Bookmaker William Hill appears to be returning to form after announcing that favourable horseracing results had offset a poor start to the year.

The group, which is neck-and-neck with Ladbrokes as the UK's biggest bookie, benefited from an 11-1 winner at the Grand National, while the Cheltenham Festival and football in the 20-week period to May 16 also went in its favour.

The bookies said the betting results meant it was likely to deliver profits in line with market forecasts for the full year.

Unfavourable horseracing results and the cancellation of fixtures contributed to a mixed performance in January and February, which followed a disappointing run of sports results last year as full-year profits growth was reduced to five per cent. However, the bookies said recent results offset earlier disappointments.

It added: "At this relatively early point in the year the board remains comfortable with consensus estimates for the full year out-turn."

It added it was well-placed to take advantage of this year's busy sporting programme and predicted record levels of turnover around events such as the World Cup.

William Hill acquired the 624 betting shops of Stanley Leisure in May last year, for £504 million.

Since acquiring the shops, the company has focused on bringing products and prices into line with its own, as well as the phased rebranding of the sites.