Pros and cons of betting on horse racing extra places
Our recommended UK bookmakers for extra-place bets on horse races get many things right, which is why they made our list. However, they’re not without their flaws. We’ll now turn our attention to the pros and cons of betting with these bookmakers:
Pros and Cons
- Covers more positions
- Available for pre-race and in-play
- Decent welcome bonuses
- Extra places pay out on 4th, 5th, 6th, or even 7th place in certain races.
- They’re most common in major races, such as the Grand National.
- Betway, Betfred, and bet365 are the top UK bookmakers for extra place bets.
Extra place races are special events offered by select bookies. Betting sites pay out on extra places in each-way markets, especially on major races where results are less predictable. Depending on the bookmaker and the racing event, the places can range from 1 to 8.
We often place extra place bets because they pay out even when our horse misses the top 3. All that’s needed to qualify is for the horse to finish within the designated position by the betting site. However, note that extra places aren’t offered on all bets. Based on experience, we often see it in races that have many runners.
Nonetheless, you may occasionally find the option for smaller horse racing events. For instance, we once saw an event offering up to 3 places in a 7-runner race.
This part of our guide discusses UK betting sites that offer extra place bets. Before that, here’s a table with their welcome offers:
| Bookmaker |
Welcome bonus |
| Betway |
Bet £10, Get £10 and Match Bet Credits |
| Betfred |
Bet £10, Get £30 in Bonus Bets and £20 ACCA Bonus Bets |
| bet365 |
Bet £10, Get £30 in Bet Credits (T&Cs apply) |
Betway is well-known in the UK, as it was an authorised partner of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in 2016. The bookmaker offers extensive betting market coverage, including regular horse racing events. Betway is known for its extra place promotions, particularly on major UK race days such as the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot.
We signed up with Betway just before the races at Royal Ascot. Betway asked us to choose between two welcome offers: Match Bet Credits and ‘Bet £10, Get £10’. We chose the latter and wagered £10 on a single bet with odds of 1.75. Betway credited our account with £10 in bet credits, and we used it to bet on extra-place races during the five-day Royal Ascot racing festival.
Another leading UK betting site where you can place extra-place wagers is Betfred. The site welcomed us with a sign-up package offering a total of £50 in bonus credits, allocated as £30 for general sports (including horse racing) and £20 for accas. To get this offer, we staked £10 at odds of 2.0 or higher.
We confirmed that the maximum payout for horse racing at Betfred is £1 million. Betfred also covers greyhounds, but the limits there are smaller, so the site is clearly built for horse racing. Its payout rules are transparent, and the limits are fair. Simply put, Betfred is a reliable site to consider if you want steady extra place events.
bet365 – Elite UK bookmaker for live betting and streaming
Although many UK bookmakers offer in-play betting and live streaming, bet365 is our top pick. Upon signing up at the site, we received a Bet £10, Get £30 in Bet Credits, Win or Lose, welcome offer. With this bonus, we started making extra-place wagers on horse racing events that offered the option.
We found several live markets across big races and smaller ones that many similar UK betting sites ignore. Also, bet365 offers live streaming on over 140,000 events each year. Therefore, you’ll find live horse racing events to watch. As long as your account is funded or you’ve placed a bet in the last 24 hours, you can follow the action in real time.
Here are our top tips to help you with extra place bets at our recommended UK bookmakers:
🏇 Claim the Available Horse Racing Extra Places Bonus Offers
Different bookmakers have
betting bonuses on UK horse racing
events. After signing up and completing your verification, search for what’s on offer and claim it to get started. Some betting sites feature multiple welcome promos. Study each bonus’s terms and conditions to claim the one that suits you most.
📊 Compare Odds Across Betting Sites
Sports betting sites often offer varying odds on the same horse racing events. Therefore, it’s always best to shop around for the best one. Before signing up at Betway, Betfred, or bet365, ensure you
compare odds on UK horse racing. A slight difference in odds can significantly affect your wins.
🧠 Analyse What the Top Tipsters Are Predicting
There are several tipsters online with tested strategies for making sports predictions. Find a reputable
UK horse racing tipster
and see what they’re saying about your track event of interest. Compare their tips to other top professionals in the horse racing market and use the relevant strategies to make informed extra-place wagers.
Making extra-place predictions with the top UK bookmakers can be interesting. However, you have to always bet responsibly. Our top three recommended horse racing sites offer safe gambling tools you can apply to manage your betting activities. You can set deposit limits to track your wagering funds. Depending on the bookmaker you prefer, check for session limits and timeouts (for when you want to take short breaks). These sites also feature reality checks, showing how much time you've spent per betting session. Lastly, if you suspect problems, opt for self-exclusion. Our top sites for horse race betting in the UK feature links to gambling support organisations like BeGambleAware, GamCare, and Gordon Moody. You can contact these groups if you need assistance.
Conclusion – Betway, Betfred, and bet365 are prime UK bookmakers for extra place races
Extra places are special betting options since they allow potential payouts even when your horses finish lower than the top 3. The number of allocated places varies by betting site and the track event, but you can expect up to 5 in most cases.
We’ve reviewed UK bookmakers to identify the best for extra place racing, so you can save yourself the time. Just pick from Betway, Betfred, and bet365. Although many UK betting brands offer horse racing, these three stand out. If you’re interested in checking out our recommended bookmakers, click the banners on this page for your preferred site and sign up today.
No horsing around with these cracking bonuses for players
1.
Bet £10 on the World Cup Get £40 in Free Bets
Requirements (WR): 4x Bonus + 10x Deposit, Min. Deposit: 10
New customers: Deposit £10+ within 7 days and place a sports bet. Get 4 x £10 Free Bets (2 x £10 Bet Builders & 2 x £10 Sports Bet). Valid 7 days. Min odds apply. Excludes virtual sports, esports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 18+. T&Cs apply.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
GambleAware.org.
2.
100% up to £50
Requirements (WR): 8x (Bonus + Deposit), Min. Deposit: £15
New players. Choose bonus at signup. Wager bonus 10x. Deposit used 1st. Any withdrawals void bonus. Valid 30 days. Odds, bet & payment limits. T&Cs apply. 18+.
T&Cs apply. 18+.
3.
Bet £10 on the World Cup Get £30 in Free Bets
Min. Deposit: £10
Available to verified customers residing in the UK. Opt-in is required. Place your first bet of £10 at minimum odds of 1/1 on any sports market within 7 days of registering. Get £30 in Free Bets (1x £10 Horse Racing Free Bet + 1x £10 Football Acca Free Bet + £10 Basketball Acca Free Bet) T&Cs apply. 18+ Please gamble responsibly.
4.
Bet £40 on the World Cup get £20 in free bets
18+ Offer available to new customers only who sign up with Promo Code BET40GET20. Place a bet of £40 (or more) at EVS (2.0) or greater and Get 2 x £10 Free Bets. 1 x £10 Free Bet paid automatically & following £10 Free Bet after 24hrs. Min Free Bet odds 4/1 (5.0). Free Bets expire after 24hrs. Full T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
5.
Bet £10 on the World Cup Get a £10 ACCA Bet
18+ New Customers only. Place a £10+ bet at min odds 1/1 (2.0). Get £10 in Free Bets, valid for 7 days and must be used on acca with min 5 selections and min total odds of 2.0. Free stake not returned with winnings. Use code ACCA10 on signup. Bangers N'Cash rewards are a separate promotional scheme and must be opted into during the weekly promotional period via the BetWright Rewards Section T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org.
Yes, extra place horse racing is legal in the UK. However, it’s only available on select betting sites. Provided you’re up to 18 years old, you can legally bet on extra place races on such sites.
The ‘best’ in this context is subjective since not all bookmakers are equal. They offer different features that set them apart. However, if you’re looking for top-rated UK betting sites for extra place wagers, we recommend Betway, Betfred, and bet365.
UK bettors can find extra place promos on our top three bookmaker sites: Betway, Betfred, and bet365. All three offer bonuses that support extra-place bets on horse races. However, Betway features multiple extra-place promotions. You can find these offers on the promo page during major races like the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot.
Yes, they usually do. When a bookmaker gives extra places, the each-way odds are often reduced to balance things out. It’s not a bad trade-off, as you get a wider safety net.
Not always. Most UK bookmakers reserve extra places for busy race days, big festivals, or fields with plenty of runners. You’ll still have access to other ongoing weekday offers, though. Check the promotions page often to see what’s available.
