Bookmaker Paddy Power will back the Paddy Power Gold Cup and two other races at Cheltenham's Open meeting until 2012 after signing a three-year extension to their sponsorship deal.

Paddy Power Bookmaker has announced record interim results for the six months to June 30, thanks to a turn of luck for the worse among punters.

Bookmaker William Hill is still considering closing a call centre which employs nearly 300 people in Athlone, it emerged today.