Rule 4 calculator
When a horse is withdrawn after final declarations, the bookies cut your winning odds. This calculator applies the official Tattersalls Rule 4 deduction table to your bet so you can verify exactly what your bookmaker should pay.
Deduction30p per £ (15/8 to 9/4)
Adjusted odds4.50
Original winnings£50.00
Rule 4 deduction−£15.00
Original return£60.00
Actual return£45.00
The Tattersalls Rule 4 deduction table
The non-runner's last decimal price determines the deduction. Both your bookmaker and the calculator use the same table:
| Non-runner's price | Fractional bracket | Deduction (per £) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.06 or shorter | 1/16+ | 90p |
| 1.07 – 1.14 | 1/14 – 2/15 | 85p |
| 1.15 – 1.24 | 1/7 – 2/9 | 80p |
| 1.25 – 1.36 | 1/4 – 4/11 | 75p |
| 1.37 – 1.43 | 4/11 – 2/5 | 70p |
| 1.44 – 1.57 | 4/9 – 4/7 | 65p |
| 1.58 – 1.66 | 4/7 – 4/6 | 60p |
| 1.67 – 1.83 | 4/6 – 5/6 | 55p |
| 1.84 – 1.99 | 5/6 – 4/5 | 50p |
| 2.00 – 2.24 | evens – 5/4 | 45p |
| 2.25 – 2.62 | 5/4 – 13/8 | 40p |
| 2.63 – 2.87 | 13/8 – 15/8 | 35p |
| 2.88 – 3.24 | 15/8 – 9/4 | 30p |
| 3.25 – 4.19 | 9/4 – 16/5 | 25p |
| 4.20 – 5.39 | 16/5 – 22/5 | 20p |
| 5.40 – 6.99 | 22/5 – 6/1 | 15p |
| 7.00 – 10.99 | 6/1 – 10/1 | 10p |
| 11.00 – 14.99 | 10/1 – 14/1 | 5p |
| 15.00 or longer | 14/1+ | 0p |
FAQ
- What is Rule 4 in horse racing betting?
- Rule 4 is a deduction applied to winning bets when a horse is withdrawn from a race after final declarations but before the off. The deduction reflects that the field is now smaller and the remaining horses' true winning chance is higher than the original prices implied. It's named after Rule 4(c) of the Tattersalls Committee on Betting, the body that arbitrates UK betting disputes.
- How are Rule 4 deductions calculated?
- The non-runner's last available price determines the deduction in pence per pound of winnings. Shorter prices (i.e. fancied non-runners) trigger bigger deductions. A 1/2 favourite (decimal 1.5) withdrawing means a 65p deduction; a 14/1 outsider withdrawing means just 5p. The deduction comes off your winnings, not your stake — your stake is always returned in full.
- How does a Rule 4 deduction affect my returns?
- If you stake £10 at 6.0 (5/1) and a 3.0 non-runner triggers a 30p Rule 4, your winnings of £50 are cut by 30%: £15 comes off, you receive £35 winnings + £10 stake = £45 (effective adjusted odds of 4.5). The calculator does this for you automatically.
- When does Rule 4 NOT apply?
- Rule 4 only applies to bets placed BEFORE the horse was withdrawn. If you bet after the non-runner was declared, the bookmaker has already re-priced the market to reflect the smaller field and no deduction applies. Rule 4 also doesn't apply to bets settled at Starting Price (SP) for races where the non-runner is removed before the SP market is formed.
- What if there are multiple non-runners in the same race?
- Each non-runner's deduction is calculated separately and combined. So two non-runners at 4.0 (25p) and 6.0 (15p) trigger a combined 40p deduction. Total deductions are capped at 90p in the £ — even with several short-priced withdrawals, you can never lose more than 90p per £ of winnings.
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