Long shooters

Ladbrokes says it is suffering at the hands of the recession. Rival bookie Paddy Power is too. Meanwhile, William Hill has begun talks with its banks about restructuring its £1.2billion debt, while I hear that Cheltenham is panicking over the lack of corporate hospitality bookings for next year's Festival.
So here’s a brave move by Tote PR men Paul Petrie and Damian Walker, who have come up with the bright idea of quitting their jobs to, er, start a new bookmaking firm.
Odds on it proving a winner? Longish ones, I’d wager.