You Bet Your Life

An Irish bookmaker has risked the displeasure of the Vatican by inviting punters to have a flutter on the papal election.

Since the death of John Paul II, the money has been flooding in, with more than 5,000 bets taken so far.

PADDY POWER'S CURRENT ODDS

Cardinal Francis Arinze (Nigeria): 3-1 (fav)
Cardinal Oscar Maradiaga (Honduras): 9-2
Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi (Italy): 9-2
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Germany): 6-1
Cardinal Claudio Hummes (Brazil): 7-1
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Argentina): 7-1
Cardinal Jaime Ortega (Cuba): 16-1

New pope's name

Benedict 3-1
John Paul 7-2
John 5-1
Pius 6-1

Duration of conclave

One day: 14-1
Two days: 7-4
Three days: evens