Bets halted over 'super dog' fear

The prestigious Best In Show will be awarded on Sunday

Concerns that a mystery "super dog" will paw Crufts' top prize has led a bookmaker to close the book on bets.
William Hill said it closed the book on which category of dog would win Best in Show after a "flurry of activity" over two days backed a "utility" dog winner.
Odds for the usually unfancied group, which includes dalmations and bulldogs, were slashed from 13-2 to 1-2.
The firm's Rupert Adams said: "There must be people in the know who are aware of an absolute wonder dog."
Thousands of dog lovers and their pets are gathering for the start of the world's largest dog show, with almost 23,000 dogs, including 1,165 from overseas, expected to take part in the four-day event.
The Best in Show is chosen from the winners of seven different categories, which include terrier, hound, toy, gun and working dogs.
Mr Adams said William Hill had been taking bets for the show's "supreme winner" for about 10 years.
"It is the first time we have closed the bets on Crufts," he said.
"I can't guarantee that a utility dog will win, but obviously it seems one has a good chance," he said.
He added there was "nothing dodgy" about the situation, but the firm thought an outsider they were not aware of had entered into the race.
Christmas race
Mr Adams said a similar thing happened in December when Katie Melua's A Wonderful World unexpectedly entered the race for Christmas number 1.
The Kennel Club has said this year will see the second largest show in Crufts' history.
The biggest was the centenary show in 1991. The event was founded by entrepreneur Charles Cruft in 1891.
Caroline Kisko, secretary of the Kennel Club, said: "Last year we had 153,000 visitors and I think we can confidently expect a similar sort of number this year. "The thing about Crufts is we have the show dogs, but in addition there are therapy dogs, assistance dogs, which are those for the disabled and deaf, and there are breeds that come in to take part in training and other displays." The prestigious Best in Show title will be awarded on Sunday.



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