Ante-post bets are placed on an event at least one day before it starts. It is commonly used in horse racing, where it includes special rules, while being synonymous with futures (outright) predictions when applied to other sports.
A typical example of a massive ante post bet opportunity showed up during the 2016 English Barclays Premier League. Leicester’s remarkable triumph in the league is one of the greatest underdog stories in sports history and reflects one of the best ante-post bets. The team began the season with odds of 5000/1 at many sportsbooks, owing to its narrow escape from relegation the previous season. As the team progressed and consistently showed their skills and resilience, the odds prices gradually reduced drastically.
At an unbelievable starting price of 5000/1, Leicester’s win in the league shows how profitable ante-post odds betting can be. Any insightful punter who backed the team right from the start with even a small $10 would have walked away with a whopping $50,000 payday.
There are several rules that make ante-post different compared to other types of wagers. This is particularly the case with horse racing:
That said, there are also instances where your ante-post bets can be void and allow you to get your stake back:
Ante-post can be tricky, considering there are numerous factors that can influence the outcome of your wager. For example, you may back a particular horse to win the next Cheltenham Gold Cup due to its recent impressive performances. But unexpected circumstances can cause it to withdraw from the race and make you forfeit your stake without ever having a chance to win something. Because of this, take note of these tips:
Ante-post bets are typically treated the same as any other wagers. Depending on the sportsbook of choice and your preference, the odds will be displayed in American (moneyline), fractional, or decimal odds format. To determine the potential payout you will get if your selection triumphs, you multiply the intended stake amount by the odds offered on the event. Interestingly, there are also ante-post opportunities in betting exchange sites, which allow punters to lay their bets.
A back bet is the most common prediction and refers to placing a wager on a specific outcome of an event. For example, it is backing a horse to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup or Liverpool to win the Premier League.
Let’s say you are faced with an ante-post to back Corach Rambler to win the Grand National at an odds of 8.50. (Note: the odds will display 750 in American format or 15/2 in fractional).
If Corach Rambler wins the race, your payout will return $850 for a $100 stake. It will leave you with a profit of $750 (payout – stake).
That said, you should note that bookmakers usually charge a commission on punters’ profits.
Exchange betting sites for ante-post also offer opportunities for gamblers to lay their wagers. It means to predict that a specific outcome will not happen.
Let’s say you go with a lay bet on Corach Rambler during the Grand National at odds of 5.80 (Note: this odds will display 480 in American format or 24/5 in fractional).
Therefore, if you stake $100, you will get a $100 profit, excluding the exchange’s commission.
One important thing to note about laying bets is that liability is always attached – i.e., the amount you will pay out (i.e., lose) if Corach Rambler wins the Grand National.
With a $100 stake and 5.80 odds, the liability here will be $480, which you will lose if Corach Rambler wins.
Ante-post betting has specific rules punters need to be aware of. They are often the same for most platforms, but each bookmaker might have its own specific conditions. It is essential for any gambler interested in ante-post to make sure they know them before putting skin in the game with their money.
Ante-post value refers to the perceived worth or advantage of placing a bet on a particular outcome of an event well into the future. Due to early uncertainty, the odds offered on these markets are usually more impressive and better than the ones available close to the tournament.
Not every ante-post value will be worthwhile in the long run, as only one outcome will come through. As such, finding value bets in ante-post is essential. This means discovering events where sportsbooks may have underestimated the winning chances of a particular outcome. Note that these types of wagers are subjective and require expertise, knowledge, and judgment to identify the best opportunities.
Ante-post is a popular option among fans of horse racing and other sports. This is why almost all bookies offer it, including some of the biggest brands in the business:
Some of the most popular ones include:
You should note that when searching for the best ante-post betting sites, one of your priorities should always be to choose reputable bookmakers to guarantee a safe and fair gaming experience. You should also always consider the availability of sports, markets, competitive odds, and other essential aspects of a good bookie.
That said, all the sportsbooks mentioned above are some of the most renowned operators in the industry. They cover various sports markets, from horse racing to greyhounds, football, tennis betting, and many more. As a bonus, they offer some of the best and most competitive odds available.
One significant advantage of ante-post is its availability across various sports. As long as a major sporting competition is scheduled for the future, bookmakers are likely to provide this type of bet on it. Interestingly, some of the best ante-post betting sites have even offered wagers for non-sporting events, including political elections, entertainment awards like the Oscars or Grammy, and reality TV shows. This allows punters to explore some exciting non-traditional predictions.
Ante-post originated in horse racing, and it remains the most popular sport associated with this betting option. The phrase “ante-post” refers to “before the post” and is an indication of wagers placed on horse racing events before the final declaration for a race (usually 24 or 48 hours before the race).
Race meetings are among the best opportunities to place an ante-post wager. They consist of multiple races that take place over the course of several days and attract top-class horses, trainers, and jockeys. On top of that, they are highly competitive and exciting to watch.
The two most important horse racing meetings that betting sites for ante-post focus on are:
Other popular race meetings include:
Ante-post options extend beyond horse racing. It is available for various sports, covering many markets and opportunities, including:
Let’s check out how this option works in other sports.
Ante-post is offered for greyhound racing events, such as the famous Greyhound Derby. You can place this prediction on a specific greyhound to win a future race or achieve certain milestones, like winning a championship cup.
Greyhound ante-post shares a lot of rules with horse racing. A notable example is the non-runner rule, which causes a gambler to lose their wager if their selection does not run.
With football, the focus of ante-post is on major tournaments, leagues, and cups. Standard football ante-post would be predicting who will win the next English Premier League between Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool. Bettors can place this bet for next season as soon as the current season ends, while some bookies will offer it even sooner.
Best sportsbooks also provide football ante-post handicap betting opportunities to their users, giving them even more advantages. Other ante-post examples in football include markets like the “Top Goal Scorer” and “Player with Most Assists.” For example, a punter can predict that Robert Lewandowski will be the top goal scorer in the next Spanish La Liga season or that Antoine Griezmann will dish the most assists.
Individual sports are among the best options for ante-post, with tennis particularly standing out. The focus here is on Grand Slam events: the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. These four tournaments take place annually and offer an abundance of opportunities for long-term ante-post wagers.
Bookies usually provide ante-post bet markets on individual players and their performances during tennis events. For example, you can place an ante-post on Novak Djokovic to win the next US Open.
As mentioned, the concept of ante-post betting has been around for quite a while, with its roots in horse racing. The idea has since then expanded beyond horse racing to accommodate other sports, such as football, golf, tennis, etc.
The explosion of online betting and all the advantages that came with it made ante-post betting more popular and known to punters and sports enthusiasts. It has also greatly influenced the evolution of these bets. Today, punters have access to a broader range of ante-post markets to explore and the opportunity to compare odds on different betting platforms to find the best value.
Overall, the evolution of ante-post betting has made this betting option a prominent feature across a variety of sports. With continued sports betting advances, this option can only get better for punters.
There is no denying that ante-post wagering on horse racing has several benefits to punters, but there are also some drawbacks to it. Let’s break down some crucial positives and negatives you need to know:
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PROS
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CONS
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Ante-post allows punters to place bets well in advance, potentially securing better odds and value. It also gives gamblers the thrills and excitement of long-term predictions as they can follow their selection with rapt anticipation. The best of all is that ante-post opens a world of opportunities whether you are passionate about horse racing, greyhound racing, football, tennis, or other sports.
On the flip side, ante-post carries inherent risks that can impact the outcome of your bet, such as non-runners and unforeseen circumstance changes. That is why it is crucial to approach this option with careful consideration and adequate knowledge of rules and other factors. You should always apply proper research and analysis to make informed decisions and improve your chances of success.
Don’t hesitate to give it a try if you feel you can afford to take the risk and believe you have found a selection with good value.
