Best Odds Guaranteed Explained

Best Odds Guaranteed—often shortened to BOG—is one of the most straightforward perks in horse racing betting. If you've ever wondered whether to take a price now or wait for the off, BOG removes that dilemma. You get the best of both worlds: take an early price, and if the horse drifts, you're paid at the bigger odds. No downside. Here's everything you need to know about Best Odds Guaranteed: what it is, how it works, who offers it, and how to use it to your advantage.

What Is Best Odds Guaranteed?

Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) means you receive whichever is higher: the price you took when placing your bet, or the Starting Price (SP) at the moment the race begins. If the SP is better than your price, you get paid at SP. If your price is better, you keep it. There is no downside — you always receive the best available price. Best Odds Guaranteed means you receive whichever is higher: the price you took when placing your bet, or the Starting Price (SP) at the moment the race begins. In plain English: if you back a horse at 10/1 in the morning and it drifts out to 14/1 by the off, you get paid at 14/1. If you back at 10/1 and it shortens to 6/1, you still get your 10/1. You never get worse than the price you took, and you can get better if the market moves in your favour. It's essentially free insurance against your horse drifting. The bookmaker absorbs the risk of paying you at longer odds if the market moves against them.

How does Best Odds Guaranteed work in practice?

When you place a bet with a BOG bookmaker, the firm automatically compares your taken price against the official Starting Price after the race. You are paid at whichever is higher — no opt-in required. BOG applies to most win and each-way singles on UK and Irish racing placed on the day of the race.

The Mechanics

When you place a bet with a bookmaker that offers BOG, your bet is marked as "Best Odds Guaranteed" at the point of placement. No extra tick box, no opt-in—it's usually applied automatically to qualifying bets. After the race, the bookmaker compares:

1. Your taken price – the odds you accepted when you placed the bet
2. The Starting Price – the official SP calculated from the on-course betting ring at the moment the race starts You're paid at whichever is higher. Simple as that.

A Worked Example

Scenario: You fancy a horse in the 3:15 at Cheltenham. You place £20 win at 8/1 at 11am. The race goes off at 3:15pm. Outcome A – The horse drifts

• Your price: 8/1
• SP at the off: 12/1
• You're paid at 12/1 – £20 × 12 = £240 profit + £20 stake = £260 total return Without BOG, you'd have been paid at 8/1 (£180 total). BOG has just handed you an extra £80. Outcome B – The horse shortens
• Your price: 8/1
• SP at the off: 5/1
• You're paid at 8/1 – your original price is honoured. £20 × 8 = £160 profit + £20 stake = £180 total return You locked in value early. The market decided your horse was more likely; you still get the generous 8/1 you spotted. Outcome C – The price holds
• Your price: 8/1
• SP at the off: 8/1
• You're paid at 8/1 – no difference either way. £180 total return.

Each-Way and BOG

BOG typically applies to both the win and place parts of an each-way bet. If you back a horse each-way at 10/1 and it drifts to 16/1, your win part pays at 16/1 and your place part pays at the place odds derived from 16/1 (e.g. 4/1 for 1/4 terms). Check the specific terms—most major bookmakers include each-way in their BOG offer.

Which Bookmakers Offer BOG?

Most major UK-facing bookmakers offer Best Odds Guaranteed on UK and Irish horse racing. It's become a standard feature rather than a special promotion. The exact scope varies:

• Coverage: Usually UK and Irish racing only. Some extend to selected international racing; others don't.
• Day-of-race: BOG typically applies to bets placed on the day of the race. Ante-post bets (placed before declarations) often don't qualify—you're taking a speculative price and the bookmaker won't guarantee SP on top.
• Bet types: Win and each-way singles are almost always included. Some bookmakers extend BOG to doubles and other multiples; others don't. Always check the terms.
• Maximum payouts: Some firms cap BOG payouts (e.g. up to a certain amount per bet or per race). Read the small print. Because terms differ, it pays to know your bookmaker's BOG policy before you bet. If you're comparing accounts, BOG availability is a real factor -- it can add meaningful value over a year of betting.

When does Best Odds Guaranteed help most?

BOG helps most when you take early prices on horses that might drift before the off. It removes the dilemma of whether to bet now or wait, because you are guaranteed the better of your taken price and SP. Punters who study form early and back horses before the market catches up benefit the most from BOG.

Early Prices That Might Drift

You've done your form and you like a horse at 10/1. You think the market might not have caught up—perhaps the going has changed, or the horse is overlooked. You take 10/1. If it drifts to 14/1, BOG means you're paid at 14/1. You've captured value and been rewarded for backing a drifter.

Favourites That Shorten

You back the favourite at 2/1 in the morning. By the off, it's 6/4. With BOG, you keep your 2/1. You've effectively got a free upgrade—the market moved in your favour and you're paid at the better price.

Removing the "Wait or Bet Now?" Dilemma

Without BOG, you face a choice: take the price now and risk it drifting (in which case you'd have been better on SP), or wait and risk it shortening. BOG removes the downside of taking an early price. You can bet when you see value without worrying that the horse might drift and you'll miss out.

What are the limitations of Best Odds Guaranteed?

BOG does not apply to all bets. Ante-post wagers placed before race day are usually excluded, as are non-racing sports. Some bookmakers cap BOG payouts or exclude bets placed under enhanced-odds promotions. BOG also cannot improve a poor price — it only pays more when the SP exceeds the price you originally took. BOG isn't a magic bullet. A few things to keep in mind:

• Ante-post usually excluded – BOG is for day-of-race betting. If you're betting weeks before a race, you're typically not covered.
• Non-racing markets – BOG is a horse racing feature. Football, tennis, and other sports don't get the same treatment at most bookmakers.
• Promotional exclusions – Some enhanced odds or special offers may be excluded from BOG. Check if your bet qualifies.
• SP can be worse – If your horse shortens, you're protected. If it drifts, you benefit. But if you take a poor early price and the horse shortens further, you're still stuck with your original price. BOG doesn't improve a bad price—it only improves it when SP is better.

Is Best Odds Guaranteed worth using?

Yes. Best Odds Guaranteed is one of the most valuable features available to horse racing punters. It costs nothing, requires no opt-in, and guarantees you the best of your taken price or SP. There is no strategic downside to using BOG — it only ever pays the same or more than you would otherwise receive. Best Odds Guaranteed is a clear benefit for horse racing punters. It lets you take early prices with confidence, knowing you'll never be paid less than you took and might be paid more if your horse drifts. Use it when you spot value in the morning or overnight markets—and always check that your bookmaker offers BOG on the bet you're placing. For more on how odds move and when to take a price, see our guide to why odds change. For the fundamentals of reading prices, start with understanding odds. Looking for a bookmaker that offers BOG on all UK and Irish racing? Our BOG comparison guide compares terms across the major bookmakers, or browse all bookmaker reviews.