Ante-Post Betting Strategy Guide
You've likely come across the term "ante-post" betting. While this might sound like confusing jargon, the reality is actually quite simple. An ante-post bet can be described as "a long-term wager on the outcome of a season or special event that will take place in the future. It is also sometimes referred to as “futures” betting.
Nearly all sports have ante-post markets, and most bookmakers offer an extensive range of markets, with bettors able to take advantage of better odds for future events. Some sports, however, are easier to take advantage of, including horse racing, football/soccer, cricket, tennis, golf, and boxing.
Using real examples from horse racing, football, and cricket, this guide explains the key pros and cons of ante-post betting. Find out how to place ante-post bets and learn the intricacies of this type of betting, such as what happens if your chosen horse is a non-runner in a race.
Note: This guide uses fractional odds (e.g., 10/1), which are common in UK markets. Depending on your region or sportsbook, odds may appear in decimal (11.00) or American (+1000) formats. Most betting sites allow you to switch between formats in your settings.
Ante-Post Betting, Explained
Ante-post betting allows you to bet on the winner of a race or a match several days, weeks, or months before it takes place. In other words, ante-post betting allows you to take a fixed odds price on a team or individual well in advance of the event they will compete in.
Using horse racing as an example, betting sites generally release ante-post odds for major races like the Grand National or Cheltenham Gold Cup several months in advance. 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.
If a horse performs well in the build-up to the race, oddsmakers typically respond by slashing its price. However, if the horse struggles, the odds usually lengthen. 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.
Pros vs. Cons of Ante-Post Betting
- Offers the chance to take better odds before they shift
- Allows you to plan out your bets and take an early position
- Can consider placing a different bet on the same event to guarantee a profit ("hedging")
- Ante-post wagers are not subject to Rule 4 deductions, which reduce the payout if a non-runner is declared
- Starting price could end up longer than ante-post odds
- Without Non-Runner No Bet insurances, you can lose your stake if the horse doesn't run
What to Evaluate When Ante-Post Betting
Once you've grasped the potential benefits and drawbacks of ante-post betting, the final thing to consider is the actual process of placing a bet. Instead of jumping into the first market you find, always make sure you consider the following:
- How long is your investment? If you're backing something that won’t settle for eight months, you'd probably expect a better return than you would from a match or race happening tonight. In a nutshell, the longer the timeframe, the greater your returns should ideally be.
- Where is the best deal? Different online betting sites will have different ante-post odds, so shop around for the best odds. Nearly all of the best online betting companies offer ante-post markets on most sports and have varying promotions offering free bets and other similar incentives. (As mentioned previously, ante-post bets are called futures in some regions.)
Best Sports for Ante-Post Betting
Ante-Post Betting Strategy for Horse Racing
Horse races are the most popular sport for ante-post betting.
Betting sites generally release ante-post odds for major races like the Grand National or Cheltenham Gold Cup several months in advance. Many will sometimes offer "Non Runner No Bet" concessions a month in advance, offering larger-priced opportunities with the knowledge that you will get your stake back should your horse not run.
To find ante-post markets, navigate to the horse racing section of a betting site. A tab is typically at the top of the screen for ante-post markets. They often include the English Classics: Royal Ascot, the Cheltenham Festival, the Grand National, and other big international races like the Melbourne Cup and the Breeders’ Cup.
Considerations & Tips
- Choose elite horses that have remained free of injuries and behavioral issues throughout their careers. Without a “Non Runner No Bet” concession, your bet relies on the horse racing, so it is essential to identify consistent performers.
- Check the news for comments from the horse’s trainer or owner. They will typically indicate which big races they target, so you can be confident that the horse will participate.
- 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, considering the distance, the quality of the race, typical conditions, and the strength of key rivals.
- Look out for Non-Runner No-Bet promotions. By utilizing this promotion, you will get a refund if your horse does not race and get one if the race is cancelled or run at a different venue than the one initially scheduled. It is also worth noting that you will be reimbursed if entries are reopened. Those rules apply at most betting sites. However, the terms and conditions can vary, so check ante-post betting rules in the general terms or ask customer service for information.
- Consider hedging your bets. If the odds on your chosen runner shorten considerably by the week of the race, you can back a few rivals and 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.
Ante-Post Betting Strategy for Football (Soccer)
Ante-post betting allows you to speculate on, say, the next English Premier League winner the day after the current season ends.
For example, if you thought that Arsenal would be a threat before the start of the season, you could place an ante-post bet on them at 10/1. If you'd have waited until Arsenal won a few games, you'd see the odds shorten and, therefore, your potential returns would too.
Considerations & Tips
- Avoid overreacting to preseason outcomes: Friendly results don’t always translate into success during the league season.
- Monitor injuries and transfer activity. Injuries, player signings, and departures before the season can significantly affect a team’s prospects, so make sure you know team news before placing your bets.
- Always check the schedule: Teams with a demanding early schedule may drift in the odds if they start poorly, potentially offering a better in-season betting opportunity instead.
- Consider the impact of European competitions: Teams involved in global tournaments may rotate players, which could affect their domestic league play.
- Place each-way ante-post bets: Each-way markets pay if a team finishes in the top few positions, reducing your risk.
- Prepare to hedge: If the odds of your chosen team shorten significantly during the season, consider hedging bets to lock in profit or reduce risk.
Ante-Post Betting Strategy for Cricket
Cricket is becoming an important sport for betting despite only a handful of countries regularly participating internationally. As a result, an increasing number of cricket markets are being offered, including ante-post betting, providing more chances for the smart bettor to find value bets and profit from their cricket betting.
In addition to the winner markets, there are correct score, top batsman and bowler markets, and sometimes even handicap and double chance markets.
Considerations & Tips
- Teams: While it may go without saying, analyze the two teams participating in the series.
- Conditions: Conditions can often play an important role, particularly when looking at the correct score markets. While organizers try to avoid playing series during poor weather conditions in a country, sometimes this is difficult to avoid in a busy calendar.
- Venues: Analyzing the venues can also give us an idea of where the value may lie in the top batsman and bowler markets. The obvious first thing is whether the venues suit pace or spin bowlers. Traditionally, subcontinent pitches favor the spinners, while English, Australian, and South African conditions favor the pace bowlers. Generally, betting sites will have considered this, but we can often find good pointers for our cricket betting if we look deeper.
- Player Performance Discrepancies: Some batsmen perform significantly better at home than abroad. For example, Sri Lanka batsman Mahela Jayawardene averages 63.5 runs per innings while playing in Sri Lanka, but just 40.1 when playing abroad.
