Punters set for £100m betting weekend

Punters are expected to indulge in a betting frenzy this weekend with £100 million riding on the outcome of the Grand National and other sporting events.

Bookmakers said it could be the biggest betting plunge of all time and 10 million people are expected to take part.

As well as the National, there are two FA Cup semi-finals, two Six Nations rugby matches, the US Masters, and the IBO world featherweight title fight between Britain's Naseem Hamed and Marco Antonio Barrera.

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "Although the Grand National is always the biggest betting event of the year, this year's is set to smash all previous records, particularly as we now have internet punters from over 200 different countries logging on to place tax-free bets with us."

Betting shop punters will contribute the majority of the betting turnover and Hills reported plenty of backing for last year's winner Papillon, and runner-up, Mely Moss.

Liverpool punter David Bullock has placed a £10 each way double on Lance Armstrong the horse to win the National and Lance Armstrong the cyclist to win this year's Tour de France - he will collect £2,500 if the bet comes off.

Arsenal take on Tottenham in one FA Cup semi-final while Liverpool meet Wycombe Wanderers in the other.

England clash with France while Wales travel to Italy in the Six Nations, and the Masters golf tournament in Augusta will be reaching its climax.

Coral Eurobet said interest was high after weeks of abandoned race meetings because of bad weather and the foot-and-mouth outbreak.