Best odds guaranteed and each-way terms are two of the most misunderstood parts of racing bets. This guide to best odds guaranteed (BOG) and each-way betting explains both in plain English, with euro examples, the common place terms by race type, how Rule 4 and non-runners affect your bet, and what to check in a bookmaker’s terms before you bet. It is a guide to how betting works, not a tipping service. To test your own stake and terms, use our each way calculator.
- Best odds guaranteed (BOG) pays you the bigger of the early price and the starting price, but only on selected races and bet types.
- An each-way bet is two equal bets, one for the horse to win and one for it to place, so a €5 each-way bet costs €10.
- Place terms depend on the race type and number of runners, and bookmakers often offer extra places on big races.
- BOG protects the price you take, and extra places widen the places paid. They are separate offers.
What is best odds guaranteed?
Best odds guaranteed (BOG) is an offer from some bookmakers on some races. If you take an early price and the starting price (SP) is bigger, you are paid at the starting price. If the starting price is shorter, you keep your early price. Not every bookmaker offers it, and it usually applies only to selected races, bet types or times of day, so read the terms. BOG usually applies to horse racing, and some bookmakers apply it only to races in Ireland and the UK or only to certain stakes.
A BOG example
You back a horse at 4/1 in the morning with BOG. At the off the starting price is 6/1. You are paid at 6/1, so a €10 bet returns €70 instead of €50. If the starting price is 3/1, you keep your 4/1 and still get €50 back. BOG only ever helps you, which is why it matters when comparing bookmakers, but it applies only to the win part of the bet in some terms, so read the rules.
How does each-way betting work?
An each-way bet is two bets of equal stake: one for the horse to win and one for it to place. A €5 each-way bet costs €10. If the horse wins, both parts pay. If it places but does not win, only the place part pays, at a fraction of the odds. If it finishes outside the places, both parts lose.
What are each-way places and fractions?
The number of places and the fraction depend on the race type and the number of runners, and bookmakers often offer extra places on big races. The table shows common terms used for horse racing in Ireland and the UK. They vary by bookmaker and race, so always check the terms shown on the bet slip.
| Runners and race type | Places paid | Fraction of the odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 4 runners | Win only | No each-way betting |
| 5 to 7 runners | 1st and 2nd | 1/4 or 1/5, depending on the bookmaker |
| 8 or more runners | 1st, 2nd and 3rd | 1/5 for most races |
| Handicaps with 12 to 15 runners | 1st, 2nd and 3rd | 1/4 |
| Handicaps with 16 or more runners | 1st to 4th | 1/4 |
Big festival races, such as the Grand National, often have extra places offered by bookmakers, with up to five or six places in some cases. Our Grand National betting guide and Cheltenham Festival betting guide cover race-specific terms.
Worked example
A €5 each-way bet at 10/1 with one quarter odds for the places costs €10. At one quarter odds the place part pays at 2.5/1. If the horse wins, the win part returns €55 (€50 profit plus €5 stake) and the place part returns €17.50 (€12.50 profit plus €5 stake), €72.50 in total, a profit of €62.50. If the horse only places, you get €17.50 back on the €10 staked, a profit of €7.50. If it does not place, you lose the €10. Notice that a horse that places but does not win only just covers part of your stake, which is why each-way bets suit bigger-priced runners.
| Result | Win part (€5 at 10/1) | Place part (€5 at 5/2) | Total return | Profit or loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | €55 | €17.50 | €72.50 | +€62.50 |
| Places only | €0 | €17.50 | €17.50 | +€7.50 |
| Unplaced | €0 | €0 | €0 | -€10 |
What is the difference between BOG and extra places?
BOG protects the price you take. Extra places widen how many finishing positions the place part pays. They are separate offers and can apply together or not at all. Extra places are usually advertised on specific races, while BOG may be standing on a whole day’s racing. Always check the terms for each offer, because a promotion may have a maximum stake or exclude certain payment methods.
What happens to my bet if a horse is a non-runner?
If your horse does not run, your stake is returned on that selection. If another horse is withdrawn after betting has started, Rule 4 may apply: a deduction is taken from the winnings on remaining bets, and the size of the deduction depends on the price of the withdrawn horse. Horse Racing Ireland publishes information on bookmaker rules, including Tattersalls Rule 4 deductions, which is linked at the bottom of this page. Ante-post bets are treated differently from day-of-race bets, and in most ante-post markets you lose your stake if the horse does not run, unless the terms say otherwise.
Racing bet terms in plain English
- Early price. The price offered before the market settles, often available the evening before a race or on the morning.
- Starting price (SP). The price at the moment the race starts. BOG compares your early price with it.
- Ante-post. A bet placed days or weeks before an event, usually at bigger prices but with the risk that your horse never runs.
- Dead heat. When two or more horses finish level for a position, the winnings on that part of the bet are divided between them.
- Non-runner. A horse withdrawn before the race. Your stake on that horse is returned for a day-of-race bet.
- Price boost. A temporary bigger price on a selection, often with a maximum stake. It is a promotion, not a guarantee of value, so compare it with other prices.
How do you choose where to bet each-way?
- Compare the place terms, not just the price. A slightly shorter price with an extra place can be worth more.
- Check whether BOG applies. Look at the bookmaker’s racing terms and the times of day it is available.
- Check maximum stakes. Promotions often cap the amount covered by BOG or extra places.
- Read the terms for non-runners. Check how a bookmaker treats withdrawn horses and combination bets.
- Confirm the licence. Use a bookmaker licensed for Irish customers; our licence checking guide shows how.
Where can you bet in Ireland?
Bet only with a bookmaker licensed for Irish customers: see our betting sites in Ireland and how to check a bookmaker is licensed. Use the bet calculator to check returns. For related terms such as non-runner and Rule 4, see our horse racing betting guide, and bet types explained for other bets.
Keep it in perspective
Set a budget before you start, only bet what you can afford to lose, and see our responsible gambling page for help. Free, confidential support is available from GamblingCare.ie.
To apply this to a race, read our guide to assessing a race and browse the Irish racecourse guides.
Related guides
- Each-way calculator
- Horse racing betting guide for Irish punters
- Cheltenham Festival betting guide
- How betting odds work
- Bet types explained
Frequently asked questions
What does best odds guaranteed mean?
If the starting price is bigger than the price you took, you are paid at the starting price. Conditions vary by bookmaker and usually apply to selected races.
What does each-way mean?
Two equal bets, one for the horse to win and one to place.
What does a €5 each-way bet cost?
€10, because it is two €5 bets.
Is BOG the same as extra places?
No. BOG protects the price you take, while extra places widen how many positions the place part pays.
What is Rule 4 in horse racing?
A deduction from winnings when a horse is withdrawn after betting has started. The size of the deduction depends on the price of the withdrawn horse.
Do I get my money back if my horse does not run?
Yes, for a day-of-race bet your stake on that selection is returned. Ante-post bets follow different rules, so check the terms.
Sources and further reading
- Horse Racing Ireland: bookmaker information – Tattersalls Rule 4 deductions
- GamblingCare.ie – free, confidential support
18+. Please play responsibly, gamblingcare.ie. This guide is independent editorial opinion; it is not a guarantee, endorsement or financial advice, and PunterIreland may earn a commission if you join an operator through our links.
Last updated 10 October 2026. Written and checked by the Punter Ireland editorial team. Offers, odds and rules change, so always check the operator’s own terms and the official sources above.
