Ante post betting is becoming very popular again, generally because of the higher odds that online bookmakers are prepared to offer. For those who are unfamiliar with ante post betting, this is a form of betting that is used to back selections, weeks or even months before the event. For example, today you can bet on the Grand National even though the final field is yet to be decided.

The downside to ante post betting is that some bookmakers use an all-in approach – you place your bet and if your selection doesn’t make the final field – tough luck, you have lost your bet. Other bookmakers take a “no start-no bet” approach – however, they often shorten the odds a bit to cover this option.

With ante post betting, you are backing two outcomes. First, that your selection will make the actual event, and two, that your selection will win. This is why bookmakers can offer much larger odds early on. At the start of the football season, you could have had Birmingham at 200/1 in ante post betting to win the Carling Cup – yesterday, they started at just 6/1 (and won for us – hope you saw the tip).

Ante post betting is not for the faint of heart. Ante post betting is more of an investment – an investment that you set and forget until the event itself. While the odds are high, the risk is also high so it’s a case of timing your bets to suit the amount of risk you are prepared to take. As an event gets closer, the risk reduces and so too do the odds. Jump in when you’re comfortable and you can win at good prices while being almost sure your selection will get a run.