Music

Top bookie Paddy Power has eased the suffering of beleaguered Frankie Cocozza backers by refunding losing outright bets placed on the 18-year old hell-raiser after he was spectacularly booted off the show earlier today.

In excess of £10,000 has been handed back to over 1,200 Paddy Power customers who, somewhat optimistically, bet on wild child Frankie winning this year’s X- Factor.

Paddy Power said “Frankie punters didn’t get much of a run for their money so we’re only too happy to have a decent excuse to give their money back.”

Liverpudlian hairdresser Marcus Collins remain the bookies 9/4 favourite ahead of silky-voiced Janet Devlin at 3/1 and Craig Colton at 7/2.

2011 X-Factor (latest)
9/4     Marcus Collins
3/1 Janet Devlin
7/2     Craig Colton
5/1     Misha B
6/1     Little Mix
25/1   Kitty Brucknell

Following tonight’s decision by a jury in downtown Los Angeles which found Dr. Conrad Murray unanimously guilty of the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson, leading betting firm Paddy Power are offering odds of 4/5 that the 58-year doctor WILL SERVE TIME behind bars.

Paddy Power are currently offering odds of 5/4 for a sentence of one to two years and 6/1 for a longer term of three to four years when the court resumes on November 29th.

The bookmaker, who had accepted bets on the outcome of the televised trial since it began six weeks ago, had until the time of sentencing favoured a ‘not guilty’ verdict which was their odds-on 8/15 favourite.

Paddy Power himself said “Punters will share in Dr Murray’s disappointment tonight having obviously done their dough on a not guilty verdict.  Once again it demonstrates that you can never predict with any certainty the outcome of such high profile celebrity cases.  They really are, off the wall!”

Will Dr. Conrad Murray serve prison time?
4/5        Yes
10/11     No

Dr. Conrad Murray sentence
10/11    Probation/House arrest
5/4       One to two year
6/1       Three to four years

X Factor betting was thrown wide open tonight after series favourites The Risk were eliminated.

Paddy Power now making Marcus Collins their new 5/2 favourite to win.

Irish singer Janet Devlin has slipped out to 7/2 after a shocker of a week which saw the Tyrone singer forget her words.

Meanwhile tom-cat Frankie has managed to survive for yet another week. The ladies man appears to be slightly more popular than was once thought and has been now cut to a more cautious 66/1 to win!

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “What a shocker of a week. We weren’t expecting The Risk to go at all and it just shows how unpredictable this years show is! Anybody could go next and anyone could win. It’s wide open!” (more…)

With a decision now imminent in the thriller trial of Dr Conrad Murray, Paddy Power have today shortened the odds on Michael Jackson’s doctor NOT being found guilty of the involuntary manslaughter of the King of Pop from 4/5 to 8/15.

The bookmaker, who has accepted bets on the outcome of the televised trial since it began six weeks ago, originally set the odds much tighter but recent betting activity heavily favours the 58-year old doctor beating the rap.

Paddy Power are also taking bets on the whether the jury are unable to reach a unanimous decision, making it a 5/4 shot that this is the case.

Paddy Power said “From a betting point of view we give Dr Murray a 65% chance of dodging a guilty verdict but these high profile celebrity trials have proved the form book wrong in the past”

Will Dr Conrad Murray be found ‘guilty’?
8/15     No
11/8    Yes

5/4    Jury does not come to a unanimous decision

X Factor bad boy Frankie Cocozza is the red hot favourite to be in the bottom two this Sunday night. The 18 year-old hell raiser who has the names of seven girls tattooed on his rear end looks to be in hot water with Paddy Power making him their 4/6 favourite to be in the bottom two and their 11/10 favourite to be the next act eliminated!

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “Frankie is coming across much like his tattoo on this year’s X Factor – in your face and tasteless, and it’s only a matter of time before he gets booted off the show!”

Meanwhile Janet Devlin and The Risk are now at logger heads to win the show outright at odds of 9/4. (more…)

Paddy Power today slashed the odds on Irish rock band U2 calling it a day from 25/1 to just 7/4 after front man Bono refused to rule out the possibility of him, The Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton going their separate ways as early as next year.

Only two months ago the bookie was inundated with requests from fearful punters that a split could be on the horizon after it was alleged Bono was rushed to hospital with heart palpitations in France.

Paddy Power was confident that U2 would be around for many a year to come and quoted 25/1 odds against them splitting up but those odds have since been blown out of the water!

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “It’s just one shock after another. First Westlife, now U2! We’re still a little dubious that a split is on the cards though. U2 are the Kings of reinvention so we’re hoping, like all their fans, that this isn’t the end of the road!”

Meanwhile, Paddy Power are also offering betting on which old band will reunite on the back of Joey Barton calling for The Smiths to reform and the recent regrouping of The Stone Roses. Supergrass are 11/4 favourites followed by the Libertines at 3/1, Oasis at 4/1 and The Smiths at 20/1. (more…)

With the trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor Conrad Murray now well and truly underway, Irish bookmaker Paddy Power have opened betting on what the outcome of the televised hearing will be.

It’s odds-on at 4/6 that Doctor Murray will be found ‘not guilty’ while those who think he’ll go down for the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson can have 11/10 that he’ll be found ‘guilty’.

Although there are several scheduled witnesses who are not particularly known to the general public due to be called to the stand, Paddy Power are concentrating their betting on which well known faces we’ll see called to give evidence.

Siblings Janet and Jermaine are deemed the most likely at odds of 1/2 with fellow brothers and sisters La Toya, Tito, Marlon and Randy all available at 6/5. The outside bets to partake in the trial are long time friend Macaulay Culkin at 50/1 and Jackson’s old pet chimp Bubbles at 1000/1.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “The last we heard of Bubbles was he was taken to live in some animal sanctuary for going bananas. Either way you’d be nuts to bet on him appearing at the court case! Not since the OJ Simpson trial back in 1995 have we had so much interest in a court case.” (more…)

Here’s an interview with Mumford & Sons lead singer Marcus Mumford, who will be following his beloved AFC Wimbledon all the way to Manchester to see them play Luton Town in the Blue Square Bet Premier Promotion Final at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday 21st May at 3pm:

Question – First the ‘quick-fire’ round – What was your first football memory?

Marcus Mumford (Mumford & Sons) – Dolphin Primary School vs Bolingbroke Primary School, May 1992, I think I missed a penalty and spent quite a while just staring at the girls who were on their team. It was awesome.

Question – What is your best memory as an AFC Wimbledon fan?

MM – Honestly that 6-1 victory over Fleetwood last week to take us to this final was unbelievable. It’s got to be right up there!

Question – What was your best moment of this season outside the play-offs?

MM – Beating Crawley Town 2-1 at home in September.

Question – What is your worst moment as fan?

MM – Beckham’s ridiculous goal from half way against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park in 1996. In a way I’m also glad I was there for that though.

Question – What has been your worst moment of the season?

MM – Being away for so many of the games this season. That’s a collection of extended moments though I suppose. The fact that BBC live text is pretty terrible for non-league supporters doesn’t help matters.

Question – Who is your favourite current AFC Wimbledon player?

MM – Our captain, of course, Lord Daniel Kedwell, or, as I’m really trying to instigate as a nickname at every game, “Uncle Danny”.

Danny is 5/1 with Blue Square to get the first goal in the game and 7/1 to be awarded the Man of the Match by Premier Sports TV.

Question – Who is your favourite all-time player?

MM – Lionel Messi.

Question – Why do you support AFC Wimbledon –

MM – Cos I’m a Wimbledon boy!

Question – What is your prediction for the final?

MM – 3-2 to the Dons.

AFC Wimbledon are 25/1 with Blue Square to win 3-2 in 90 minutes.

Question – Ok let’s talk music – The players listen to music in the dressing room before the game to get wound up – which of your songs would you listen to on Saturday just before 3pm?

MM – None of them! I’d listen to War Pigs by Black Sabbath, or Killing in the Name by Rage Against The Machine, or 99 Problems by Jay-Z. Our stuff is not nearly bad-ass enough for footballers!

Question – And finally Marcus, you’re good with words – What would be the basis of your team talk to the players today if you could give one?

MM - Destiny. “Life being a game of inches”. Making history. Doing it for the fans, some of the most dedicated and supportive fans in football history. Earning our place back in the League.

Irish hell-raiser Colin Farrell might be the 11/10 favourite to start dating smouldering singer Rihanna next after it emerged the pair exchanged flirty texts but Paddy Power are betting the bad-boy actor will have a fight on his hands if he wants to keep the Barbadian beauty.

RiRi’s ex Chris Brown is the bookmaker’s 6/4 second favourite to win Rihanna back after his restraining order was lifted by a Los Angeles court. The relaxed protective order means Brown can now speak to the ‘Love The Way You Lie’ singer if he chooses.

Newly single Rihanna is so smoking-hot that not only has teen sensation Justin Bieber asked her out but even Brit favourite Cheryl Cole proclaimed she had a girl crush on the R&B superstar.

Other potential suitors for Rihanna include Justin Timberlake at 5/1, Usher at 8/1 and Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker at 10/1. X Factor winner Matt Cardle also appears on Paddy Power’s list at 10/1.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “Rihanna seems to attract the bad boys so Colin Farrell is right up her alley. She might be drawn to the fact he’s Irish as her father Ronald is of Barbadian and Irish descent. But she and Brown have a lot of history and we wouldn’t be surprised at all if he tried to woo her back!” (more…)

Singing siblings Jedward are the hot favourites to represent Ireland at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Paddy Power now make the mischievous twins odds-on at 8/15 to fly the Irish flag in Düsseldorf this May after being backed in from an opening 5/6.

The act that will represent Ireland at the 56th Eurovision Song Contest will be chosen by the public on Friday 11th February. Backing vocalist and wedding singer Nikki Kavanagh is the 3/1 second favourite ahead of singer-songwriter Don Mescall at 6/1 and previous ‘Song for Ireland’ finalists, The Vard Sisters, at 9/1.

But even though the Lucan lads are hotly tipped to sing for Ireland, bookies Paddy Power aren’t holding out too much hope on Ireland winning the contest. It’s 33/1 that Ireland pull off their eighth Eurovision Song Contest win. In fact, it’s a far more likely 8/11 that Ireland won’t even qualify for the final on May 14th!

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said “Jedward are miles ahead of the competition and rightly so! If ballad queen Niamh Kavanagh couldn’t pull it off last year there’s no way her backing vocalist will! Punters are on the Jedward wagon all the way and despite the fact the odds look stacked against (Ireland) winning they’re hoping the crazy pair will do the business come May!”

Meanwhile, the UK have chosen boy band Blue to represent them at this year’s Song Contest. The UK, who are one of the top five nations to automatically qualify for the final, are 16/1 to win and 2/5 to finish ahead of Ireland on the leader board. (more…)