Bookies bank on record weekend of sport
ByChris Johnston
Business reporter, BBC News
A bumper roster of sport including the Grand National, the yohaig code Masters and Premier League video games, is expected to produce a record weekend for bookies.
The Grand National will attract about ₤ 225m in wagers across the wagering industry, William Hill anticipated.
Combined with other sporting components it anticipates to take "the highest turnover levels on any weekend in history", the bookie said.
Saturday's race is expected to be seen by 600 million individuals globally.
"The Grand National is the general public's race and we will see countless once-a-year punters can be found in to betting shops or downloading the app," William Hill representative Rupert Adams said.
The race is set to bring in over 35 million bets with the average deserving ₤ 4.41.
William Hill is also expecting another big-priced winner in the Grand National this year. The last five races have produced winners at odds of 33/1, 25/1, 25/1 and 33/1.
Ryanair president Michael O'Leary owns 5 of the 40 horses in Saturday's field.
He is wishing to become the very first owner to win consecutive Nationals with different horses considering that 1954 after Rule the World, ridden by David Mullins, claimed success last year.
In 2015, the start time for the Grand National was moved by an hour to 17:15 BST. The choice showed to be an increase for turnover and William Hill expects that trend to continue.
New sponsor
"The experiment of moving the start time actually paid off and we expect the Grand National to smash betting records this promotion code year," Mr Adams said.
It is the first year that the race has been sponsored by Randox Health, which analyses blood and urine samples to identify and prevent health problems.
The Northern Ireland-based firm was set up in 1982 by Dr Peter FitzGerald - an eager horse racing fan.
Meanwhile, the conference at Aintree might be impacted by a 24-hour strike including members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Merseyrail and Arriva Trains North.
Tens of countless people travel by train from central Liverpool to the racecourse.
Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, managing director Merseyrail, said the yohaig code operator had developed a schedule aimed at transporting as numerous passengers as regular on Grand National day.
Andy Bell, from Bookies.com, external, stated: "This is a bumper weekend of wagering and the Grand National is typically the occasion that sees individuals have a flutter for the yohaig code really first time. the yohaig code new start time implies individuals are back from their Saturday shopping and activities and it is efficiently the start of their Saturday evening festivities. It's best timing."
Aintree prepared for Grand National
Pinstickers' guide to the Grand National
6 April 2017
Family money in 1974 Grand National bet
7 April 2017
