SKY BET have become the first bookie to go non-runner no bet on ALL Cheltenham Festival races.
But a one-off feature of their markets means you can still back winners at much bigger odds.
For the first time, Sky Bet will still allow customers to back horses in the traditional ante post way.
This means, if you’re certain a horse will run in a particular race, you can back them at bigger odds.
For example, Capodanno in the National Hunt Chase is 7-2 in the non-runner no bet market.
But if you really fancy him to run you can get him at 7-1 in the traditional ante post market.
Of course, normal ante post rules mean if you back a horse and they don’t run then they go down as a loser.
Non-runner no bet means if you back a horse in a race and they don’t run, you get your stake back.
Sky Bet spokesman Michael Shinners said: “With the Cheltenham Festival getting closer, we’ve gone non-runner no bet on all 28 races from 9am on Thursday.
“Options for many horses are still very much up in the air, so the safety blanket of getting your money back if you don’t get a run will be appealing to our customers.
“However, we’re also keeping our ante post book available for those customers who are prepared to take a risk for bigger prices.”
The markets are set for some serious shake-ups ahead of the first race on Tuesday, March 15.
This Saturday is the Trials Day at Cheltenham – the last meeting at Prestbury Park before the big day.
And next weekend sees the top Irish superstars battle it out over the two-day Dublin Racing Festival.
Entries for all Grade 1 races have been revealed with more in other contests expected to come next Tuesday.
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