Best Odds Guaranteed Explained: How BOG Works in Horse Racing

Best Odds Guaranteed is a horse racing promotion where the bookmaker pays you at whichever is higher — the fixed price you took or the Starting Price. It is one of the most consistently valuable offers available to UK racing punters.

How BOG Works in Practice

You back a horse at 6.00 on the morning of the race. By the time the race goes off, the horse has drifted to an SP of 9.00. Under standard rules, you would be paid at 6.00 because that was the price you accepted. With BOG, the bookmaker automatically upgrades your payout to 9.00.

Conversely, if the horse shortens to an SP of 4.00, you keep your original 6.00.

Result: BOG gives you the best of both worlds — the security of locking in an early price plus the upside of any late market drift.

BOG and Rule 4 Deductions

When a horse is withdrawn and Rule 4 deductions apply, BOG interacts with the deduction in a specific order:

Rule 4 is applied to your fixed price return
Rule 4 is applied to the SP return
The bookmaker pays whichever adjusted figure is higher

Example: You take 8.00 fixed, SP is 10.00, and a 20p Rule 4 deduction applies.

Fixed price after Rule 4: profit of £70 × 0.80 = £56 + £10 stake = £66
SP after Rule 4: profit of £90 × 0.80 = £72 + £10 stake = £82
BOG pays: £82 (the higher figure)

Which Bookmakers Offer BOG

Most major UK bookmakers offer BOG as a standard feature on UK and Irish racing. Key considerations:

Coverage — Check whether BOG applies to all UK/Irish races or only selected meetings
Time restrictions — Some bookmakers only offer BOG from a certain time (e.g., 9am on race day)
Odds caps — Some cap BOG at odds of 20.00 or 50.00
Stake limits — A few bookmakers limit BOG to bets up to a certain stake

Each-Way and BOG

BOG applies to both parts of an each-way bet. If the SP is higher than your fixed price:

The win stake is settled at the SP
The place stake is settled at the SP each-way fraction

This makes BOG especially powerful for each-way bets, where the combined uplift on both win and place can significantly increase your total return.

Strategic Use of BOG

Bet early — The wider the gap between morning prices and SP, the more BOG works in your favour
Compare morning prices — Use odds comparison sites to find the highest early price, knowing BOG protects your downside
Focus on volatile markets — Large-field handicaps and competitive races see more price movement, increasing the chance of a favourable SP drift
Combine with each-way — The double BOG benefit on win and place parts amplifies the value

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Best Odds Guaranteed?+

Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) is a bookmaker promotion where you are paid at the higher of your fixed price or the Starting Price (SP). If you take 5.00 and SP is 7.00, you receive 7.00. If SP is 4.00, you keep your 5.00.

Do all bookmakers offer Best Odds Guaranteed?+

Most major UK bookmakers offer BOG on UK and Irish horse racing, but it is not universal. Some restrict it to certain race types, stake sizes, or times of day. Always check each bookmaker's current terms.

Does BOG apply to each-way bets?+

Yes, in most cases. BOG applies to both the win and place parts of an each-way bet. If SP is higher than your fixed price, both portions are upgraded.

Is there a maximum payout on BOG?+

Some bookmakers cap the BOG enhancement at a certain odds level (e.g., no BOG on prices above 20.00) or at a specific stake size. These limits vary between bookmakers and should be checked before betting.

Does BOG apply to ante-post bets?+

No. BOG only applies to bets placed on the day of the race after the final declarations have been made. Ante-post bets are excluded from BOG promotions.