Ladbrokes reveals Champions League boost

English clubs' dominance of the Uefa Champions League today helped bookmaker Ladbrokes to post better-than-expected trading figures.

With three teams in the semi-final and Manchester United and Chelsea contesting the tightest Premier League in years, Ladbrokes said there had been “particularly strong growth” in football turnover so far this year.

The improvement coincided with the company’s first television advertising campaign, featuring ex-players Ian Wright, Ally McCoist and Lee Dixon.

The amount left by losing horse racing punters was slightly lower, which Ladbrokes said was due to strong comparatives with a year earlier and the impact of joint-favourite Comply or Die’s win in the Grand National.

Overall, the group said profits were up by 13% in the first four months of the year, excluding a £40m (€50m) boost from the company’s high-rolling customers. Shares jumped by 4% following the trading update.

Chief executive Chris Bell said: “Gross win grew strongly during the period, and, whilst our business sees no evidence of a consumer downturn, we remain mindful of general economic conditions.”