Non runner no bet (NRNB) is a horse racing concession that refunds your stake if your horse doesn’t take part in the race. It matters most for ante-post bets, placed days or weeks before a big race, where a horse that misses the race would normally mean a lost bet. This guide explains how NRNB works, when bookmakers offer it, and what to check before you bet.
NRNB in 30 seconds
- If your horse is a non-runner, your stake is returned.
- Without NRNB, an ante-post bet on a non-runner is lost.
- Bookmakers usually switch NRNB on in the run-up to big meetings.
- Odds under NRNB can be a little shorter than pure ante-post prices.
Ante-post bets without NRNB
Ante-post betting means betting on a race before the final declarations, often weeks in advance. The appeal is bigger odds: if you back a horse early and it becomes the favourite, you have beaten the starting price.
The catch is that, under standard ante-post rules, your bet stands whether or not the horse runs. If it is injured, pulled out by its trainer or sent to a different race, you lose your stake. That risk is why ante-post prices are bigger in the first place.
How non runner no bet works
When a bookmaker offers non runner no bet on a race, the ante-post risk of a non-runner is removed. If your selection doesn’t line up at the start, the bet is void and the stake comes back to your account. If it runs, the bet is settled as normal at the odds you took.
- Single bets: the stake is refunded.
- Each-way bets: both the win and place parts are refunded.
- Multiples: the non-runner leg is usually treated as void, and the bet continues on the other selections.
When bookmakers offer NRNB
NRNB is a concession, not a standard rule, so it depends on the bookmaker and the race. It is most common in the days or weeks before major meetings such as the Cheltenham Festival, the Grand National and Royal Ascot, when lots of punters want to bet early. The market will be labelled “NRNB” or “non-runner no bet” on the bet slip or race card. If you don’t see that label, assume standard ante-post rules apply.
For festival offers and free bets, see our guides to Cheltenham free bets and Grand National free bets.
NRNB, Rule 4 and best odds guaranteed
When other horses are withdrawn, the chances of the remaining runners improve. Bookmakers can reduce winnings on bets struck before a withdrawal using Rule 4 deductions, and depending on the bookmaker’s rules these can apply to NRNB bets too. Check the terms of the market before you bet.
NRNB is also different from best odds guaranteed. BOG pays the bigger of your taken price and the starting price on race-day bets. NRNB protects you against your horse not running. Some bookmakers offer both on the same race.
Each-way bets and place terms
Each-way place terms depend on the number of runners. If several horses are withdrawn, the field can shrink and the number of places paid can fall, which changes the value of the place part of your bet. Bookmakers handle this differently, so check how place terms are set for NRNB markets. Our guide to each-way betting covers place terms in more detail.
Is non runner no bet worth taking?
For big races where many horses have several possible targets, NRNB removes a real risk and is usually worth a slightly shorter price. For a horse whose plans are already fixed, the pure ante-post price may be better value. Either way, only bet what you can afford to lose.
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NRNB FAQ
Non-runner no bet. If your horse doesn’t run, your stake is refunded. No. It applies only to markets the bookmaker labels as NRNB. Standard ante-post bets on non-runners are lost. Yes, if your horse is a non-runner both the win and place stakes are returned. It can, depending on the bookmaker’s rules, when other horses are withdrawn after you placed your bet. No. NRNB returns your stake if your horse doesn’t run. It doesn’t pay anything if your horse runs and loses.What does NRNB stand for?
Does NRNB apply to all horse racing bets?
Do I get my stake back on an each-way NRNB bet?
Can Rule 4 apply to an NRNB bet?
Is NRNB the same as a free bet?
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