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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Big race bets 'defying downturn' | Big race bets 'defying downturn' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Betting on the world's premier steeplechase, The Grand National, is expected to equal last year's total. | |
| After 4.5mm of overnight rain on Friday, the ground was described as good, good to soft in places. | After 4.5mm of overnight rain on Friday, the ground was described as good, good to soft in places. |
| Bright sunshine attracted large crowds to Aintree in Liverpool for the race. | Bright sunshine attracted large crowds to Aintree in Liverpool for the race. |
| Bookmaker Coral predicted punters would defy the recession and equal last year's record-breaking £300m, with more than 15m people expected to place bets. | Bookmaker Coral predicted punters would defy the recession and equal last year's record-breaking £300m, with more than 15m people expected to place bets. |
| The 13-times champion jockey Tony McCoy was riding one of the leading fancies for the race. | The 13-times champion jockey Tony McCoy was riding one of the leading fancies for the race. |
| His Butler's Cabin was vying to be favourite with My Will, whose jockey Ruby Walsh was chasing a third National win. | His Butler's Cabin was vying to be favourite with My Will, whose jockey Ruby Walsh was chasing a third National win. |
| Kate Miller, of bookmaker William Hill , said: "It looks like Butler's Cabin could easily go off favourite looking at the betting. | Kate Miller, of bookmaker William Hill , said: "It looks like Butler's Cabin could easily go off favourite looking at the betting. |
| "Punters seem to think it will be Tony McCoy's year after 13 unlucky attempts at the National. | "Punters seem to think it will be Tony McCoy's year after 13 unlucky attempts at the National. |
| The bookies nicknamed one gambler Insomniac Punter after he bet £2,000 each way on 40-1 Battle Cry at 0020 BST on Saturday. | The bookies nicknamed one gambler Insomniac Punter after he bet £2,000 each way on 40-1 Battle Cry at 0020 BST on Saturday. |