Right Said Fred: Hodgkinson favourite for SPOTY

Five would be Olympic medal winners are in the top ten at Betfred to win the 2024 BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Leading the way is Wiganer Keely Hodgkinson at 3/1 favourite for the nation's top individual honour ahead of Warrington's own darts sensation Luke Littler, who is  9/2  and cycling ace Mark Cavendish from the Isle of Man at 11/2.

Leigh Harrior Hodgkinson, the 22 year old 800 metre runner is looking to go one better and win gold after her silver in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

 Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham is the biggest mover out to 25/1 from 10/1 after our Euros defeat to Spain  in Germany when we had such high hopes of at long last winning something on the international stage for the first time since 1966.

 World indoor pole vault champ Molly Caudery from Cornwall is 14/1 for Spoty ahead of Uttoxeter born swimmer Adam Peaty whose Betfred odds have been cut to 16/1.

Next up are two more Brits in our squad for the Paris games that start on Friday. They are Scottish 1500m runner Joshua Kerr at 20/1 with Betfred  - and London born sprinter Dina Asher-Smith at 25/1

Finally Betfred have another Londoner  tennis player Jack Draper and recently retired England fast bowler Jimmy Anderson  - known to cricket fans worldwide as the Burnley Express - both at 33/1.

Very often Olympians dominate this highly popular Betfred market especially after few Brits made much of an impact at Wimbledon and of course it was glorious failure in the Euros.

I reckon a great bet would be Andy Murray who has announced this  week  he's ending his glorious tennis career at the Paris Olympics.

It's on clay which will hamper him but he's 100/1 with us to make it a fairytale end to his career with a gold medal  - and that's the same price at the moment of him again winning 2024 Spoty.

Here's Oldham born Paul Sculthorpe's take on the world of Betfred Super League. The RL legend, who is a popular pundit on Betfred TV, writes:

"Unfortunately following a much improved performance in Wigan last week, normal service was resumed as the Saints lost their fourth Betfred Super League match in a row. And that's something I can’t remember  happening.

"We were beaten 24-10 by the Warrington Wolves, who at times were down to 11 men - - and still we struggled to post points.

"Wire and England prop James Harrison was given a red card for a shoulder to the head of Noah Stephens, one of the very few Saints players who came out of the game with any credit.

"I thought Harrison  was very unfortunate to be sent from the field. But, unfortunately for him this in the game now, and standing at 6’5’’ his shoulders are level with many opposition players heads. Referee Chris Kendal deemed ‘direct shoulder to head, high force with no mitigating circumstances’. 

"Now I get the new laws, and am all for protecting players welfare, but do we need to be losing players from the field (and since being banned for two matches) for an act with absolutely no malice or foul play, that 18 months ago probably wouldn’t have been a penalty? It’s a contact sport, played at high speed, I just worry how much further we can sanitise our great game.

"Unfortunately for Saints, with Harrison off, followed by a sin-binning of Wolves back rower Matty Nicholson for a professional foul, our lack of cohesion on attack saw us fail to score in that ten minute window against just 11 players.

"However, shortly after Nicholson returned, an individual effort from Saints sub Sam Royle saw Saints back within two points at 12-10.

"Warrington dominated the opening 40 minutes  with tries from Matty Ashton and Matt Dufty, with the home side failing to post a point in the first half.

"One of the very few positives in the last month however, has been the return to play of fans' favourite Agnatius Paasi, and it was a barnstorming solo effort from Iggy that got Saints back into the game on  45minutes  It’s great to see the big man out there after that horrific knee and ankle injury over 12 months ago.

"This was followed by Sam Royle’s try at 65 minutes -  and despite very little creativity with the ball Saints were in the game.

"Unfortunately that would be our last points posted, as Wire crossed for two more tries via Adam Holroyd and the aforementioned Nicholson.

"Saints boss Paul Wellens, again refused to make excuses of his horrendous injury crisis, in what I thought was a very honest and fair assessment of our position at the moment.

"Coaches can’t use injured players as a reason for losing matches, it comes with the job. You have to work with what IS available..

"However, I will 100% support my mate and say the players he is without is obviously going to have a massive impact on performances and ultimately results. When you list the likes of Knowles, Matautia, Walmsley, Makinson, Batchelor…who would all be in the starting 13, it’s a huge hole to fill.

"Wello paid credit to the likes of Harry Robertson and Johnny Vaughan, inexperienced youngsters who have been thrown in at the deep end, due to the small number of available players. This was obvious when I saw the bench on Friday which included an out of form half back and a winger!

"On the plus side, we have seen some heroic efforts from a number of players. Mark Percival continues to lead from the front. Matty Lees putting in another 80 minute shift in the middle. Daryl Clark is trying his best to create attacking opportunities from dummy half, but a special shout to the previously mentioned Noah Stephens. Noah has come into the team this year and never looked back. I love his no-nonsense style of play. He runs the ball with aggression and leg speed, hits hard on defence and backs down from nobody…everything you want from your props!

"There is no denying the players are trying hard, but there needs to be a focus in training this week on individual concentration, composure and skill, something that has been non existent for the  past month. These players are all competent of that, otherwise they wouldn’t be wearing the iconic Red V, but things need to change NOW.

"This week, we face a tough trip down the East Lancs to face a Leigh side who will no doubt fancy their chances.

"The Leopards have won their last two matches against Huddersfield and London, and are currently sitting in 8th place in the Betfred Super League, with only seven  wins from 17 games so far this season.

"The Leigh Sports Village is always a tough place to go, but it’s imperative that the Saints turn in a big performance and get the two points. Hopefully, if not this week we’ll see a number of the big players return from injury and turn things around, ready for the ‘business’ end of the season.

"Truthfully, I’m worried about this game. Betfred have us slight favourites at 8/11 for both points  - and if like me you think we'll triumph by more than six points well the title sponsors have that at 5/4.

"To win the Betfred Super League Grand Final no surprises here with Wigan at 4/5, Saints 7/2, Wire at 6/1, HKR 8/1, Catalans at 9/1 while Salford are 33/1."

The FA look  are taking their time as they plot life after Gareth Southgate.

That's reflected in the Betfred odds on who will be given the nod to do what Southgate failed to do...bring England glory on the international stage for the first time since winning the 1966 World Cup.

We still have Newcastle boss Eddie Howe as the 2/1 favourite followed by ex-Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter at 5/2 with the England under 21s coach Lee Carsley at 3/1.

I'm starting to think the FA head hunters might be sounding out Jurgen Klopp, who is twiddling his thumbs after quitting Liverpool, and City's winning machine Pep Guardiola.

Betfred have these  dream appointments at 8/1 and 25/1 respectively.

And finally it's all change across the pond with Joe Biden deciding age has caught up with him and announcing he  won't be looking to extend his stay as US president.

That's left the door wide open for vice president Kamala Harris to stand on the Democrat ticket against Republican Donald Trump.

Betfred have cut her to 6/4 to beat odds on favourite Trump in the race to the White House with Michelle Obama the big mover...out to 25/1 from 14/1.