Hodgkinson favourite for BBC Sports Personality of the Year

All hail the Queen of the track Keely Hodgkinson who is now odds on at Betfred to be the 2024  BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

She became only the tenth British woman to win athletics gold in any Olympic games when she stormed home in the 800m in Paris.

It was a case of not if but when the charismatic 22 year old Wiganer would triumph after winning silver in the last games in Tokyo.

The Atherton born Leigh Harrier, who reportedly lives a stones throw from Old Trafford and naturally is a United supporter, is 4/6 for Spoty after securing our 12th gold in Paris.

Hodgkinson is ahead of another young Olympic sportswoman cycling sprint ace  Emma Finucane  in the race for the most prestigious individual sports honour.

The 21 year old cyclist from Carmarthen who won our 11th gold as part of the sprint team is second favourite for Spoty at 4/1.

Next up is Warrington's  darts superstar Luke Littler at 7/1 while next up Betfred have popular cyclist Mark Cavendish from the Isle of Man at 10/1.

An indication of just  how tough it will be to win the public vote for Spoty this year is that record breaking England  wicket taker   Burnley born Jimmy Anderson, who has retired from Test cricket and Andy Murray, who has hung up his tennis rackets after a stellar career,  are both out to 40/1 with us.

Jimmy Power plans to rekindle his love of golf after a huge win at Betfred.

The 65-year-old used to play off a highly creditable handicap of three, but he's hardly swung a club of late because of work and family commitments.

But now he’s celebrating not a hole in one but an astonishing £63,000 jackpot from a 60p wager on Betfred's Bonus King Bingo!

Father-of-three Jimmy said: "It’s fair to say I have been missing my golf, but that's all going to change now, that's is for sure."

The regular known as "Bingo Jimmy" at the Betfred shop in Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, Wales has big plans for his semi-retirement - a life of pars, birdies and the like!

Jimmy, a plater, explained: "I have been working in the week for many years in Southampton and it's a tough job.

"Now after this amazing win I can put my tin hat on it and go part-time when I'm 66 - and get myself a golf cart and play as much as I possibly can at Milford Haven Golf Club.

"Before I got married I was playing off three, but then with family life and working away I haven't been playing anywhere near as much as I wanted. Now I can get back into it."

Jimmy, who Betfred staff including new starter Hannah George described as "absolutely lovely", won big when six of his seven randomly-selected numbers were drawn out.

They say in golf you putt for dough - well Jimmy, a very popular customer of ours, is in the money before he's back on  the green at his local course in Wales. 

Well done, Jimmy, you have proved you can win big from tiny stakes at Betfred and it's a privilege I've been able to help you map out a nice active future.

Here's Oldham born Paul Sculthorpe's view on another dramatic round of matches in Betfred Super League. The RL legend, who is a Betfred TV pundit, writes:

"I'm sure  it was a massive relief for not only Paul Wellens, but the Saints faithful as the team ended a five game losing streak with an emphatic 46-6 win away at Hull FC.

"In doing that, they also retained the prestigious Steve Prescott MBE Trophy which is played out every year between the two clubs my good friend Prekky represented with such distinction.

"It’s great that this sign of respect to Steve is withheld every year between the two clubs, and along with the Man Of Steel Award his name will forever be used at the highest level of our great game. It was great to see his wife Linzi on hand to present the trophy to Saints returning skipper Morgan Knowles.

"It was certainly a more clinical display by the travelling side, and you could clearly see a relieved Wello in his post-match interview. Albeit, he’s certainly not getting carried away with the win, as like Saints, Hull have a large number of first choice players missing and are currently sitting 11th in the Betfred Super League after a dismal season.

"But, Saints controlled what they could control. Over 90% completion with the ball is a vast improvement than previous performances, and it was no surprise that with the return of Morgan after a 12 week absence, that standards were up.

"With the likes of Lomax, Welsby and Percival missing in made sense to simplify things, and get back to playing ‘flat and fast’ …something Saints have always done better than anyone else.

"The returning Joe Batchelor, like Knowles added some much needed experience and confidence to the team. Also, credit to Lewis Dodd who was given the no.7 shirt back by Wello, after impressing in training. He crossed for two of St Helens first half tries following great work from Daryl Clark and Curtis Sironen respectively.

"Another player who crossed the whitewash in the first forty for a personal milestone, was Tommy Makinson.

"Tommy scored in the 34th minute for his 186th career try, thus elevating him to 7th on the all-time Super League scoring charts. I don’t need to wax lyrical about Tommy, as people know he’s one of the players of the Super League era that I admire most.

"A special mention also to Jake Burns, who after his  introduction in the second half ignited more spark into the Saints' attack - and did  indeed cross himself  for two tries. 

"In only his second first team appearance, he showed exactly why Paul Wellens has given him his opportunity... great vision, power and speed out of dummy half, and a player I’m looking forward to seeing more of.

"Back to the team overall and as I said nobody will be getting carried away with this win, but it will no doubt give  us a much needed confidence boost going into a tough game  on Thursday evening against Salford back at the TWS.

"The  Red Devils come to town, themselves looking to secure a top six place in the playoffs, and having beaten Castleford and Leeds the past two weeks will fancy their chances.

"Salford currently sit in 4th place in the Betfred Super League table, two points ahead of St Helens, so this is a must-win game.

"Two of the Salford pack, Oli Partington and the rejuvenated Kallum Watkins are two players in great form who Saints must control, along with the man who pulls all the strings for the Red Devils, Mark Sneyd. 

"Sneyd has been instrumental in the two previous games against the Saints this season, which we were defeated in both for the first time in 44 years. Let’s hope this week is a different story!

"One big loss for Salford will be that of Tim Lafai, who for me is one of the most potent attacking players in the competition. He has been handed a one match suspension following the win against the Rhinos on Saturday, and will miss Thursday's top 5 clash.

"I’m hoping that building on the win over in Hull, and the return of our own strike centre in Mark Percival, Saints can put the sword to the visitors and take the points.

"I’m going for a close win for Saints, who are third favourites at 5/1 at Betfred for a Grand Final win behind odds on Wigan and Wire at 4/1 while surprise package HKR, who had that huge morale-boosting triumph at high riding Warrington, are 11/2 with the title sponsors."