The great £1m challenge

It's the biggest gambling weekend of the year, and whether you're backing a geegee in the National, putting your bucks on the colour of Camilla's bouquet, there's a fortune up for grabs. We've given punters £50 for a fantasy accumulator. The challenge: to make a million. Here's how they did

Jonathan Rendall is an award-winning writer of "Twelve Grand" among others and known for betting shrewdly on a range of subjects.

Jonathan Rendall is an award-winning writer of "Twelve Grand" among others and known for betting shrewdly on a range of subjects.

6-5 Labour to win the election by 63 seats or fewer. "Only money coming in is for a much closer result than expected, and some of it has come from inside Westminster."

9-4 Chelsea to win the Champions' League. "Only worry is that late penalty."

Kosta Tszyu to beat Ricky Hatton inside the distance in their world light-welterweight boxing match in Manchester in June. "Hatton has allowed his weight to balloon."

12-1 Tomoohat to win 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. "Filly burning up the gallops. Best trainer (Sir M Stoute). Odds cut from 33s in last few days, so take the hint."

11-2 Australia to beat England in the Ashes cricket by three Tests to one. "Bound to be one weather-hit drawn Test. Aussies go into unassailable lead and want to go home. England win dead rubber. Always happens."

3-1Alastair Campbell to be arrested during election campaign.

"Unbelievable odds. Thought it would be 20-1 at least. But porn-writer Campbell has always seemed utterly out of control."

Total: £241,670

Claire Balding is the BBC's horse-racing anchor, she does have "the odd bet on racing and golf, but I never put down a big stake as I don't like losing!"

10-1 Forest Gunner to win the Grand National. "The horse is perfectly capable and the fact that there is a female jockey is a bonus."

8-1 Pierce Brosnan to be reinstated as Bond. "I know this is a long shot, but Brosnan is too young to hang up his Walther PPK."

9-4 Chelsea to win the Champions' League. "They are a class above the rest and should do it."

12-1 UK to win the Eurovision Song Contest. "Imagine the boost the country would receive if we brought home the bacon after recent debacles."

Total: £209,138

Chanel 4 racing pundit John McCririck will "bet on absolutely everything. Sports betting has taken off - you can't watch anything without having a bet on it now. Poker, too, is the number one exploding sport".

22-1 Innox in the Grand National. "Unlike myself, it's got a light weight. Soft ground will suit it. A French-trained horse has not won since the 1860s, so this would be a great result."

7-1 Conservatives to win more seats than Labour at general election.

"There's a huge anti-Blair feeling in this country. The Tories do have a chance now."

7-1 Newcastle to win the FA Cup. "I'm a massive Newcastle man - I love them dearly. But this is a big ask. They have to beat two of the best teams in the country, in Manchester United and Arsenal, to win the trophy, but I would love them to do it."

8-1 Frances Arinze to become next Pope. "First, to get a Pope from outside Rome again would be great, and also for it to be a black Pope would be a massive inspiration to millions."

2-5 Paris to be Olympic City. London's got no chance. It's a futile bid, we're hated around the world. And we're wasting millions on advertising on this redundant campaign."

7-2 England to win the Ashes. It's going to be a great summer - we'd all love England to do it. But you might say we've got more chance of winning the Olympic bid."

Total: £4,173,120

James Hipwell is editor of the gambling magazine "InsideEdge". He devoted much of his time when writer of the "Daily Mirror" City Slickers column to stock market punting.

2-1 London to hold the 2012 summer Olympics. "Everyone seems to think Paris will get it but the price on London has been shortening recently for some reason and I like siding with 'steamers'."

8-15 Federer to win Wimbledon. "Who can beat the Swiss 'My Little Ponytail'?"

8-1 Liberal Democrats to win 67 to 69 seats in the general election. "I reckon Kennedy & Co will have their best election ever."

5-1 David Davis to be next Tory leader. "A worthy favourite. I was amused to see my mate Ed Vaizey at 33s, half the price of Boris Johnson, when he isn't even in parliament yet."

14-1 Carrie Ford to be BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2005. "If she becomes the first woman to win the Grand National aboard Forest Gunner she will be nailed on to win this."

8-1 Me to win next year's InsideEdge/William Hill Gambling Book of the Year Competition. "Graham Sharpe of William Hill suggested these odds and he's one of the judges."

Total: £1,169,570

Laura Thompson Wrote "The Dogs, A Personal History of Greyhound Racing" and a history of Newmarket; bets on horses throughout the flat racing season

16-1 Oratorio to win the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket (30 April).

12-1 Tomoohat to win the 1000 Guineas (Newmarket, 1 May). "I loathe the Grand National, so shall be snubbing it with two bets instead."

20-1 Camilla to be dressed in gold (or variants of) "The wedding bets I've read about sound mad, so I'll stick to this one."

7-1 Chelsea to beat Birmingham. 3-0

23-10 Middlesbrough to draw with Arsenal. "I hardly ever do football bets but will try these."

13-2 Hung parliament will be returned at the next election.

No horse is killed in that wretched Grand National, "No odds, but one I hope will come off."

Total: £45,945,900

Stan Hey grew up close to the Grand National course and with his father working part-time in a betting shop, his fate was sealed. He is a regular punter but not a big one. He bets mainly on horse-racing and other major sports. If he's lucky, he breaks even.

10-1 Liberal Democrats to win more than 91 seats. "Tactical voting and anti-war protest will boost seats."

40-1 Jakari to win Grand National. "French bred, allez vite!"

33-1 Mario Ancic to win Wimbledon Men's Singles. "The Croat reached a semi-final last year, can derail the Federer Express."

7-4 AC Milan to win Champions' League. "Shevchenko is the best striker in Europe."

Total: £2,108,425

Victoria Coren generally bet on poker, blackjack and outcomes in reality TV. She has been fleecing the bookies since "Pop Idol" and "Big Brother" were invented. She very rarely bets on horses, but does have a few quid on the Grand National.

20-1 Prince Charles accidentally calls Camilla "Diana" during the vows."It's not impossible."

33-1 Peter Andre is the new Doctor Who. "A hopeful bet - he'd be great."

200-1 Following the election, Boris Johnson becomes Home Secretary. "Back up the greasy pole?"

500-1 Jonathan King's single makes it to number one. "With Jacko out of the picture..."

Total: £3.6bn

ALL ODDS SET BY WILLIAM HILL; SOME MAY NOT BE OFFERED