Leading bookmaker Paddy Power has installed joint favourites for this year’s Man Booker prize following the announcement of the shortlist earlier today. Irish writer Emma Donoghue’s novel ‘Room’ shares favouritism with Tom McCarthy ‘C’, both commanding odds of 5/2.

South African writer Damon Galgut’s tale of a young man travelling through Greece, India and Africa, ‘In a Strange Room’, is the 3/1 second-favourite while Australian novelist Peter Carey could become the first author to win a hat-trick of Man Booker Prizes for his novel ‘Parrot and Olivier in America’ and is considered a 9/2 shot by Paddy Power.

Orange prize winner Andrea Levy’s ‘The Long Song’ is at 5/1 while Howard Jacobson’s ‘The Finkler Question’ is the outsider of sextet at 6/1.

Ken Robertson from Paddy Power said “This is the first time we’ve had joint-favourites for the Booker and is testament to how competitive this year’s shortlist is”

Sunday Game pundit and Meath legend, Colm O’Rourke, has emerged as Paddy Power’s early 13/8 favourite to take over as Meath manager following the shock departure of Eamonn O’Brien.

Full forward Shane O’Rourke may not be too keen on his dad taking charge of the team, a worry shared by Joe Sheridan who’s father Damien is rated a 7/1 contender by the bookie.

Other fancied in the bookie’s betting include ex-coach Sean Kelly, ex-Dublin Minor coach and Meath legend Gerry McEntee both at 4/1 and fellow Meath legend Trevor Giles at 15/2.

Paddy Power said, “It’s an amazing turn of events. Some are suggesting Pat Gilroy should be manager of the year and his record is identical to that of Eamonn O’Brien who gets the bullet! We’re only guessing at this stage but Colm O’Rourke is an obvious choice and would surely prove popular with team and fans alike”.

Russian director Aleksei Fedorchenko’s latest film ‘Silent Souls’ has been installed as favourite to win the Golden Lion at this year’s Venice Film Festival.

The breathtaking drama is considered a 5-1 shot by leading bookmaker Paddy Power ahead of Darren Aronofsky’s Festival opener ‘Black Swan’ starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis at 6-1 and Vincent Gallo’s ‘Promises Written in Water’ at 8/1.

Julian Schnabel’s drama ‘Miral’, Álex de la Iglesia’s ‘A Sad Trumpet Ballad’ and ‘Post Mortem’ from Chilean director Pablo Larraín are all considered 10/1 shots by Paddy Power.

The bookie is also taking bets on whether Joaquin Phoenix or Casey Affleck will admit their latest collaboration ‘I’m Still Here’ is actually a hoax before the end of the forthcoming Toronto Film Festival. The odds are 13-8 that Phoenix or Affleck will confirm the hoax by 19 September and a far more likely 4-9 they will not.

Ken Robertson from Paddy Power said “The competition seems wide open this year and from a bookmaking point of view is definitely the most competitive of recent years”

Paddy Power are today paying out over €10,000 to a host of shrewd punters who correctly predicted that Mount Sinabung on the Indonesian Island of Sumatra would be the next volcano to erupt with a volcanic explosivity index (V.E.I.) of three or greater.

Mount Sinabung which had shown no signs of activity for over 410 years was considered a complete outsider by the bookmaker and just one month ago was available at odds of 66/1 to erupt next.

Following a minor eruption in the early hours on August 29th Paddy Power slashed the odds on Mount Sinabung erupting with a VEI of 3 or greater from 66/1 to 5/4 favourite but not before several sharp-witted punters availed of the more generous odds. Today’s confirmed major eruption which shot an ash plume three miles into the air triggered the bookies payout of €10,210.

Ken Robertson head of Paddy Power’s volcano betting said “Mother Nature has an uncanny habit of conspiring to beat the bookies lately and with explosive form like this would give the Pakistani cricket team a good run for their money!”

Following today’s payout, Paddy Power have slashed the odds on Sumatra’s second volcano Seulawah Agam in the North West of the island from 14/1 into 5/4 favourite. Iceland’s glacial volcano Eyjafjallajökull which caused chaos for European travelers earlier this year remains the bookies third favourite at odds of 5/2.

Following the news that David Haye will make the second defence of his WBA heavyweight title against Audley Harrison at Manchester’s MEN Arena on November 13th, Sky Bet make the Hayemaker 1/8 to overcome A-Force (5/1 Harrison and 33/1 Draw) and 2/5 to win inside the 12 round distance.

While Harrison’s credentials are questionable after losing to Danny Williams, Dominick Guinn, Michael Sprott and Martin Rogan, the 38-year-old bounced back to claim the Heavyweight Prizefighter title and then the European title in a re-match against Sprott. It’s 11/2 for Harrison to beat Haye inside the distance and 14/1 to win on points.

Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said: “Haye shouldn’t have any problems defending his WBA heavyweight title but he will have to be careful he isn’t caught by a big left hand from Harrison, which saw the 38-year-old claim the European title.”

Michelle Bass, Nasty Nick and larger than life Vanessa Feltz will all face the public vote tomorrow night in the last round of evictions before the ultimate final on Friday night.

Paddy Power make former chat show queen Vanessa the most likely housemate to get evicted first but it’s touch and go as to which two will get the chop. The odds on Nick and Vanessa are exactly the same as the odds on Michelle and Vanessa getting the boot at 10/11.

Of the seven remaining housemates, Big Brother 2 winner Brian Dowling is the 4/11 red-hot favourite to be crowned this year’s Ultimate Big Brother champion. The Irishman became the bookies roaring favourite when Josie quit the house.

Second favourite in the betting is Chantelle at 7/2 followed by tantrum throwing Nikki Grahame at 7/1.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “It’s hard to believe this is the final ever week of Big Brother. We’ve had ten years of tantrums, tears and lots of laughs. Love it or loathe it it’ll go down in history as the show which defined Britain in the 21st century and while it might be gone it’ll never be forgotten.”

Ryan Giggs is 10/1 with Sky Bet to be named as the next manager of Wales following reports in today’s press that the Manchester United winger would be interested in the role should John Toshack stand down. Giggs, who retired from international football in 2007, has admitted that he would relish the opportunity to manage his country but would struggle to juggle his playing career with management.

Brian Flynn remains the 15/8 favourite to replace Toshack whilst former Welsh international Chris Coleman, is 4/1.

John Hartson, who has also declared his interest in the Wales job, is 13/1.

Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said: “It’s not surprising to see Ryan Giggs linked with the Wales job but it would be hard to see the 36-year-old take up the role whilst playing at the highest level for Manchester United.”

Paddy Power are taking bets on when debt ridden Anglo Irish Bank will be finally wound down with the bookie making sometime between 2016 and 2020 their 11/4 favourite.

A possible wind-down taking place between 2012 and 2015 is the 11/4 second-favourite ahead of between 2021 and 2025 at 3/1. A more immediate wind-down taking place before 2012 is considered unlikely according to Paddy Power’s odds of 8/1.

The bookie is also taking bets on the final cost of Anglo’s recapitalisation making a bank-busting bailout of between €26 to €27.999 billion their 11/4 favourite.

In some light relief to an otherwise gloomy situation Paddy Power are offering a light hearted match bet on what will be shelved first; the controversial Dublin Bay incinerator or Anglo Irish Bank with the incinerator installed as the red hot 1/2 favourite.

Paddy Power said “This surely is the only way to make money from Anglo Irish Bank. It seems a pretty safe bet that the bank will be wound down but the burning question is when?”

Leading bookmaker Paddy Power are taking bets on which airline BA-Iberia will acquire next in their ongoing bid to become the worlds largest airline group.

Recent comments by Willie Walsh suggest they have twelve airlines currently in their sights and punters are wasting no time trying to second guess the crafty BA boss.

Chile’s flag carrier LAN Airlines has emerged as the bookies early favourite at odds of 9/4 and as the country’s principal airline would be well aligned to Walsh’s strategy of focusing on emerging markets.

A host of BA’s Oneworld alliance partners also make it onto the business end of the bookies shortlist led by Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific at 11/4, Japanese airlines JAL at 10/3 and Finland’s flag carrier Finnair at 7/2.

Paddy Power himself said “Willie Walsh has more bottle than most so when he claims to be in the market for airlines to buy you can bet he won’t waste too much time shopping around. The only question is which airline tops his list”

Not only could love-rat Wayne Rooney get the red card from his better half Coleen but he could face the axe from big money sponsors in the wake of the latest allegations which claim the striker bedded an escort girl while his wife was pregnant.

Irish bookmaker Paddy Power are betting just 13/8 that Coleen and Wayne will call time on their three year marriage and officially separate in 2010 while it’s shorter again at 6/4 that the scouse couple follow in Cheryl and Ashley’s footsteps and divorce in the next two years.

As for the Manchester United star’s sponsorship deals – Family friendly grocer Asda is the 7/4 favourite to drop Wayne like a hot potato followed by car company Ford at 5/2. Fellow sponsors Coca Cola and Nike have so far vowed to stand by the red devil.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “This is the second time Wayne has been caught playing away on his stunning wife Coleen, so the pressure will be on her to do the right thing. But will she be able to turn her back on the WAG lifestyle? Only time will tell!”

Meanwhile, the bookies have already re-hashed the betting on what profession the next love-rat will come from. Not surprisingly football is the 4/11 favourite!