Lewis Hamilton produced arguably the drive of his life to win the Brazilian Grand Prix last weekend – and that’s put him amongst the front-runners in the race to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
The public vote for the award takes place next month and Hamilton, who came from number 10 on the grid to triumph in Brazil on Sunday, has been cut into 20/1 with Betfred to win the award.
He’s still way behind the new superstar of British tennis, Emma Raducanu, who remains the big favourite at 1/16.
In second place is Olympic gold medal-winning diver Tom Daley, at 14/1.
I’ve got to say, it’s looking very much like a three-horse race between that trio, for we have Manchester boxer Tyson Fury, who of course won that incredible trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder this year, drifting out to 40/1.
On the World Cup front, and after our 10-0 trouncing of San Marino, England are third favourites at 7/1 behind joint-favourites France and Brazil at 11/2.
It was odd watching that qualifier on Monday and wondering just how many goals we’d chalk up. Even with the changes and without reborn Harry Kane the goals kept flowing. The biggest problem for Southgate next year could well be finding World Cup starting places for stars such as United’s Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish.
It’s going to be an interesting World Cup in Qatar for many reasons – while on the pitch I do think that, for once, we’ll be going into the tournament with our players fit and strong in November, rather than shattered at the end of a gruelling Premier League season.
Argentina look good value to me at 11/1 – the same price as the nearly men of Belgium, who a big like my beloved United have no shortage of stars but consistently don’t gel as a team.
Meanwhile, I noticed the other day that Warrington Wolves have resumed training this week and I saw a clip of George Williams talking about his ambitions for the new season.
It will be Williams’ first full Betfred Super League campaign with the Wire, and whether or not the club succeeds will, to a degree, rest on how successful he is.
He reckons he thrives on the big occasion, and that he’s aiming for a successful season with the Wolves that will hopefully see him play for his country in the World Cup.
Betfred have Warrington second favourites at 7/2 to win the Betfred Super League Grand Final next year, behind champions Saints at 2/1 but ahead of this year’s finalists Catalans Dragons at 6/1.
Wigan are next up at 13/2, just ahead of Leeds at 8/1 – while my hometown club Salford are 66/1, with only newly-promoted Toulouse behind them at 100/1.
LIFELONG pals Rob Irwin and Jonathan White will never forget their holiday of a lifetime paid for with a big Betfred win.
For the duo who both work on construction sites had the bookie’s famous logo tattooed on their chests…and just above their hearts!
The pals went to the same school in Hemsworth, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, played football together both becoming Sheffield Wednesday fans - and used to love nothing more than while still in short pants catching tiddlers in what is known as the pit pond formed after the closure of the colliery at nearby Fitzwilliam.
As they grew up and had families of their own Rob and his best mate “Chalky” became Betfred regulars, enjoying trips to the horse racing at Pontefract, Doncaster or York – and placing weekly football accumulator bets.
They always vowed that if any of them should have a big win they would splash out on a holiday together.
And it was digger truck driver Rob, aged 38 who fulfilled their long-held promise when he hit the jackpot winning £14,000 from Betfred’s fishing-themed online slot game Big Bass Bonanza.
Father of two Rob, of Upton, near Pontefract takes up the story: “I always loved our time fishing with home made rods and nets, and whether that was in my mind or not when I got in during the early hours thought I’d have a go on the Big Bass slot game…and I won. I couldn’t wait to ring Chalky but waited until 9.30am and told him we were off to Tenerife next week.
“We must have spent £5000 on our four-star hotel, nice posh restaurants, chilling on the beach – and one night we had our own VIP booth in a bar.”
Brickie’s labourer Chalky, a 41 year old father of one, of Hemsworth, went on: “Half way through the brilliant holiday we were having a walk in Las Americas and noticed the tattoo parlour and we decided there and then to get a tattoo to remember it all. If it was not for Betfred we wouldn’t be having such a great time in the winter sunshine, so what would be better way to make sure we never forgot than having Betfred tattoos?
“He was fully booked all day but he had to get the blue and red colours sorted after checking the logo on our phones then next day we went for it. We went straight after each other taking about 40 minutes each time – and it cost us 140 euros each. We put some pictures on Snapchat and it blew up with people amazed at what we’d done.
“They did fade a little because we couldn’t avoid showing them off in the sun and they were certainly a big talking point in Tenerife. I bet people are still talking about it out there now. It was a bit different with my partner Abbie who was not happy at all when she saw them. I explained it was mine and Rob’s memories and you can’t buy memories like we have had. Rob has his kids names on his hands and I’ve got a Sheff Wednesday one but our new Betfred ones are over our hearts!”
Rob added: “We call each other Bazza for a laugh in tribute to our favourite player Scotland and Owls midfielder Barry Bannan – and that’s why under the Betfred logo it refers to Bazza of the Glen on mine and Bazza of the Hood on his. I have won £2,600 with a Lucky 15 in the past and we’ve had a few football accumulator wins of up to £300 but nothing ever like this.”
In my game I thought I’d seen it all but Betfred tattoos takes the biscuit. What a great gesture by these two fellas …a lifelong, lasting memory to their good fortune.
MIKE Pence is currently 16/1 with Betfred to win the 2024 US Presidential Election - and 12/1 to win the Republican nomination.
His price has been trimmed slightly from 20/1 over the last couple of weeks. This is on the back of a few decent sized bets taken in our shops.
Whilst I do expect that Pence will make a run for the White House in 2024, Donald Trump remains the overwhelming favourite to be the Republican Candidate in 2024 (5/4). For him leading the betting is unlikely to change over the next couple of years as he’ll continue to tease another run for the White House.
Incidentally Trump is also the 3/1 favourite to win the Presidency in 2024 – partly due to the uncertainty over whether Joe Biden will seek re-election.
If the Republican Party ultimately end up opting for “Trumpism without Trump” then Florida Governor Ron Desantis is currently the shortest priced contender. We have him ahead of Mike Pence on the betting.
AND finally a Betfred punter feared the worst when one of his favourite horses drifted out from 25/1 to 80/1 at Aintree.
It was the 62-year-old from Tyne and Wear’s mainstay on his £2 Lucky 15 wager.
But he need not have worried, for Koshari did the business in the 1.08 on Saturday 6 November to get his bet off to a flyer.
His next two horses – Linelee King and Mac Tottie – were also first past the post at the Merseyside track, while the fourth leg – Martello Sky – could only manage fourth in the card’s penultimate race.
He took home a whopping £37,882, which was boosted by over £28,000 thanks to Betfred’s Best Odds Guaranteed promotion.
The lucky winner said: “There wasn’t much science in my selections – I just looked at the names and remembered Koshari. It took me about half-an-hour to fill in my coupon and got three winners.
“It means a lot to me and my partner, a win like this. We’ll probably have our best ever Christmas – and then next year, when Covid is hopefully finally beaten, we can afford to go to New York.
“I’ve never been to America but I’ve always wanted to go, and now I can.”
This guy has well and truly picked my pocket. We’ve had a lot of big Lucky 15 and Lucky 31 winners recently – and what a tremendous boost thanks to our Best Odds Guaranteed promotion.
Good luck to him – enjoy Christmas and the Big Apple in the New Year.
Tuesday night saw Ashton United pass up on the chance to set up an all-Ashton Manchester Premier Cup Final, with Tameside neighbours Droylsden picking up a shock semi-final victory at Hurst Cross.
Following their loss at home to Real Madrid last week, knocking them out of the Champions League, Manchester City faced arguably a tougher test against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup Final on Sunday.
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