A Rule 4 deduction is normally applied to profit rather than the returned stake. Enter the deduction stated by the operator and keep the accepted price and withdrawal details.
Rule 4 deduction table
The standard Tattersalls Rule 4 scale links the price of the withdrawn horse at official notification to a deduction from each pound of profit. This scale was checked against the Jockey Club document on 19 August 2026. The operator's applicable rules, market reformation and any concession govern the actual settlement.
| Price of withdrawn horse | Deduction per £1 profit |
|---|---|
| 1/9 or shorter | 90p |
| 2/11 to 2/17 | 85p |
| 1/4 to 1/5 | 80p |
| 3/10 to 2/7 | 75p |
| 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 |
| 8/5 to 7/4 | 35p |
| 9/5 to 9/4 | 30p |
| 12/5 to 3/1 | 25p |
| 16/5 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 |
The essentials
A Rule 4 deduction can reduce the winnings from a horse-racing bet when one or more runners are withdrawn after a price has been taken. The remaining horses have fewer rivals, so their original odds may no longer represent the market after the withdrawal. The deduction adjusts the profit to reflect that change.
The returned stake is not normally reduced. The deduction is applied to winnings, commonly expressed as a number of pence deducted from each pound of profit. A 20p deduction means 20% of the profit is removed. The exact treatment depends on the operator's rules, the timing of the bet and withdrawal, the withdrawn horse's price and whether a new market was formed.
Rule 4 is a settlement mechanism, not a prediction and not a penalty against the customer. Read it alongside the wider settlement rules guide and use the Rule 4 calculator to check an illustration.
Why a withdrawal changes the market
Imagine a race with four evenly matched runners. If one is withdrawn, each remaining runner faces three rivals rather than four. Its chance of winning has increased, even though the bettor's recorded odds have not changed. If the original price were paid in full without an adjustment, the bettor would retain terms based on a materially harder race.
The withdrawn runner's price near the time of withdrawal is used to determine the deduction band. A short-priced non-runner causes a larger adjustment because removing a leading contender changes the remaining runners' prospects more than removing a very large outsider.
How to calculate a deduction
Suppose you stake £10 at 5/1. The original profit would be £50 and the full return £60. A 20p Rule 4 deduction removes 20% of the profit: £50 multiplied by 0.20 equals £10. The adjusted profit is £40 and the £10 stake is added back, producing a £50 return.
| Calculation stage | Amount |
|---|---|
| Original stake | £10 |
| Original profit at 5/1 | £50 |
| 20% deduction from profit | £10 |
| Adjusted profit | £40 |
| Final return including stake | £50 |
Do not deduct 20% from the entire £60 return. That would incorrectly reduce the returned stake as well as the profit.
Typical deduction bands
Rules commonly use a sliding scale in which shorter-priced withdrawn runners create larger deductions. The exact table and reference price must be checked in the operator's current racing rules. Do not rely on a copied table without confirming its date and scope.
Multiple withdrawals can lead to combined deductions, sometimes capped under the applicable rules. A market may also be reformed after a withdrawal. Bets placed after that new market is published should be assessed against the new prices and subsequent non-runners rather than the earlier market.
Each-way settlement
For an each-way bet, the deduction may affect profit from both the win and place parts. The place odds are first derived from the advertised fraction, then the relevant adjustment is applied under the operator's rules. If the selection only places, the win stake still loses while the reduced place return is paid.
This makes it important to calculate the whole bet rather than looking only at the place receipt. The each-way betting guide explains the two stakes and place fractions in detail.
Multiple bets
When a racing selection sits inside a double, treble or accumulator, its adjusted odds feed into the multiple calculation. A deduction on one leg can therefore reduce the eventual return from the entire bet. Void non-runner legs are usually removed from the multiple, but any deduction affecting a winning remaining leg is still relevant.
Keep the original price, withdrawal time and settlement note. The accumulator guide explains how void selections and adjusted legs affect the wider multiple.
Best odds guaranteed and Rule 4
Best-odds-guaranteed terms do not necessarily remove Rule 4. A concession might compare the qualifying early price with the starting price, while the non-runner adjustment still applies according to the operator's conditions. Promotions differ and can be changed, restricted or withdrawn, so read the exact offer rather than assuming the phrase produces one universal result.
When a deduction may not apply
A deduction may not apply when the bet was placed after a new market was formed following the withdrawal, when the withdrawn runner was priced beyond the relevant threshold, or when a specific operator concession protects the price. Exchange bets and starting-price bets can follow different mechanics.
These are reasons to check, not reasons to assume the settlement is wrong. Start with the market type and timestamp, then read the rules that governed the accepted bet.
How to check a disputed settlement
- Save the accepted bet details and timestamp.
- Identify every non-runner and its withdrawal time.
- Find the operator's recorded price for each withdrawn horse at the relevant point.
- Check whether the market was reformed before your bet.
- Apply the deduction to profit, not the returned stake.
- Check each-way fractions, dead heats and void legs separately.
- Ask the operator for a written calculation if the figures still differ.
If the issue is unresolved, follow the operator's formal complaints process and the alternative dispute route stated in its terms. The bookmaker terms guide explains how to preserve the version of the rules that applied.
Common mistakes
The most common error is reducing the whole return rather than the profit. Another is using the withdrawn horse's early price when the rules specify a price at or near withdrawal. Bettors also miss combined deductions after multiple non-runners or assume a best-odds concession cancels the adjustment.
The final mistake is evaluating the original bet as though the field never changed. The deduction exists precisely because it did.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rule 4 deducted from my stake?
It is normally deducted from winnings or profit, not from the stake returned with a winning bet. Check the operator's published calculation.
Why does a short-priced non-runner cause a larger deduction?
Removing a strongly fancied runner generally increases the remaining runners' chances more than removing a large outsider, so the adjustment is larger.
Can more than one Rule 4 deduction apply?
Yes. Multiple withdrawals can produce combined deductions under the applicable rules, subject to any stated cap or market reformation.
Does Rule 4 affect accumulators?
It can. Adjusted odds on a winning leg reduce the return generated by that leg and therefore the eventual multiple return.
Responsible use
A deduction can make a winning selection return less than expected, but it is not a reason to place another bet or increase stakes. Check the revised return calmly against the official withdrawal time, advertised price and operator rules. Keep screenshots or a bet receipt if you believe settlement is wrong, then use the complaints process rather than trying to recover the difference through further gambling.
Treat the quoted price before deductions as conditional whenever the field can change.
A deduction can be frustrating, particularly when the displayed potential return was higher. Do not respond by increasing the next stake or trying to recover the difference. Settlement is part of the risk of betting into an evolving racing market. Use an affordable total budget and read the responsible gambling guide if betting is becoming difficult to control.