Why is NRNB Important in Horse Racing?
Horse racing sportsbooks tend to be on the ball when setting out odds for big races that are months ahead in the calendar. For example, you can easily find odds for the Epsom Derby, Grand National, Kentucky Derby, and a myriad of other blue-chip events set to take place next year.
As you might imagine, placing a bet on a horse known for one of those races represents a step into the unknown. Between now and the Grand National in April, the horse could get injured, show terrible form, or not race for some other reason. And your stake, well, that’s most likely to be lost rather than refunded.
The concept that you don’t get your money back (with some exceptions) for long-term, i.e., ante-post or futures bets, is a staple part of horse racing betting. It might not seem fair on paper, but the argument is that you are playing a wider strategy game: You are, as such, betting on both the horse to participate in the race and for the horse to win. The ‘carrot’ is that you can get much bigger odds, whereas the ‘stick’ is that your horse might not run.
NRNB can appear on cards closer to race day
In saying the above, there are instances when you can get your money back on a non-runner, but with a caveat. If you see the term NRNB on the race card, that will mean all stakes will be returned should the horse not run in the race – if the horse is scratched, as they say in the US and Australia.
Now, NRNB is usually automatically offered on race day. Still, it is more often done as a promotional concession – a marketing exercise – in the weeks leading up to a big race. For instance, in late February or early March, you might see that bookies will promote that they are doing NRNB on championship races at the Cheltenham Festival (mid-March). The championship races, or feature races, are the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Ante-post betting is a difficult art to master
Thus, it is clear that NRNB is a positive thing on the bettors’ side, and it is certainly worth looking out for if you are approaching a race in the long term. However, if we can revisit the idea of its relationship, or lack thereof, with ante-post betting, you can appreciate its importance. It’s a get-out clause should things not go your way leading up to the race.
Long-term ante-post betting is an art form, and it requires insight on a level only possessed by experienced bettors. You are essentially looking for horses with potential that can step up another level for the season ahead, finally coming to the boil in your selected race.
The idea is that you are betting today, running the risk of losing your stake, hoping to have a much better price on race day. Numerous examples exist: For instance, Put the Kettle On was priced around 66/1 eight weeks before the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, where the mare duly won the Champion Chase. The SP for Put the Kettle On was 17/2, so there was a massive gain for those who punted on the horse a few months beforehand.
Of course, there are probably more disappointments than success stories – that’s racing. Yet, if you can find that little NRNB stamp on a race that tickles your fancy, it will give you extra insurance to get your money back should the horse not run. So, shop around different sportsbooks to see which, if any, offer it in the lead-up to your chosen race.