Placing a Trixie bet is a straightforward way to cover several combinations from three selections. Occasionally, one or more of those selections will not take part, which may raise questions about how the bet is settled and how returns are affected.
This blog post explores what happens if a selection does not run in a Trixie, how the bet can be adjusted, and how each-way multiples are treated. It also touches on related concepts, such as dead heats and voids, and clarifies whether a single non runner cancels the entire bet.
Read on for a clearer picture.
What Happens If There’s a Non Runner in a Trixie Bet?
A Trixie is made up of several combinations across three selections. If one selection does not take part, the bet is adjusted around the remaining selections. Parts of the Trixie that included the withdrawn selection are changed, and the stake associated with those parts is typically returned or applied to the reshaped combinations.
Returns on the unaffected combinations are calculated as normal. This process ensures that the bet continues to reflect the selections still running, rather than being entirely discarded.
Understanding How Trixie Bets Work
A Trixie covers every possible combination of two and three selections from three picks:
- Three doubles, each pairing two of the three selections
- One treble, covering all three together
Singles are not included. For any return, at least two selections must succeed to trigger one of the doubles. If all three succeed, every double and the treble can generate a return. The total stake is four times the unit stake; for example, a £2 Trixie would cost £8 in total. Odds attached to each combination determine the payout if those selections succeed.
Understanding this structure helps explain why adjustments occur if a selection does not take part, as only the combinations involving remaining selections are still active.
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How Are Trixie Bets Settled with One Non Runner?
If only one selection is withdrawn, the remaining combinations are reshaped. Suppose your picks are A, B and C, and B does not run: the doubles AB and BC are changed to singles on A and C, and the treble ABC becomes a double on A and C. The double AC stays as it is.
The stake associated with the withdrawn legs is not lost—it is either returned or applied to the new single or double. Standard rules for multiples determine how these adjustments are made.
For horse racing, withdrawals after a bet has been placed may also involve deductions under Rule 4. These deductions are separate from the adjustments for non runners, but they can affect the returns on the remaining selections.
What If Two or More Selections Are Non Runners in a Trixie?
If two selections do not run, most or all of the original combinations include at least one withdrawn selection. The bet is reduced to a single on the remaining runner, with the stake redirected to that single or returned according to the bookmaker’s rules.
If all three selections do not take part, the Trixie is completely void and the total stake is returned. In racing, changes to the number of runners may also affect place terms or deductions, which are applied separately from the reshaping of the Trixie.
Each-Way Trixie: What Changes with a Non Runner?
An each-way Trixie consists of eight bets: four on the win part and four on the place part. When a selection does not run, each section is adjusted independently. Any doubles or trebles, including the withdrawn selection, become singles or doubles on the remaining selections. Returns are then based on the outcomes of the remaining selections in each market.
Place terms may also change if the field size reduces—for instance, a race paying three places might drop to two. Any settlement will reflect these updated terms alongside the reshaping for non runners.
Dead Heats and Voids: Are They Treated the Same?
Void selections and dead heats are handled differently. A void selection removes or reshapes part of the multiple because it did not take part, while a dead heat still generates a return. For example, in a two-way dead heat for first, the effective stake for that leg is usually halved, and the payout is calculated on that portion at the full odds.
These adjustments apply only to the component where the dead heat occurs, leaving the rest of the Trixie unaffected.
Does a Non Runner Void the Whole Bet?
A single non runner does not cancel the entire Trixie. Only combinations containing the withdrawn selection are altered, and the others continue as usual. If every selection is withdrawn, then the Trixie is void and the full stake is refunded.
Tips for Managing Non Runners in Trixie Bets
Being aware of how multiples are handled if a selection does not run can reduce surprises. Checking the settlement page on your account shows how the Trixie has been reshaped and whether any singles or doubles have been created.
Monitoring late withdrawals is useful, especially in racing, where Rule 4 and changing place terms can affect returns. Notifications and results pages help here.
It is recommended to set a clear budget before placing any multiples. If betting ever becomes less enjoyable or starts feeling problematic, support is available through services such as GamCare and GambleAware. Staying informed and using available tools helps maintain a responsible approach to betting.
