Betting bonanza hits record £650m

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Around £300million will be bet on a day when a sell-out 65,000 crowd will flood into Cheltenham.

Scroll down for more

Fancy seeing you here: Kauto Star and Denman at their stables

With bookies estimating yesterday's Cheltenham bets totalled £250m and Tuesday's figure was put at £100m, the three days of the meeting will have attracted a staggering £650m betting bonanza.

The clash between stablemates Denman and Kauto Star on an extended nine-race card is expected to push turnover beyond the record £255m bet on Grand National day last year.

Betting exchange Betfair predict that trading on the Gold Cup, run on ground unraced on since last year's Festival, will breach £10m on a race for the first time on their exchange.

The going remains good to soft, good in places. Gold Cup sponsors totesport quote Kauto Star as evens favourite to retain his crownwhile Denman is a 13-8 shot.

Spokesman Damien Walker said: 'I think it will take a lot more rain than we have had to change the situation.'

Racing has been waiting for the clash between the two geldings, who live only feet apart at trainer Paul Nicholls' Somerset stable, since last year's Festival when Kauto Star won his first Gold Cup and Denman, who has never been beaten in eight races over fences, graduated from the novice ranks with victory in the Sun Alliance Chase.

Their clash is being billed as the biggest steeplechasing dual since the 1964 Gold Cup between Arkle and Mill House.

Between £30m-£40m will be bet on the Gold Cup alone. Walker added: 'In excess of £30m will be bet on the big race. Denman is a significant loser for us in our ante-post book and a victory for him would cost us a six-figure sum, but Kauto Star is actually a small winner. But those sums will be dwarfed by what happens on Friday.'