2009 Showbiz Stakes
Celebrities will once again be dominating the headlines in the year ahead and no doubt the likes of the Beckhams, Russell Brand, Girls Aloud and Winehouses of the world will be unable to keep their faces out of the papers for too long. But who will be doing what and to whom first is what we want to know…
Paddy Power’s hatches, matches and dispatches betting sees Wayne Rooney and Colleen McLoughlin the favourite celebrity couple to have a baby first at 3/1, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel the first to get married at 9/4 and, perhaps unsurprisingly, Peaches Geldof and Max Drummey the odds-on favourite at 1/2 to be the first couple to split up.
Girls Aloud are the 2/1 favourites to be the first pop group to split although better news for Cheryl Cole is that she is the 15/8 second favourite to be crowned FHM’s Sexiest Woman in the World behind hot favourite Megan Fox. Bruce Forsyth leads the way at 11/4 to be the next big name departure at the BBC whilst the infamous ‘Satanic Slut’ Georgina Baillie is the 4/1 front-runner to be the first bad-mouthed by Lily Allen on her myspace page.
Royal Wagers
Among the royal wagers on offer are odds of just 5/4 that Prince William finally announces a formal engagement to Kate Middleton. Its 8/1 the couple get married.
Political Punting
In politics Gordon Brown is an unlikely 12/1 to get an approval rating of more than 50% whilst its 66/1 that President-elect Barack Obama names his new White House puppy Hillary
In what seems like a case of political Groundhog Day for punters Paddy Power have announced significant support for a Yes vote in the planned second Lisbon Treaty referendum in Ireland.
As soon as the news broke earlier today that Taoiseach Brian Cowen green-lighted a second referendum, punters wasted no time taking an interest. Paddy Power, who had been offering odds of 5-6 on both outcomes, were forced to dramatically slash the odds on a successful Yes vote from 5-6 to 4-6 after a surge of bets were placed including several bets of €5,000.
The Lisbon referendum is set to resurrect painful memories for Paddy Power who famously paid out over €80,000 to punters who backed a Yes vote on polling day last year.
Paddy Power said “The genius in here who called the Yes vote in last year’s Lisbon Referendum is still locked in the dungeon. Obviously we’ll be a lot more careful with the result this time and will try our best to avoid getting egg all over our face again”
Bookies Paddy Power are betting Robbie Williams will rock Wembley Stadium with Take That next year. It’s odds-on at 8/11 that Robbie performs on stage with his former Take That band mates when they take to the 90,000-capacity venue next summer.
The betting follows reports that Robbie wants to rejoin the man band after buying a house near Gary and co and publicly expressing an interest in joining the foursome.
Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “The Robbie reunion has been our most requested novelty bet since news broke this morning. Robbie and the lads seem to be getting on better than ever lately and with Robbie’s singing career stagnant at the moment a reunion could be just the ticket!”
The most exciting news for Take That fans however will be the news that the odds are now well in truly in favour of a full scale reunion as opposed to a one off appearance by Robbie. Paddy Power are offering just 9/4 that Robbie will re-join the band on a permanent basis and record a brand new album at some stage next year.
Following today’s announcement by Gordon Brown that US President Elect Barack Obama intends to visit the UK next April to attend the G20 summit, bookmaker Paddy Power are formally inviting the new US President to attend the Aintree Grand National on April 4th as their special guest.
If Barack, whose Irish ancestors hail from County Offaly in Ireland, accepts he’ll be treated to a wonderful days racing and VIP treatment courtesy of the top Irish bookie.
Paddy Power himself said: “He’s a busy man but even Presidents need to let their hair down and where better than at the Grand National! We’ll treat him to a slap up meal, a rake of pints and a couple of free bets – who knows, he might even back the winner! Afterwards we’ll take him to John Aldridge’s bar where the pints are always on me. If he’s worried about getting hassled by the public, we’ll give him a Paddy Power cap and he should blend right in. I can’t wait to meet him - the craic will be mighty!”
Paddy Power are also offering 25/1 that the new US President will stop off and visit Ireland on his way home, 10/1 that he’ll buy a new puppy in the UK and 100/1 that’ll he’ll play an April Fool prank on PM Gordon Brown.
The current betting favourite to be the one to finish Batman is a villain called Black Glove at 2/1 although rumours that Batman’s sidekick himself Robin will turn to the dark side have seen the Boy Wonder installed at 5/1 behind the Bat’s arch nemesis The Joker at 4/1.
It’s 14/1 the cat gets the bat with Catwoman finally getting her claws into Gotham City’s protector whilst fellow superhero Superman is a 150/1 outsider.
Next Up To Bat?
Speculation is also increasing as to who will replace Bruce Wayne behind the mask of the Caped Crusader with his own son Damien Wayne the 2/1 favourite having been foretold in previous issues that his destiny was to one day be Batman.
Also in the running at 3/1 are the two Robins – the first Boy Wonder Dick Grayson who as an adult became Nightwing in Gotham’s sister city and his replacement as Batman’s sidekick Tim Drake. Azreal, who once replaced Bruce Wayne when he was too badly injured to fight crime, follows at 9/1 whilst Alfred the elderly butler is the 100/1 outsider.
Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “For millions of comic fans around the world this is the equivalent of who would be the next American President – speculation will be feverish and we are already receiving requests for bets on Batman’s demise and possible replacement.
“The death and return of Superman was the biggest selling comic ever in 1992 and judging by the early requests coming in, the death of Batman could well top that.”
Boyzone’s new video in which Stephen Gately is seen in a steamy clinch with a male model has sparked more debate amongst punters over just when ‘Civil Unions’ or same sex marriage will be passed in Ireland.
Bookies Paddy Power are offering just 10/11 that the first Civil Union will take place in Ireland next year, while it’s now 4/1 that same-sex marriage will be recognised in Ireland in the next 6 years (before 2015).
The move from Ireland’s top bookie comes just one day after Cardinal Sean Brady controversially suggested Ireland should ban same-sex marriages, like California.
Currently the Republic of Ireland does not recognise civil unions or same sex marriages but a bill for Registered Civil Partnerships is underway, after Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern set the wheels in motion earlier this year.
The bookie is also betting on which high profile Irish gay celebrity will say it loud and proud and get hitched first when the Act is eventually passed. Westlife’s Mark Feehily is their 3/1 favourite followed by a few other high profile names such as Big Brother’s Brian Dowling at 6/1 and singer Brian Kennedy at 12/1.
Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “Boyzone have made history by being the first boy band to feature a homosexual couple in a video and if the odds are anything to go by it might not be long before the ban on gay marriage is made history too!”
Will Smith is the bookies’ 6/4 favourite to play Barack Obama in the first Hollywood blockbuster about the new President. Other superstars who feature in Paddy Power’s list to play what will surely be one of the roles of the century include Oscar winners Jamie Foxx and Denzel Washington at 5/2 and 4/1 respectively.
Paddy Power have been inundated with requests from punters on everything from who will play the new President in a Hollywood Blockbuster to what the Obama’s will name the puppy he promised his kids in his acceptance speech last night.
The cheeky bookie has even quoted odds of 100/1 that the Obama’s new puppy will be a pit bull named Palin!
George is the 8/1 favourite to be the name chosen for the new Whitehouse puppy – after the very first President Washington, rather than the George just gone.
Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “The phones haven’t stopped ringing since his acceptance speech – punters are really getting into the swing of things. Everybody wants a piece of Obamania!”
As the final curtain is drawn on an extraordinary and historic US Presidential election, Ireland’s largest bookmaker, Paddy Power can finally uncross its legs after paying out in excess of €1,000,000 ($1,360,000) a full three weeks ago to punters who backed Barack Obama to become next US President.
Without pausing for breath, the market-leading election betting specialist has already focused its sights on the outcome of the 2012 election. Newly elected President Barack Obama is Paddy Power’s odds-on 4-5 favourite for successful re-election in 2012 and is a seemingly un-opposable 1-7 shot to win the 2012 Democratic nomination.
Paddy Power have installed Sarah Palin as their 3-1 favourite to win the Republican nomination in 2012 and make the glamorous Alaskan Governor an unlikely 7-1 shot to replace Obama in the White House next time around. Palin’s political colleagues Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee are priced at 5-1 and 7-1 respectively to head up the Republican ticket in four years time.
Betting is also now available on who President Obama will choose as Secretary of State. Top ranking American diplomat, Richard Holbrooke, is Paddy Power’s 9-4 favourite with Anthony Lake and Richard Lugar sharing the bookies 7-2 second-favourites tag.
Paddy Power said “Hats off to all those who backed Obama, you got it right and thankfully so did we. We’re already looking ahead to 2012 and I honestly believe that the 4-5 about Obama to hold the Presidency will be the biggest price you can expect between now and then!”
The UK has emerged as the strong early favourite to win next year’s Eurovision Song Contest after it was announced musical genius Andrew Lloyd Webber will compose next year’s song entry.
Despite the fact the contest has been dogged by controversy in recent years due to block voting from the many Balkan countries, Paddy Power have installed the five time Eurovision winners at 9/1.
Lloyd Webber will embark on a televised talent search for a vocalist and hopefuls have until November 21st to send their auditions to the BBC website. BBC One will be screening a series of live shows called ‘Your Nation Needs You’ to choose the winner from a shortlist of six finalists.
It could be a last ditch attempt from Britain’s to bring the Eurovision back home, especially with 2009 marking the re-introduction of Jury voting. The winner will now be decided through a mixture of televoting and national jury votes.
Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “The UK look to be throwing the kitchen sick at next year’s Eurovision. Now that jury voting has been re-introduced the UK stand a much better chance. As far as we’re concerned, if the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber can’t do it then nobody can!” (more…)
Noel Gallagher cheekily announced yesterday that he’d love U2 to support Oasis at Slane. There’s probably more chance of hell freezing over but bookies Paddy Power are offering 100/1 on Bono and the boys joining the Gallagher brothers on stage next June.
Other bands tipped to be in the running to play support to the Mancunian rock icons include The Coral at 3/1, Indie rockers Kasabian at 4/1 and popular Britpop group Ocean Colour Scene at 6/1. Up and coming Irish rockers The Script are ahead of acts like Arctic Monkeys, Elbow and The Prodigy at 10/1 to take to the stage.
As well as betting on which band will support Oasis, Paddy Power are also betting on which song Oasis will choose to kick off Slane with. ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll star’ is the favourite at 8/13, followed by ‘F**king in the Bushes’ at 6/5. Both songs have been frequently used as opening numbers for the band, however the Gallagher brothers aren’t the most predictable people in the world and they could choose an old classic like ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’ at 25/1 to kick-start the concert.
Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said, “The chances of U2 supporting Oasis are slim to none but that hasn’t stopped our punters hoping that Bono will take Noel up on his cheeky offer! One thing that is for sure – Bono or no Bono, this year’s Slane will be one to remember!”