By lunchtime, shares in William Hill were 3.5% higher, but Sportingbet was down 0.5%.
William Hill bookmakers has quoted odds of 50-1 for Basil to top the festive charts.
Graham Sharpe, a spokesman for William Hill, one of the bigger bookmakers, says that might be tricky.
ECONOMIST: A new newspaper plans to tap into Britain's betting boom
Topping is responsible for strategic direction and the day-to-day management and profitability of William Hill's group operations.
The UK's largest bookmaker, William Hill, has reported rising profits, helped by revenues from online and in-play betting.
BBC: William Hill profits boosted by online and in-play bets
Shares in William Hill have risen following a trading update that showed more growth from its online business.
The company is currently considering whether to buy out the 29% stake in William Hill Online held by Playtech.
Speaking from William Hill's branch in Anlaby, regional manager Ben Bradley admitted the Tigers were favourites for the drop.
"We've had a lot of bets, " says Graham Sharpe of bookmakers William Hill.
The Gorillaz album was initially ranked 3-1 favourite by bookmakers William Hill, followed by Radiohead and Basement Jaxx at 4-1.
Both William Hill and Ladbrokes say they have taken bets on the World Cup finals from more than 160 countries.
Meanwhile, there was a surprise winner of the day's big betting race, the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap at York.
You may have seen Probability in the news recently: his company has been approached by the High Street bookmakers, William Hill.
Bookmaker William Hill said betting patterns indicated punters were convinced Marsh would be first out with the result "all over bar the counting".
BBC: NEWS | Entertainment | Savile to join Big Brother house
"The market continues to reward those companies which have embraced online business and William Hill is no exception, " said Richard Hunter at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers.
Perhaps belying Ratzinger's prediction, UK bookmaker William Hill has Canadian Marc Ouellet and Ghanaian Mark Turkson are showing as favorites so far, at 7-2 odds.
Topping will continue his role as chief executive at William Hill.
William Hill could be in danger of losing money itself, though.
Even taking on board Nolan's reservations, William Hill were impressed enough to slash Joncol to just 6-1 for the Ryanair Chase behind the 4-1 favourite Poquelin.
Jacob Marx, 27, was hit on the head by the metal sign from a William Hill betting shop in Camden Road, Camden Town, on Monday evening.
They said two took place in Crawley, Sussex, at branches of William Hill and Ladbrokes, with others in Leicester and Harpenden, Hertfordshire - both in branches of Ladbrokes.
So significant is World Cup betting to such companies that William Hill has timed its flotation as a public company on the London stock exchange to coincide with the tournament.
The former main man at William Hill was betting on the 12 clubs buying into the proposal and doing something that is a rarity when the top clubs meet - reaching agreement.
Catherine's slip wasn't just front page news, however -- it caused a betting frenzy that forced two leading bookmakers, William Hill and Paddy Power, to suspend bets on the sex of the royal baby.
It has a passing resemblance to the drone of commentary and lists of runners and riders ever-present in a more familiar gambling house - the William Hill bookmakers shop, just a few doors down.
William Hill said that it would seek a valuation of the 29% stake in its online business that is held by joint venture partner Playtech, and that it may exercise its option to buy Playtech out.
BBC: William Hill profits boosted by online and in-play bets
Tyson wasn't the only man down and out when Lewis connected with a big right hand towards the end of the eighth round and, if the truth were told, William Hill (the English bookmaker), was never in any danger where my bet was concerned.
William Jenkins, a high hill farmer from Manmoel near Blackwood, Caerphilly county, said there is little snow where he is but a cold, penetrating wind which leaves new born lambs at risk of being frozen to death.
BBC: Wales weather: progress on roads but services suspended
There were about 40 or 50 children from the William Morris school, people from the environmental services and wardens, residents from Pollards Hill - we had a really big turnout.
BBC: NEWS | UK | England | London | My London: 'We are the eyes and ears'
应用推荐