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Right Said Fred: Talking Betting With BetFred Boss Fred Done

You just can’t keep Tyson Fury out of the news, can you?

Anthony Joshua had only just beaten Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev at Wembley on Saturday and the Manchester-born world heavyweight champion was declaring his intentions for a British super fight – and then there’s all the fuss about him having been nominated for the six-strong shortlist for BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award that will be subject to a public vote on Sunday.

For the first time in the award’s 50-odd year history, Fury has said he doesn’t want the honour and has even gone as far as to ask the Beeb, through his lawyers, to take him off the shortlist.

Well, the BBC are refusing to do so, and knowing the way some people are in this country I have a funny feeling that there will be plenty of mischievous folk voting for the reformed character, who is something of a loveable rogue, anyway.

Despite his wish to be excluded, Betfred make Fury 16/1 to be named SPOTY – the same price as jockey Hollie Doyle.

Outright favourite Lewis Hamilton is shortening all the time and is currently 2/7 ahead of Betfred World Snooker champ Ronnie O’Sullivan 6/1.

Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson is 9/1 – while the rank outsider, who is at this stage looking out of it, is cricketer Stuart Broad at 100/1.

Fury, who of course beat Deontay Wilder in February, is 8/15 at Betfred to beat AJ should the super-fight become reality.

Joshua has been priced at 6/4, with the draw a 25/1 shot.

Fury, as confident as ever, reckons he could beat AJ “inside three rounds” if the fight that has been the best and richest-ever fight in British history with a £200m purse up for grabs – and that’s 8/1 with us.

Meanwhile congratulations to Leigh Centurions who have won the fight to replace Toronto Wolfpack in next season’s Betfred Super League.

 The competition was, I’m told, extremely fierce to fill the twelfth slot – but Leigh, who are right slap bang in the middle of rugby league territory and have superb facilities, beat off competition from Toulouse, Bradford, Featherstone, London and York City.

Leigh were the unanimous choice of an independent, seven-strong panel which according to reports discussed the applications for eight hours so nothing was ever going to be left  to chance.

The elevation of Leigh hasn’t however led to a huge re-think of the odds for next season, as the experts tell me it will be tough going initially for the Leigh squad to be strong enough to compete with the big guns such as Saints, Wigan and Warrington – not to mention those clubs on the other side of the Pennines.

Betfred have Saints and Wigan 5/2 joint-favourites to win the 2021 Grand Final, which will hopefully be back at Old Trafford, ahead of Warrington at 7/1 – while Leigh have been installed as the rank outsiders at 100/1.

Finally I’m delighted to record that nothing was going to change father-of-two Mark Rochelle’s routine, even if he had just won £53,217 with a £2 Lucky 15 at Betfred.

 So, it was homemade sausage with onion gravy, washed down by half a bottle of red wine by way of celebration for the 60-year-old divorcee.

“That’s what I had planned, so that’s what I did – although it is fantastic that I’ve won so much from such a small stake,” said Mark, who put his bet on at his local Betfred shop near his home in Worcester.

Mark’s wager proved a winner after three of his selections – Chatham Street Lad, Make Good and The White Mouse – all won at Cheltenham, along with Dans Le Vent at Hereford on Saturday.

His winnings were boosted by Make Good, who Mark backed at 9/1 but thanks to Betfred’s Best Odds Guaranteed was paid out at 12/1.

“It’s my biggest ever win,” said Mark, who went on: “I’ve had three winners in the past with this kind of bet, but never four.

“Five years ago I picked up £3,000, but to win over £50,000 is amazing.

“For my selections, I always just go on instinct, and never, ever change my mind. I read the newspapers and check yesterday’s results, pick my selections and have a little look at what the tipsters are saying… just for peace of mind I suppose.

“I’m a senior logistics manager in the auto industry, and so I’ve been working very hard on Brexit-related matters, so this is a great boost. 

“I’m in the process of buying a new home, and now I won’t have to get myself a mortgage – and I might be able to afford a four-bedroom one now!

“Regarding treats for my family, everyone knows my view that it’s bricks and mortar first!

“I’ve been with Betfred for around 20 years, because the odds are just better. I go into my local shop at least once a week, as I did for this particularly bet as my son had borrowed my laptop.

“It was a modest bottle of wine I had with my planned meal of sausages with onion gravy by way of celebration.”

Enjoy your big win Mark. It’s brilliant that a regular like you should get such a great reward for your loyalty. I bet you enjoyed those sausages!

 

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