Horse Racing

Ante-Post betting

The Horse Racing ante-post betting market at Paddy Power gives you the chance to bet on the winner of a race before the official field is confirmed. In other words, we've compiled a list of likely runners for you to back even though the horses' entries haven't been finalised.

You’ll find the latest ante-post odds for the biggest events on the horse racing calendar which includes the Cheltenham Festival, the Grand National, and Royal Ascot. So, if you have a hunch about a horse ahead of a major race, you can place your bet with our ante-post odds.

How do horse racing ante-post odds work?

Horse Racing ante-post odds work similarly to regular racing odds: lower odds indicate a more likely outcome while higher odds suggest a more remote chance of that result happening.

Where ante-post odds differ from normal racing odds is that they tend to be higher and offer more value as a result. The reason for this increased value is that you’re betting on horses who might not run. To compensate for this risk, you’re given better odds and can lock in a price for a favourite that will typically shorten once he is confirmed to run.

However, if your ante-post selection does not make it to the starting gate, your bet will be treated as a loss in line with the standard non-runner rules for future racing bets.

Where can I find the latest ante-post racing odds?

You can bet on the latest ante-post racing odds here at Paddy Power where you’ll find markets for the biggest events on the horse racing calendar.

What's more, we’re quicker than a prime Tiger Roll out of the gate when it comes to getting ante-post odds live. Indeed, not long after the year’s current champion crosses the finish line, you'll find the odds for the following year’s event listed on our site.

So, if you’ve got one eye on next year’s champion, there’s no need to wait with our up-to-date horse racing ante-post odds.

What are the most popular ante-post betting markets to bet on?

Here are the most popular ante-post betting markets to choose from here at Paddy Power:

The Cheltenham Festival: You can find ante-post odds for all 28 races over four days at the Cheltenham Festival. Among them, the Gold Cup ante-post odds attract the most attention from jump racing fans as they place their bets ahead of the iconic three-mile, two-and-a-half-furlong race, which features 22 fences and is the standout event of the festival in Gloucestershire.

The Grand National: You can bet on all 21 races held during the Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse. Of these, the ante-post market for the Grand National itself is by far the most popular as National Hunt racing fans pick which horse will conquer the challenging four-mile, 514-yard race with its iconic 30 fences.

Royal Ascot: Ante-post odds are available for a number of the 36 races that take place over five days at Royal Ascot in Berkshire. The Royal Ascot Gold Cup stands out as one of the most popular with its ante-post odds drawing significant attention as flat racing fans try to predict who will win this prestigious race run just over two miles.

When to place an ante-post horse racing bet?

The best time to place an ante-post bet is once you’ve done thorough research on your intended pick. In this respect, horse racing ante-post bets are no different from outright bets on other sports as you’re weighing up the long-term chances of success.

In horse racing, the clues to look out for before placing an ante-post bet include a horse's recent form and whether they’re trending in the right direction as the big day approaches. If you see a notable spike in performance then this presents an opportunity to bet ante-post.

Alternatively, you don’t need to wait for a horse to hit peak form if it’s a generational talent. If you’re confident that they’ll still be the one to beat in 12 months then betting earlier is also an option.

Ultimately, strategy plays a crucial role when it comes to ante-post betting. As long as your reason for betting is based on sound logic and meticulous research, there’s no definitive right or wrong time to place a bet in the ante-post market.

How do I place an ante-post horse racing bet?

Log into the Paddy Power website to place a bet on Horse Racing ante-post odds. From here, click on ‘Horse Racing’ which can be found at the top of the site’s homepage. Now, select ‘Future’ and you will be presented with the latest ante-post markets.

Select your odds, enter your stake, and then tap ‘Place Bets’ at the bottom of your virtual betting slip to confirm your ante-post bet