Tattersalls Rule 4(c)

You may have heard about Rule 4 c deductions. What are they?

Rule 4 deductions are there to protect bookmakers who lay early prices or even early show prices, only to find out that a runner is then removed from the market.

Take the situation where a bookmaker gives 4/1 about a second favorite, only to later find the odds on favorite is withdrawn.

To protect themselves from this situation Rule 4 deductions are applied. The general logic behind them is that the lower the odds of the withdrawn horse, the higher the deduction is made from winnings.

The list below is the official Tattersalls Rule 4c deduction table to which the vast majority of Uk bookmakers comply with.

There are a few bookmakers who now have started to gain a competitive market edge by offering concessions.

For example I have noted one or two online bookmakers stating that they will not apply deductions in the event of a non runner being priced up at 10/1 to 14/1, a price band that would normally give rise to a 5% reduction.

Price at time of withdrawal and amount deducted in the £ from winnings:

1/9 or shorter - 90p

2/11 to 2/17 - 85p

1/4 to 1/5 - 80p

3/10 to 2/7 75%

2/5 to 1/3 - 70p

8/15 to 4/9 - 65p

8/13 to 4/7 - 60p

4/5 to 4/6 - 55p

20/21 to 5/6 - 50p

Evens to 6/5 - 45p

5/4 to 6/4 - 40p

13/8 to 7/4 - 35p

15/8 to 9/4 - 30p

5/2 to 3/1 - 25p

10/3 to 4/1 - 20p

9/2 to 11/2 - 15p

6/1 to 9/1 - 10p

10/1 to 14/1 - 5p

over 14/1 No deduction

In the event of there being two or more withdrawals in one event, the total deduction shall not exceed 75%

Example

You take an early price of 10/1 with a £100 stake.

After your bet has been made and accepted, a non runner is declared at 5/1.

Your horse wins.

Had the non runner not been declared you would ahve received back your stake £100 plus your winnings £100 *10 = £1000

However due to the reduction for the withdrawal of the other horse you must adjust your winnings by subtracting 15p in the pound.

ie you only win 85% of what you would have.

£100 * (10 * 0.85) = £850

Now read reduction factors on the exchange