An ante-post bet is placed before the horse racing course betting market has opened and is made on the assumption that the odds are more favourable than when the course opens its betting market. This usually includes any bet placed before the day of the race. Naturally, an ante-post bet comes with much greater risk as you enter the market with little understanding of what their more common price will be. An ante-post bet also carries the additional risk that the original bet will be forfeited and not refunded if the horse doesn’t run.

The negatives on an ante-post bet are relatively clear. Firstly, your bet will not be refunded if your horse does not run as the market is not open and you’re also, in a way, backing that horse to also run.

Secondly, you may not know that much about the race that is coming up and you could subsequently be betting on something without greater knowledge and research.

As the negatives of an ante-post bet are relatively easy to understand, such as lack of a refund, the positives are also clear as day! Ultimately, you will get a greater price on the favourites on the day if you bet on them before the market opens, so if you are planning on backing the favourite as you’re certain they will win, doing so on an ante-post bet is a popular method.