In this guide
How to find today's extra place races across UK bookmakers, how extra places work in matched betting, and what makes one worth backing. 18+.
Most days, several UK bookmakers pay extra places on selected horse races. A race that would normally pay three places on an each-way bet might pay four or five. If your horse finishes in one of those extra places, the place part of your bet wins where it otherwise would have lost.
Where to find today's extra place races
- Bookmaker promotion pages. Each bookmaker lists its own extra place races, usually the big races of the day and the ITV races. You have to check each bookmaker separately.
- Racecards. Many bookmakers mark extra place races with an icon on the racecard.
Extra place offers are often published in the morning and can be added or withdrawn during the day, so check close to the off.
How extra places work
An each-way bet is two bets: one on the horse to win and one on it to place. The number of places paid depends on the number of runners and the race type. A bookmaker offering an extra place pays one more place than that standard.
Our guide Understanding extra places has the standard place terms in full.
How matched bettors use extra places
- Step 1, back: back each-way with the bookmaker paying the extra place.
- Step 2, lay: lay the win on an exchange, and lay the place in the exchange's place market. The exchange place market pays the standard number of places, not the extra one. New to laying? Read our lay betting guide.
- Step 3, most of the time: the bets roughly cancel out, with a small qualifying loss.
- Step 4, if your horse finishes in the extra place: the bookmaker pays the place part of your bet, and your exchange place lay wins as well, because the exchange does not count that position as a place.
Like any matched-betting offer, the edge only shows over many races. Single races are often small losses.
What makes an extra place race worth backing
- Close back and lay prices, for both the win and the place. This keeps the qualifying loss small.
- A horse with a real chance of finishing in the extra place. Mid-priced horses often give the best balance.
- Enough money on the exchange place market. Place markets can be thin.
- Each-way terms. The fraction of the win odds paid on the place part (often 1/5 or 1/4) changes the maths.
- Runner count on the day. Non-runners can change the standard places paid and the bookmaker's terms.
Extra Places alerts
Innovision Labs compares UK bookmakers' each-way prices on extra place races with exchange win and place prices, and sends you an alert when a horse's prices are close enough to be worth a look, rated so you can set your own minimum. Alerts arrive by email, web push or Discord. You place every bet yourself.
Which bookmakers offer extra places?
Many UK bookmakers do, on different races each day, including William Hill, Paddy Power, Coral, Ladbrokes, Sky Bet and bet365. Check each bookmaker's promotion page for today's races.
Do extra places apply to free bets?
It depends on the bookmaker. Check the terms of the free bet.
Can I lose money on extra places?
Yes. Most races carry a small qualifying loss, and mistakes, price moves or a non-runner can cost more. Only stake what you can afford to lose.
Safer betting
18+ only. Bookmaker offers are promotions; their terms can change or be withdrawn, so always check the bookmaker's own terms before betting. Matched betting reduces risk but does not remove it: mistakes, price moves and voided bets can cause losses. Only bet what you can afford to lose. Please gamble responsibly. For free, confidential support visit BeGambleAware.org or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Our safer betting page.
Disclosure: this page contains no affiliate links. Innovision Labs sells the alerts mentioned on this page.