Lomdon -- A 101-year-old Londoner, billed as the world's oldest punter, took time out from training for the London marathon to stake 101 pounds on outsider Cornish Sett winning Saturday's Grand National horse race at odds of 101-1.

Buster Martin
©Reuters/Mario Rebellato/Handout
A handout photograph shows Britain's oldest employee, 101-year-old Buster Martin, posing for the camera during a training session in Archbishop's Park, central London on February 13, 2007.


Buster Martin, who is also bidding to become the world's oldest marathon runner, still works as a plumber, drinks beer, smokes cigarettes and enjoys staying out late.

Bookmakers William Hill are in turn offering odds of 101-1 that the doughty centenarian can finish the marathon later this month within 12 hours.

The Grand National is invariably Britain's biggest betting day of the year and, as the big race coincides with the FA Cup semi-final and Formula One Grand Prix action, bookmakers are forecasting turnover could top 500 million pounds.

The British gamble an average of eight pounds each on the racing marathon. One in three bets will be placed by women.

Coincidence bets are all the rage.

"If the weather turns, Snowy Morning will be hotly fancied," said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe.