Net revenue fell by 16.6% at the Irish division of British betting giant Ladbrokes in the third quarter of the year.

British bookmaker, Ladbrokes is expecting annual operating profits to fall around £20m (€28m) short of expectations, this year.

Shares in British bookmaker Ladbrokes jumped 20%, at one point yesterday, on news of its merger talks with Gala Coral, designed to create a $5 billion (€4.5bn) giant with the capacity to advance in the online gambling market.

Paddy Power is unlikely to follow up its latest cash bonanza for shareholders, with another bumper pay-out in the foreseeable future.

Ladbrokes saw a further 1% dip in revenues at its struggling Irish operations during the first three months of the year.

Ladbrokes Ireland has been placed into examinership, throwing the future of hundreds of jobs into doubt.

I have been asked several times of late, by a number of punters, as to why there is such a lack of racing for much of December, on the lead-in to Christmas.

Le Vent d’Antan gets the nap to make a winning start over fences in the Annual Membership Beginners Chase at Naas this afternoon.

Ladbrokes saw net revenues at its Irish operations rise by 1.1% in the third quarter when measured against the same period last year, despite Irish punters betting considerably less in its shops.

Marchese Marconi, having a second run of the festival, can land the nap in the Ladbrokes’ Mobile Maiden Hurdle at Galway this afternoon.

Thousands of eager punters will head west this week hoping to win their fortune as the Galway Races kick off today.

A massive gamble went astray on Willie Mullins’ Annie Power, after the mare failed to get to grips with Jonjo O’Neill’s More Of That, brilliantly ridden by Barry Geraghty, in the Ladbrokes’ World Hurdle at Cheltenham yesterday.

Operating profits at Ladbrokes’ Irish operations fell by over 28% last year, to £10.2m (€12.4m), hampered by general economic trends and the continuation of what the company called “a highly competitive trading environment”.

Tom Cooper’s Chute Hall can leave a frustrating run of three seconds in a row behind by landing the Cashel Maiden Hurdle at Thurles this afternoon.

The Tullow Tank will not run at the Cheltenham Festival due to the “uncertainty” surrounding trainer Philip Fenton’s ongoing case for alleged possession of anabolic steroids, said his owner Barry Connell.

Big Buck’s is as short as 6-4 favourite to regain his Ladbrokes World Hurdle crown after the current champion Solwhit was ruled out of the race with injury.

Punters who took a gamble and placed a bet on golfer Rory McIlroy becoming engaged to his Danish tennis player girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki also have reasons to celebrate the New Year.

“Hang on, what’s he played there?”

Ladbrokes has reported a 6% year-on-year drop in first-half operating profits at its Irish operations.

Cheltenham punters have put a dent in the profits of bookmakers Ladbrokes, which yesterday warned investors it expected annual operating profit to fall after a poor performance from horse racing and online gaming in the first quarter.

Dot Love, originally from Denmark and who trains in Co Westmeath, saddled Liberty Counsel to land a massive 50-1 surprise in the Ladbrokes’ Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Last Tuesday you had to wonder whether Hurricane Fly continued to be blessed with four legs.

Ladbrokes announced record takings from its UK betting shops today after a run of favourable results and another surge in revenues from gaming machines.

Rubi Light can land the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase on a terrific card at Navan this afternoon.

Betdaq, the Dublin-based betting exchange company established nearly 13 years ago by Dermot Desmond, looks set to be taken over by British bookmaker Ladbrokes in the coming weeks.

Third-quarter net revenue at Ladbrokes’ Irish operations grew by 1.7% year-on-year when measured on a constant currency basis.

Tom Gibney, who trains relatively locally at Kells in Co Meath, enjoyed his greatest success when Lion Na Bearnai sprang a 33-1 shock in the Ladbrokes’ Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse yesterday.

THERE’s no problem making a case at Cheltenham next week for the likes of Hurricane Fly, Big Buck’s, Sprinter Scare, Quevega and Sizing Europe.

Operating profits fell by 15.6% at the Irish operations of international betting and gaming group Ladbrokes last year, although the business did manage to marginally grow revenue.

A FAMILY is to seek legal advice after a bookmaking chain refused to honour what the family insists were valid bets on last Friday’s EuroMillions draw.

DAVY RUSSELL gave a masterclass of waiting in front aboard Royal Choice in the Tipperary Home Of Hurling Hurdle at Clonmel last night.

FIRST-HALF operating profit at Ladbrokes’ Irish operations fell by 33.3%, on a year-on-year basis, to £3.8 million (€4.4m) as well-backed Irish horses cleaned up at high-profile meets like Cheltenham and Royal Ascot, the company said yesterday.

THE race for glory will commence tomorrow evening at Shelbourne Park with 150 greyhounds in pursuit of the €120,000 Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby.

BOOKMAKERS are fearing a “multi-million pound headache” when the aptly-named Royal Wedding runs at Fontwell this evening.

DERMOT WELD, who saddled Perris Valley to win the race in 1988, can enjoy a second success in the Ladbrokes’ Irish Grand National with Prince Erik at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

JONJO O’NEILL’S Synchronised, the Welsh Grand National winner, heads a 51-strong list of initial acceptors for the €250,000 Ladbrokes’ Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

WHEN Kauto Star landed the Gold Cup two years ago he created history.

SHOULD champion trainer Willie Mullins leave Cheltenham empty-handed this week then it is a virtual certainty that Irish punters will be sunk without trace.

HERE’S a tip for Cheltenham — don’t bet. But, of course, such words of wisdom will be completely lost in the festival air — though there is the possibility they might be fleetingly recalled after the last race has been run next Friday.

GIBRALTAR-based online gaming company, 888.com — which is currently being courted by bookmaking giant Ladbrokes — has reported a 6% increase in operating profit, for 2010, to $262 million (€193.5m).

BRITISH bookmaker Ladbrokes has reported significant year-on-year gains in third-quarter operating profit and revenue, but has said the performance in its Irish division has remained flat.

LADBROKES saw a near 10% year-on-year fall in both gross win levels and the amount punters spent over the counter in its Irish operations during the first half of this year, adding that conditions here remain “challenging”.