Aberdeen punter places £20,000 bet on Macron win in French presidency race

An Aberdeen punter has placed a £20,000 bet on Emmanuel Macron to win the French presidency this weekend.

En Marche! leader, Mr Macron, is pitted against the controversial Front National leader, Marine Le Pen, in Sunday’s poll.

But the mystery Aberdonian is gambling on the liberal Mr Macron beating the fascist Ms Le Pen to the top job.

William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly confirmed the Aberdeen bet, at 1/8 for a potential profit of £2,500, was the biggest bet for Mr Macron.

Mr Crilly said wagers had flooded in after the latest presidential debate, with £100,000 in takings, including bets on Ms Le Pen at 5/1.

He said: “The Aberdeen bet was placed by somebody who wasn’t a regular to the shop late on Wednesday.

“They placed the bet and disappeared into the Aberdeen night.

“We initially thought the French election could attract £1m industry-wide, but interest has far outstripped our now seemingly-reserved estimates and it would not be a surprise to see £1m taken with us and over £5m across the industry by the time the French go to the polls.”