Chloe Kelly’s glorious penalty which nailed England’s shootout victory against Spain as they successfully defended their Women’s European Championship crown has catapulted her to the highest of the betting for the BBC Sports Personality of the Yr.
The winger was already as short as 12/1 with bet365 before the Lionesses roared to victory and has been a category act throughout the tournament, picking out team-mates with precise crosses, including two off the bench within the quarter-final win against Sweden, then in the ultimate when she teed up Alessia Russo’s towering header for the equaliser within the 57th minute.
Kelly, who famously scored the extra-time winner within the 2022 Wembley final against Germany, was cut to 7/2 to be named the sports personality of the 12 months after the ultimate whistle on the St Jakob-Park stadium in Basel and has been further backed into as short as 6/4 with Betway and 888Sport and no higher than 2/1 with BoyleSports.
On the face of it she looks a shoo-in but England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton may even receive loud cheers when the Lionesses hold a victory parade around London after saving two of Spain’s three missed penalties as Sarina Wiegman’s side won the shoot-out 3-1.
Hampton made a series of superb stops in the ultimate and was one in all the heroes en path to the decider, especially against the Swedes when she again thwarted the opposition by saving penalties after extra-time, and he or she is 13/2 with William Hill, bet365 and Betfred to land SPOTY.
Kelly and Hampton fully deserve their positions as second and third favourites respectively available in the market but are their amazing achievements higher than Rory McIlroy’s Masters victory at Augusta in April, which implies he has now won all 4 majors in a stunning profession? Hmmm, good query.
SPOTY odds
Rory stays the 6/5 favourite with Ladbrokes, Coral and Sky Bet but what about Luke Littler, who has change into only the fifth player to win darts’ triple crown after adding the World Matchplay at Blackpool to his world championship and Premier League titles? He must be in with an honest shout at 14/1 with Coral and Ladbrokes.
There are other contenders waiting within the wings and if Finn Russell produces one other kicking masterclass and the British & Irish Lions complete an historic whitewash against Australia in Sydney on Saturday, his long odds of 150/1 with Hills would surely shrivel while the 14/1 with Betfred and bet365 for Lando Norris to clinch the award will swiftly shrink if he wins this 12 months’s Formula One plaudits.
Jack Draper’s odds may even plunge to single digits from the 66/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral if he wins the US Open in September so while classy Chloe would deserve the SPOTY crown there’s a whole lot of sport still to be played this 12 months.
Football odds: Liverpool raise funds for Isak
Prices on the team Alexander Isak might be scoring goals for after the transfer window closes have flip-flopped over the past couple of days with Liverpool cut from 4/1 to a current 2/5 with Ladbrokes and Coral after the Sweden striker was disregarded Newcastle’s pre-season tour while the Magpies have drifted from 1/3 to 11/4 with bet365 to retain his services.
The Premier League champions are selling Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich for £63m and Darwin Nunez is also heading for the Anfield exit for the same fee with clubs in Italy lining up bids, which can pave the best way for a blockbuster raid for Isak.
Newcastle are not any larger than 1/2 with Bet Victor to interchange Isak with Benjamin Sesko with Arsenal ending their interest within the RB Leipzig marksman after capturing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting.
Horse racing odds
Joseph O’Brien’s Masoun has won his last two starts on the Curragh and Leopardstown and may get punters off to a winning start at Glorious Goodwood with a powerful show within the opening race, the Chesterfield Cup. Back the four-year-old bay gelding each-way at 12/1 with Paddy Power, Betfair, Betfred, Bet Victor and StarSports.
Dorset can land the Vintage Stakes for Aidan O’Brien at 2/1 with Coral while Noble Champion won the Jersey Stakes and Royal Ascot, handles racing well on the Sussex Downs and is value siding with at 6/1 with Ladbrokes, Coral and William Hill within the Lennox Stakes.
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