What is Non Runner No Bet? | NRNB Meaning Explained

What is Non Runner No Bet? | NRNB Meaning Explained

Non runner no bet (NRNB) is a valuable concession offered by many of the top UK betting sites that protects a punter's stake if their selection doesn't run.

Particularly useful for ante-post horse racing betting, a non runner no bet offer should be a major factor in choosing a bookmaker. Below, you'll find an in-depth examination of exactly how the non runner no bet concession works, where you'll discover how savvy punters can capitalise fully on NRNB offers.

How Does Non Runner No Bet Work?

Non runner no bet can be applied to any sport but it's most commonly attached to horse racing, and in particular, ante-post horse racing betting.

Standard ante-post terms and conditions dictate that if you back a horse and it doesn’t run, for whatever reason (and there are many of them), then you've lost your stake. That changes the moment a bookmaker announces that they're now applying the non runner no bet concession to ante-post bets.

From this point, bettors can place ante-post bets knowing that if their selection does not run then they will have their stake refunded – it’s an invaluable safety net.

 Not all bookmakers offer non runner no bet and markets can often be live for a number of months before the concession is applied, so it's crucial that punters pay close attention to the current terms and conditions across the multitude of new betting sites now available.


Read More: Get top Cheltenham Odds for the 2023 Festival


Why is Non Runner No Bet Popular?

Non runner no bet is a punter's best friend, especially if you can get it a long way in advance of the event – for example, betting on a Cheltenham Festival race in December. 

The safety net of a full stakes Cheltenham non runner no bet refund is a major addition to any Cheltenham punter’s armory. After all, there's a multitude of reasons why a horse might not run in the specific race you have in mind.

The most innocuous of incidents can have a major impact on any horse’s campaign and future targets, which is why ante-post betting is so fraught with danger.

 Backing a horse to win the Champion Hurdle three months in advance is all well and good if you get great odds, but you have to be aware that the horse could pick up an injury a few days later, which without NRNB, would kill your bet. From February onwards many high-profile Cheltenham Festival contenders fall by the wayside for one reason or another.

The other considerable upside to getting the non runner no bet concession is gaining the ability to back a horse for a race that isn’t considered to be the main target in the mainstream. 

There are so many options for horses at big festivals nowadays that connections often change plans late on. So, the ability to back a horse for a race that isn’t considered to be his main target (because you know you'll get a full non runner no bet refund), is a big advantage.

Does Non Runner No Bet Apply to Ante Post Betting?

Non runner no bet does not, as a general rule, apply to ante-post betting rules. There's no obligation for any betting site to offer the concession and many choose not to, but thankfully many do.

In recent years, the timing of the introduction of the Cheltenham non runner no bet concession tends to be from early January onwards, but the timing of each bookmaker announcement varies markedly.

The key is to shop around and seek out a bookmaker offering NRNB on your selections. Bookies get bonus points in our eyes if offering this concession through high quality betting apps.


Read More: Get top 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup odds


Cheltenham Non Runner No Bet Sites

The Cheltenham festival has become synonymous with the non runner no bet concession. Ante-post betting on the festival has always been huge, so much so that any good horse’s festival targets are discussed after every win through the winter.

The addition of more races to the festival programme over the years has given trainers so many more options for their horses. This reality means Cheltenham NRNB concessions are more important to bettors than ever. 

It is, therefore, a significant moment in the season whenever any bookmaker announces that they are introducing the Cheltenham non runner no bet offer.

Many thrifty punters like to combine NRNB concessions with free bets and other promotions offered by the best bookies.

in early January, William Hill became the first bookmaker to go non runner no bet on all Cheltenham Festival 2023 races, and it is only a matter of time before others follow suit. Paddy Power, for example, is nearly always one of the first to offer Cheltenham NRNB so it probably won’t be long before the Irish firm follows William Hill’s lead.


Pro Tip: Combine your NRNB concession with Cheltenham betting offers


Grand National Non Runner No Bet Sites

The single biggest betting race in Britain is the Grand National at Aintree. The prestige attached to the world's most popular steeplechase generates year-round interest in potential candidates and winners at top horse racing betting sites.

Obviously, Grand National non runner no bet concessions are massively popular with punters - especially those looking to back a horse that isn't guaranteed to get into the race.

Grand National weights can often be a significant factor in whether any potential runner qualifies to take a chance at the big prize. 

If a trainer feels like a horse is too high in the weights, they might be tempted to change course and instead target a different race, which can scupper any bet made on that same horse. This won’t be a problem for anyone that has backed that horse with the Grand National non runner no bet concession.


Read More: Check out Grand National free bets


Non Runner No Bet – Key Takeaways

Hopefully, this article has highlighted just how valuable NRNB concessions are to bettors, especially those trying to seek out value from long range. Here are a few of the key points on this valuable offer we'd like to leave you with.

  • Punters like backing horses at long range to lock in a good price.
  • The safety net of NRNB takes the risk factor out of backing a horse for a race it might not even run in.
  • It’s not just individual race value seekers that benefit from the non runner no bet concession.
  • Anyone wanting to combine horses in a multiple a few weeks in advance of a race can do so, safe in the knowledge that if one of their selections doesn’t run, the bet will just shorten by a leg.
  • So a Royal Ascot non runner no bet concession could mean a three-horse treble on the opening day of the Festival would automatically become a double if one horse doesn’t make it. Without the Royal Ascot non runner no bet concession, normal ante-post rules would deem this wager a loser.
  • You can combine the NRNB concession with other offers and promotions like Royal Ascot free bets
  • Not every bookmaker offers NRNB so make sure you check out where the offer is available because it could make all the difference to your returns.

Read More: Compare 2023 Grand National Odds


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