What is Ante Post Betting & How Does it Work?
![What is Ante Post Betting & How Does it Work? What is Ante Post Betting & How Does it Work?](https://gambling.com/cdn-cgi/image/w=1200,h=675,format=auto,fit=cover/https://objects.kaxmedia.com/auto/o/180544/31e82c3503.jpeg)
Ante post betting allows you to bet on the winner of a race several days, weeks or months before it takes place.
This guide explains the key pros and cons of ante post betting. Find out how to locate ante post horse racing markets at UK betting sites and learn what happens if your chosen horse is a non-runner.
Why Choose Ante Post Betting?
Ante post betting offers you the chance to earn bigger profits by taking an early price on a promising horse to win a big race.
Top online bookmakers and new betting sites sites generally release ante post odds for major races like the Grand National or Cheltenham Gold Cup several months in advance.
If a horse performs well in the build-up to the race, bookies typically respond by slashing its odds. However, if the horse struggles, the horse racing odds normally lengthen.
Let's look at an example:
- In February 2019, Tiger Roll was priced at 20/1 to win a second consecutive Grand National after the weights were announced. If you backed Tiger Roll at that time, you would have netted a £200 profit from his victory a couple of months later.
- In March 2019, Tiger Roll won the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the bookmakers responded by slashing his odds to win the Grand National.
- On the 6th of April, Tiger Roll ran in the Grand National at a starting price of just 4/1. A £10 bet on Tiger Roll placed on the morning of the Grand National would have resulted in a profit of only £40.
In a nutshell, ante post betting is ideal if you believe a horse will show form in the build-up to a major race, as you can take advantage of better early odds.
You can also make use of Cheltenham Betting Offers and Grand National free bets to maximise your profits when betting on major racing events.
Top Ante Post Betting Sites
Pros & Cons of Ante Post Betting
- Potential to bank bigger profits
- Fun to follow a horse’s progress as they take part in build-up races
- Can hedge your bets if your horse's odds shorten in build-up
- Starting price could end up bigger than ante post odds
- Bet will usually lose if your chosen horse doesn't run
Top Ante Post Betting Tips
These are our top five tips for making successful ante post bets at the best horse racing betting sites:
- Choose elite horses that have managed to remain free of injuries and behavioural issues throughout their careers. Your bet will lose if the horse does not take part, so it is important to identify consistent performers.
- Check the news for comments from the horse’s trainer or owner. They will normally indicate which big races they are targeting, so you can have a degree of confidence that the horse will take part.
- Consider which races the horse is likely to compete in during the build-up to the big meeting. Try to predict how well it will fare, taking into account the distance, the quality of the race, typical conditions and the strength of key rivals.
- Look out for 'Non Runner No Bet' promotions at top bookies and betting apps. These promotions will earn you a cash refund if your chosen horse does not compete.
- Consider hedging your bets. If the odds on your chosen runner shorten considerably by the week of the race, you can afford to back a few rivals and can land a profit if any of them win. A hedging calculator, which you'll easily find online, can help you decide how much to bet on each runner in this scenario.
What if my Horse is a Non-Runner?
Most bookmakers will settle your ante post bet as a loser if the horse is a non-runner. However, there are certain exceptions. As mentioned above, if non runner no bet is in play, you will get a refund.
You will also get your money back if the race is cancelled or if it is run at a different venue than the one initially scheduled. If the horse is balloted out of the race, your ante post bet will be voided and you will receive your money back too. It is also worth noting that you will be reimbursed if entries are reopened.
Those rules apply at most bookmakers. However, the terms and conditions can vary from one site to the next, so check a site’s ante post betting rules in its general terms or ask customer service for information.
More Ante Post Betting Options
How to Find Ante Post Markets
Navigate to the horse racing section of a betting site. There will normally be a tab at the top of the screen for ante post markets. They will often include the English Classics; Royal Ascot, the Cheltenham Festival, the Grand National and so on, alongside big international races like the Melbourne Cup and the Breeders’ Cup.
Compare Ante Post Odds
Final Word From Our Betting Experts
Ante post betting can be a lucrative strategy if employed correctly. But, like all forms of betting, it's not without its risks. You can lose your stake if your chosen runner does not compete and you may also find that a horse you had high hopes for endures a poor run of form and ends up starting the race with longer odds than you took all those weeks ago.
Punters who want to cash in on ante post betting markets should do plenty of research and should look for some insurance with non runner no bet promos that give you your stake back as a free bet if your horse doesn't run.
Recommended Betting Sites
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Customers Only. Max one £20 Free Bet. Qualifying bets at Odds of 1/1(2.00) or greater. Paid as Bonus Token with Min 4/5(180) Odds Req. Skrill, Neteller & Paypal not eligible. T&Cs ApplyDual Bet Site & Casino PlatformFree Bet Thursdays - Earn Free Bets Every WeekAccumulator Boosts of up to 77%not requiredBonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Live StreamingIs there live streaming of sporting events?
NoOur RatingGambling.com's rating of this betting site out of 100
99Bet BuilderCan you create your own personalised bets?
YesCash OutCan you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
YesAcca InsuranceRefund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
NoBzeebet is relatively new but already offers everything we expect from the best online bookmakers, including features such as live betting, cash out, bet builder and accumulator boosts. - #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. £10 in real money. Bets placed on sports at odds of 2.00 ore more to qualify. Bets must be placed 24 hours within of registration. £10 free bets must be wagered on sports. Cashback is cash without restrictions. - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. 18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile & bet £10+ on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. Register with SUMMER50 between 31/05/24 – 14/07/24. First bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. 18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £15 on EURO2024 (odds 1/1+) within 3 days. No cash-out. Get 1x£10 and 4x£5 Free Bets for set markets (odds 1/1+), 5 days expiry, and a £10 slot bonus for set games, 40x wagering, max redeemable £250, 30 days expiry. Cards and Apple Pay payments only. T&Cs Apply. GambleAware®: Gambling Help & Gambling Addiction . Please gamble responsibly.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Debit card / Apple Pay payments only. T&Cs apply. www.gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G30PLUS50FS on registration. £/€10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £/€10 Place). Receive £/€10 Tote Credit, £/€20 Free Sports Bet and 50 Extra Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. GambleAware®: Gambling Help & Gambling Addiction
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. Available once per household. Max. FreeBet amount: £10 Minimum Deposit and wagering on sport to activate the Free Bet is: £10 Void/cancelled or cashed out bets do not count towards wagering to activate the free bet. Offer valid only to customers making a first deposit of £10 or more. Offer only applies to players who are residents of United Kingdom and Irland.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Deposit and place a bet on Euro2024 odds of evens 1/1 (2.00) or greater. Minimum deposit to qualify for this promotion is £/€50. You will receive a 150% deposit bonus if your qualifying bet on the first day is four times your deposit. T&C's apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. gambleaware.org. T&C Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. If your account has Sportsbook losses at the end of your first day's betting, QuinnBet will refund 50% of your losses as a Free Bet up to £35 (min 3 bets) Plus 10 Free online casino spins at QuinnCasino. Even if your account is up, you're guaranteed a £5 Free Bet Plus 10 Extra Spins provided you place at least 1 bet of £10 or greater at the minimum odds. T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Get a percentage boost on all football multibets of 4 or more selections. - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Min £10 deposit and bet on odds 1/1 or greater required. deposits via Paypal, Neteller, Pasafe, Skrill or Skrill 1-Tap will not be eligible for any free bet offer. Extra bet and bonus spins issued within 24 hours of quailfying bet being settled. Extra bet valid for 14 days, stake not returned. Bonus spins valid for 24 hours, selected games only.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Players Only. Min. $/€10 deposit and bet on odds 1/1 or greater required. Extra bets and bonus spins are issued within 24 hours of the qualifying bet being settled. Extra bet valid for 14 days, stake not returned. Bonus spins are valid for 24 hours, only available on the Book of Dead game. Terms and Conditions apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. Min. deposit of £10. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Customers only. Must have a minimum of 3 bets of £10 or more on separate events at odds of evens (2.0) or bigger on first day. First day losses equals all settled stakes less all returns. T&C's apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. [Gambleaware.org|https://www.gambleaware.org/]. Get a percentage boost on all football multibets of 4 or more selections. - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New reg only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via ‘My Offers’ page within 30 days. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play, min odds 1/1 (2.0). Max. extra winnings £100. Once claimed, 30-day expiry. Cashed out, System & EW bets do not qualify. Other Promotional Play Restrictions Apply. T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Min deposit £10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus Extra Spins must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days • Bonus Extra Spins valid on selected Casino games only • Bonus wins capped at £500, excluding Jackpot wins • To withdraw any winnings from your Extra Spins, you’ll first have to use all of them • T&Cs apply.. - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New cust only. Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 Horse Racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. T&Cs Apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New members only. £10 min bet on sportsbook (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, placed & settled in 14 days of sign-up. Win part E/W bets. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days on sportsbook only. Stake not returned. Click here for full rules and exclusions. Bet Responsibly.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Place a £50 bet on any sport at at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater to qualify for three free bets on settlement: £10 on Football, £10 on Greyhound and £5 on Virtual Sports, plus 10 Extra Spins on Reel King. Free Bet & Spins expire in 7 days. Additional T&Cs apply. Please bet responsibly.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Players Only. Min £ 20 qualifying bets stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of £ 40, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers online only. Min Odds 3/1 (4.00), Min 3 Selections. Free Bet Valid For 7 Days
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Welcome Bonus: New players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £15, Max £10 Free Bet valid for 14 days. Bets Must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. Neteller, Skrill and PayPal not eligible. T&Cs apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New UK+IRE Customers. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 1x £20 free bet. Free bet available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New members only. £10 min bet on sportsbook (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, placed & settled in 14 days of sign-up. Win part E/W bets. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days on sportsbook only . Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Cash back without wagering the day after if the player loses all the money in the account. Min deposit £10. Gameplay is monitored. Full T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers. Max £10 (exc. PayPal). 100% Odds Boost Token. Keep it fun - set your deposit limit. T&Cs apply. - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. Min stake £2. Min legs 3. Max win £1,000. Min odds 3.0. Max £25 back as a Free Bet on losing bets only. 7 days to use free bet at odds 2.0+. Full T and Cs apply. Play responsibly GambleAware®: Gambling Help & Gambling Addiction • T&Cs apply - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. 18+ | New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 2/1 (3.0) | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned | T&Cs apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 17.10.2022. 3x £10 free bets. Free bets expire after 30 days. New customers signing up through mobile or tablet device only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply. #ad - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £10 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at a min. odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. T&Cs apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Players only. Max. Free Bet Token amount: £10.Minimum Deposit: £15. Minimum wagering on Sport to activate the Free Bet Token: £15
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £10 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Players Only. Free bet - one-time stake of £10, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full Terms apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Players Only. Free bet - one-time stake of £30, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New player only, 1st deposit, min deposit £15, Max £15 Free Bet valid for 14 days, Bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller, Skrill and Payapl not eligible. T&C apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Players Only. Min £10 qualifying bets stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of £10, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New UK customers only. Promo code: bonus10 (case sensitive- lower case) . Min deposit & single bet £30. Evens (2.0) or above. Bet must be placed same day as deposit. £5 Free bet added after qualifying bet settlement, £5 in Extra Spins within 48 hrs. Full T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&Cs apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. Place a qualifying £10 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater. Qualifying bet cannot be placed in-play or cashed out early. A first free £10 fixed odds bet will be credited upon settlement of the qualifying bet. The second free £10 fixed odds bets will be added to your account on the following day. Free bets must be claimed within 28 days of opening. Free bet stake not included in any winnings. T&Cs Apply.
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions. - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration Required. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. 18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 (odds 2.00+) within 3 days of registration. No cash out. Get 4x£10 free bets on EURO 2024 set markets, which expire at 20:00 UK time on 14/07/2024. Offer is valid until 10:00 UK time on 08/07/2024. Selected payment methods only. Click for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New customers only. Min Dep £10. Debit cards only. Opt in for bonus funds. Wagering, sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Sports bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Valid for 7 days. Geographical Restrictions and T&Cs Apply. - Full Terms Apply
- #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org. New Players Only. Min £/€/$ 20 qualifying bets stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of £/€/$ 30, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £/€/$ 200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms Apply.
Stay In The Loop With Free Bets, Insider Tips & More!
Live Betting. Sports Promos. Sent Weekly.