BOOKIES say they are expecting a record £150million to be wagered on the Grand National.
One in three British adults — around 18million people in all — are expected to have a punt.
Paddy Power is preparing to take 15,000 bets a minute in Britain and Ireland in the hour before the National’s 5.15pm start.
A worldwide audience of 600million is expected to watch the 40-strong field compete.
Some 70,000 spectators will pack the Aintree course to see the field jump 16 distinctive fences, 14 of them twice.
David Stevens, of bookmaker Coral, said: “It’s a day when millions of people have their one and only bet of the year.
![Jockey Rachael Blackmore must beat boyfriend Brian Hayes to triumph in National](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/GM_14-01_COMP_GRAND-NATIONAL.jpg?strip=all&w=360&h=240&crop=1)
![What grey horses are running in the Grand National 2023?](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/GettyImages-142883881.jpg?strip=all&w=360&h=240&crop=1)
“That will ensure that, once again, National day is by far the biggest day in the betting calendar — with total turnover approaching £250million.
“We expect an estimated third of the adult population will have their traditional flutter on the National, which could see up to £150million riding on the big race.”
The Grand National will be broadcast live on ITV 1 and live streamed on ITV X today on Saturday, April 15 at 5.15pm.
There will be six races each day of the Aintree Festival leading into the Grand National.
Most read in Horse Racing
ITV 1 will show four of the races each day, with ITV X live streaming.
Racing TV and bookies’ websites will be showing the first and final races.