Depending on your age and the amount of time you’ve been betting on horses, you’ll have a different view on antepost betting, how good it is, and how much you use it.

I was a big antepost man in what was probably the best time for it, going back 15-20 years. I think it was still very relevant a decade ago, maybe even five or six years ago, but recently, I think we’ve started to see the beginning of the end for antepost betting.

The key to betting in this style is knowing when to bet antepost, but with bookmakers now changing their rules and concessions on it, you could argue that it’s now even more important, but on the flip side, sometimes, a reason to not bet antepost at all.

Non Runner No Bet Takes Value Away from Antepost Markets

There’s a big misconception around antepost betting, and it appears to be getting worse. Companies go non runner no bet at meetings such as the Cheltenham Festival, and people see that as a good thing. But it’s a huge negative for those searching out the value.

With this concession in place, the great news is that you get your money back if you horse doesn’t run. But that comes at a cost. Prices will plummet, bookmakers become more cautious than they ever will be, scared to make a mistake, and the only people losing out, are punters.

Over the festive period, William Hill announced non runner no bet for Cheltenham, the first company to implement this for the 2025 festival. Since the announcement, they’ve offered lower prices than the competition, which is to be expected, as they’re now more at risk than the rest.

But what you have to look at is the actual prices on offer. Many horses, when you look at them, are below what they will be on the day, others maybe only slightly better off. The value has been completely sucked out of the market, thanks to this supposed concession that is there to help punters.

Part of the fun of antepost betting for everyone, I think, and certainly the biggest part of the fun for me, was getting the big price, and watching it tumble as Cheltenham or another big meeting approached.

With William Hill, and eventually, with everyone else, who are probably going to follow suit soon, you no longer get that.

Constitution Hill 4/7, Jonbon 7/4, Teahupoo 11/10 and Galopin Des Champs 4/6, the market leaders for the four main races this year. Are any of those value? Do you think any will shorten considerably from now? It wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world if all four were available at bigger prices on the day.

Which begs the question, why bother with antepost betting anymore?

If non runner no bet takes the value, and there’s a clamouring from companies to offer non runner no bet, then I sadly see antepost wagering becoming a thing of the past over the next few years.