Horseracing betting: bookies expect £600m Cheltenham

Britain's bookmakers are setting themselves for a record-breaking Cheltenham Festival, with turnover expected to exceed £600 million for the four-day festival that will climax with the long-awaited Gold Cup showdown between Kauto Star and Denman on Friday. Click here for a free £200 to bet on the Cheltenham Festival with Canbet The bookmakers are set to benefit from the national team's failute to ualify for the Euro 2008 Championships and the current lull surounding both the rugby and football teams. "With England missing from this summer's European Championships, the next four days will be our busiest week of the year, and not even the stormy weather will dampen punters' enthusiasm for the action at Cheltenham," said one bookmaker on Monday. "Industry-wide turnover could exceed £600 million, with tens of million wagered on Friday's Gold Cup alone. The clash between stablemates Kauto Star and Denman promises to be the most thrilling Gold Cup for decades, with every punter having a view on the outcome." "We can't split the pair at present, and make them the 11/10 joint favourites, but the more rain that falls on Prestbury Park, the greater the chance the young pretender Denman could start favourite ahead of the reigning champion," reckoned Stevens. Ruby Walsh has been heavily backed to be the festival's top jockey and bookmakers will face a hefty five-figure payout if the Irishman obliges his backers. As a result Walsh's price has been cut further today from 11/10 into Evens. The bookies also fear the money coming in for Paul Nicholls to be top trainer and his price was shortened across the board on Monday from 1/2 to 2/5. Click here for a free £200 to bet on the Cheltenham Festival with Canbet