Right Said Fred: Talking Betting With Betfred Boss Fred Done

It’s the question everyone has been asking me all week after I presented Ronnie O’Sullivan with his record-equalling  seventh Betfred World Snooker Championship on Monday.

Just what was it that got the champ giggling?

Well I told him he could have 3/1 with us to come and do it again next year – and quick as a flash he said that was a bit mean so I said he could have a special price of 4/1.

Later at a celebratory party that went long into the night at the Crucible in Sheffield I told Ronnie he could have 100/1 to make it ten championships!

To be honest I’m beginning to regret that now because  the Rocket in this supreme form looks unbeatable.

He’s now level on titles with Stephen Hendry after seeing off a spirited Judd Trump in the final.

It was a tremendous spectacle at the iconic venue, where re snooker’s genius even aged 46 came out on top.

It was brilliant for Betfred to be associated with the snooker, bringing us worldwide exposure.

Remarkably, Ronnie was a 100/1 shot with us to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year ahead of the tournament, and now he’s as short as 7/2 to win it for the first time.

He’s favourite ahead of boxing champ Tyson Fury at 8/1 – the same price as England skipper Harry Kane.

Kane’s price will no doubt shorten if the England team win the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

That could be the case for tennis ace Emma Raducanu – who is a 14/1 shot at present – depending on how she gets on at Wimbledon in a couple of months’ time.

Next up is  City and England star Raheem Sterling at 20/1, just ahead of sprinter Dina Asher-Smith at 25/1 – the same price as Fury’s heavyweight boxing rival Anthony Joshua, who will have the chance to win back his world titles later this year when he rematches Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk.

With the Champions League finalists resolved, the battle royal on the domestic front resumes with City thanks to that precious one point lead and just four games to go remain  odds on favourites to be Premier League  champs. Betfred have the Blues, who host Newcastle on Sunday, at 4/9 while Liverpool, who entertain top-four chasing Spurs at Anfield, are 15/8 for the title.

IT was a case of away day joy for Betfred regular James Melvin who won £24,448 on Saturday.

He picked NINE away wins in his regular football accumulator placed at the Betfred shop on Upper Aughton Road in Birkdale, Southport.

The afternoon wasn’t without drama, however, for there were late goals galore that kept his bet alive – including for West Brom at Reading in the Championship, Burnley against Watford in the Premier League and Aaron Collins’ 95^th minute winner for Bristol Rovers against Rochdale in League Two.

The Rovers’ victory came despite Joey Barton’s team being 2-0 down at half-time at the Crown Oil Arena.

James also opted for Brighton to beat Wolves in the top-flight and Huddersfield to triumph at Coventry in the Championship – while the lucky winner had Accrington Stanley, Sunderland and Wigan to defeat AFC Wimbledon, Morecambe and Shrewsbury respectively in League One.

Finally, he picked Leyton Orient to get all three points against Crawley Town in League Two.

It’s not the first time grandfather James, a retired shop owner, has taken Betfred to the cleaners, for in October last year he picked up £30,800 from three £20 football accumulators.

He’s been using his winnings to pay for double glazing, a new bathroom and rendering at his four-bedroom, semi-detached house in Birkdale.

“It took me two minutes to sort out Saturday’s winning coupon,” he said. “I was chatting with the shop manager Mike Kenyon about the fact Brighton have been doing well and Wolves’ struggles, so I put them down first and then just went with another eight away wins.

“I don’t like flying so we’re not going on a big holiday. In fact, I don’t like the sun, or sitting on a beach, and I don’t like ships either so that’s a cruise out.

“We do like going to Scotland and Ireland, so maybe we’ll be going there a few more times now Covid looks like it’s over and done with.

“I don’t need a new, top-of-the-range car because I like my Ford Fiesta – it’s a great car, and I have no intention of changing it. The wife said she doesn’t want a present either, and that I should keep the money.

“As well as playing golf, I’m in Betfred most days, and at the moment I think it’s fair to say I’m on something of a good run!”

You get some unusual bets at this time of the year. Teams seem to be leaking plenty of goals, with some having nothing to play for while others chase titles, promotion and try to avoid relegation.

Congratulations James, who has done tremendously well not just on Saturday but last October as well.

I’M bracing myself for some heavy losses with Ukraine now odds on favourites to win Eurovision 2022 which this yteart is being broadcast from Turin on Saturday.

We’ve had two particularly 2 big bets in Kent and Yorkshire – each for £1,000 when the Kalush Orchestra – a wacky ensemble in traditional garb -singing Stefania were evens.

      Here’s the Betfred prices on the top six:

5-6          Ukraine

4              Italy

7              Sweden

10           United Kingdom

20           Spain

33           Greece

Finally Salford, Warrington Wolves and the rest of the local Betfred Super league teams have a much-needed break this weekend, which I’m expecting head coach Daryl Powell will in particular welcome after that bitterly disappointing performance against derby rivals Wigan Warriors in the last round.

All eyes will of course be on Saturday’s Betfred Challenge Cup semi-finals at Elland Road. We make holders St Helens 8/13 to win it again, while Wigan and Huddersfield are 7/2 and 6/1 respectively – and Hull KR are the outsiders of the four at 8/1.