn for any other reason, whether injury or a change of target, normally loses the bet. If you are not comfortable with that risk, look at non-runner no bet instead.
What is non-runner no bet (NRNB)?
Non-runner no bet means your stake is returned if your horse does not run in the race you backed. Sky Bet calls it Non-Runner No Bet, and its bet slip shows the NRNB label. Paddy Power, Betfair and William Hill call the same thing non-runner money back (NRMB).
The protection has a cost. NRNB prices are generally shorter than the standard ante-post price for the same horse, because the bookmaker takes on the non-runner risk. Sporting Life described the option for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival that way: Sky Bet and Paddy Power ran NRNB on all 28 races, while the standard ante-post markets stayed open for those who wanted bigger prices without the safety net.
Two points are worth checking before you rely on it:
- The label at the time you bet. Virgin Bet says a bet is only refunded if the market was marked non-runner money back when you placed it. A bet struck earlier in the standard market is not covered afterwards.
- Multiples. On an NRNB multiple at Sky Bet, a non-runner leg is void and the bet carries on with the remaining selections. Virgin Bet says a standard ante-post accumulator is lost if one selection does not run.
A refund is a void bet, not a winner. You get your stake back and nothing more.
When do ante-post markets close?
It varies by bookmaker, so read the rules for the firm you are using. Betfair and Paddy Power say their future racing betting ceases at 10am on the day of the overnight declaration stage, and bets placed after that are non-runner money back. BoyleSports says ante-post betting ends at the final declaration stage, and later bets are non-runner money back too.
Once the market has closed, it behaves like a normal day-of-race bet. A non-runner is void, and a Rule 4 deduction can apply when another horse is withdrawn. Our guide to what happens to your bet when a horse is withdrawn covers how that works in practice.
Does Rule 4 apply to ante-post bets?
Generally no. The Tattersalls Rule 4(C) deduction applies where a price was taken on the day of the race and a horse is then withdrawn. BoyleSports states that Rule 4 deductions do not apply to ante-post races, so your price stands even if a rival drops out.
That cuts both ways. If a rival is withdrawn, your ante-post price is not cut, but if your own horse is withdrawn on a standard ante-post bet, you lose the stake. Non-runner no bet bets placed after declarations are a different matter, and both Paddy Power and BoyleSports say Rule 4 may apply to them.
How are ante-post prices and each-way terms settled?
An ante-post bet is settled at the price you took. That is why best odds guaranteed does not help here: William Hill and Sky Bet both exclude ante-post bets, as our best odds guaranteed guide explains.
Each-way ante-post bets are settled on the place terms offered when you bet, not on the final number of runners. Tattersalls rule 3 says each-way bets are settled on the actual number of starters, except for ante-post bets. If you are not sure how the place part works, our each-way betting explained guide breaks it down.
What to check before placing an ante-post bet
- Is the market standard ante-post or non-runner no bet?
- Does the bookmaker say “run or not” anywhere in the terms?
- What are the place terms and how many places are paid?
- When does the market close, and what happens after that?
- Is the race a handicap with a maximum field, where a horse could be balloted out?
Ante-post money is tied up until the race, and you cannot get it back if your plans change. Only stake what you can afford to lose.
Ante-post betting and non-runner no bet FAQ
What does ante-post mean?
It means a bet placed before the day of the race, normally up to the final declaration stage. The price is fixed when you bet and is often bigger than the price on the day.
Do you get your money back if an ante-post horse does not run?
Usually not. Standard ante-post bets are all in, run or not, so a non-runner loses. Exceptions include a horse that is balloted out, an abandoned race, a change of venue or re-opened entries, depending on the bookmaker’s rules.
What is non-runner no bet?
It is a market where your stake is returned if the horse does not run in the race you backed. Prices are generally shorter than standard ante-post, and the bet must have been placed in the NRNB market.
When do ante-post markets close?
It depends on the bookmaker. BoyleSports closes at the final declaration stage, and Betfair and Paddy Power stop future racing betting at 10am on the day of the overnight declarations. After that, bets are non-runner money back.
Does Rule 4 apply to ante-post bets?
Generally not. Rule 4 deductions are aimed at day-of-race prices, and BoyleSports says they do not apply to ante-post races. Check the terms of your bet, because rules differ.
Sources: checked on 4 November 2026 against the Tattersalls Committee Rules on Betting, William Hill’s UK and Irish horse racing rules, bet365’s non-runners guidance, BoyleSports’ betting rules, Paddy Power’s non-runner help page, Betfair’s non-runner page, Sky Bet’s non-runner no bet page, Virgin Bet’s non-runners page and Sporting Life’s Cheltenham Festival NRNB report. Race dates come from the Cheltenham and Haydock Park pages, and the Gold Cup entries from the Racing Post racecard. The terms of your own bet govern settlement.
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