[stereoman]

Yesterday evening's Bettingzone Market News:

2140: After the nominations for this year's Brit Awards, Leona Lewis looks set to sweep the board according to Sky Bet.

Leona is nominated in four categories, including the major gongs Best British Female Solo Artist and Best British Album.

And Sky Bet have installed Leona as heavy favourite in both, with the 2006 X-Factor winner 1/5 favourite to walk away with Best Female and 1/2 to win the award for best British album.

Helen Jacob, entertainment manager at Sky Bet, said: "After rock artists dominated last year, this year's Brits sees resurgence of pop and, with four nominations each, Leona, Mika and Take That leading the way."

But Paddy Power aren't so convinced it will be Leona's night. They make the Arctic Monkeys' Favourite Worst Nightmare their 5/4 jolly for best album (it's 12s at Sky Bet) with Leona only third favourite at 5/1 behind Take That.

Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: "Punters will have to decide whether 2007 belonged to pop or the Arctic Monkeys. It could well split The Brits betting like never before."

And they also reckon Kate Nash could make a genuine contest in the Best Female category. The singer-songwriter is just 15/8 second favourite behind 10/11 shot Leona.

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Personally I think it's pretty much set in stone who's going to win although there is some competition in some of the categories.

Full list of nominations

One might think it's a little telling that right now Paddy Power haven't put any odds up and Sky Bet is currently unavailable due to maintenance. To be fair it's early days and ceremony's not until Wednesday 20th February. Plenty of time for mischief to happen.

Remember...Lily Allen's chances were pretty much nobbled last year just because of who her record company was. She won £100 off Tim Kash who bet her that she would win a Brit Award. She didn't think she'd win any!

Everyone who needs to know is in on it...which is why I was way off-the-mark last year...9/2 on the bloody Arctic Monkeys winning Best Album was a fooking gimme! I wasn't on it though!

[stereoman]

Odds from Paddy Power:

* Best British Album ~ Arctic Monkeys' Favourite Worst Nightmare 5/4, Take That's Beautiful World 7/4, Leona Lewis' Spirit 5/1, Mika's Life In Cartoon Motion 6/1 and Mark Ronson's Version 10/1
* Best British Female ~ Leona Lewis 10/11, Kate Nash 15/8, KT Tunstall 4/1, Bat for Lashes 12/1 and PJ Harvey 20/1
* Best British Group ~ Take That 5/6, Arctic Monkeys 5/4, Kaiser Chiefs 10/1, Girls Aloud 14/1 and Editors 20/1

If Simon Cowell is going to convince the US that Leona Lewis is a superstar then he need desperately needs a win in Best British Female here. Although a loss wouldn't be detrimental it would be seemingly strange to build her up and knock her down like this such as allowing her to win Album but not Female? Very strange but I wouldn't put it past the organisers.

Could be used as a for and an against as if it wasn't for Amy Winehouse it would have probably been Lily Allen who would have won the corresponding Female award. Amy Winehouse has SIX Grammy nominations.

Although Arctic Monkeys threw a spanner in the works last year by accepting their awards in pre-recorded speches by video (which suggests to me that it was a 'FIX!!') I can't see them winning either Album or Group twice in two years.

I think the list of nominations being mostly pop music rather than indie music sets the tone and the Brit Awards might break a habit of a lifetime although tbh I dunno which one if either.

Take That seem like the chosen ones as they do what they're told but who knows?

Sky Bet and everybody else haven't put their odds up yet.

I'll have a pop at £55 on Leona Lewis at 10/11 to win Best British Female. Nothing too silly as it could easily blow up in my face (they're allowing me a maximum of £168.48).

[stereoman]

Quick in response...here are odds from Sky Bet:

* Best British Album ~ Arctic Monkeys' Favourite Worst Nightmare 2/1, Leona Lewis' Spirit 2/1, Take That's Beautiful World 7/2, Mika's Life In Cartoon Motion 4/1 and Mark Ronson's Version 6/1
* Best British Female ~ Leona Lewis 4/11, Kate Nash 9/4, KT Tunstall 10/1, Bat for Lashes 14/1 and PJ Harvey 20/1
* Best British Male ~ Mika 1/3, Mark Ronson 11/4, Jamie T 10/1, Richard Hawley 10/1 and Newton Faulkner 20/1
* Best British Group ~ Take That 8/11, Arctic Monkeys 15/8, Kaiser Chiefs 4/1, Girls Aloud 16/1 and Editors 16/1
* Best British Single ~ Leona Lewis' Bleeding Love 'evens', Take That's Shine 11/4, Mika's Grace Kelly 6/1, Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse's Valerie 7/1, Sugababes' About You Now 9/1, Kate Nash's Foundations 12/1, Hoosiers' Worried About Ray 16/1, Kaiser Chiefs' Ruby 28/1, Mutya Buena's Real Girl 40/1 and James Blunt's 1973 40/1

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Hmmm. Looks like someone's lumped on Arctic Monkeys' Favourite Worst Nightmare (12/1 into 2/1! I should read the blurb sometimes!) and Kate Nash (Lord knows what odds she was) over at Sky Bet.

Straight fight between Take That and Leona Lewis for Single and I'd give the edge to Take That because their fans are obviously nutso when it comes to organised voting.

Mika should win Male but who knows? Watch the odds on Mark Ronson just in case.

[stereoman]

Paddy's have added one more market:

* Best British Male ~ Mika 2/5, Mark Ronson 4/1, Jamie T 6/1, Richard Hawley 12/1 and Newton Faulkner 12/1

They've just trimmed Leona Lewis a little into 4/6. Good be absolute carnage in the next few weeks.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Originally Posted by stereoman

Paddy's have added one more market:

* Best British Male ~ Mika 2/5, Mark Ronson 4/1, Jamie T 6/1, Richard Hawley 12/1 and Newton Faulkner 12/1

They've just trimmed Leona Lewis a little into 4/6. Good be absolute carnage in the next few weeks.

Mark Ronson a decent bet here for me.

His album has sold well and he has had a huge input into some of the top albums of last year such as Amy Whinehouse.

Definate value that.

[stereoman]

I wouldn't disagree but I think I said a similar thing about Paolo Nutini against James Morrison last year and James Morrison then went into even more of an odds-on favourite!

I think they want Mika to stick around and make him a star because I think they've invested a whole heap of money into making him a success. I can't stand the fella's material myself but there's enough people who like him.

The same people who voted for Amy Winehouse last year could very well vote for Mark Ronson though and it could easily be Mika who gets the Craig David/Gorillaz/Lily Allen shafting.

Sky Bet have added a couple of more markets:

* Best International Album ~ Foo Fighters' Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace 11/8, Kings of Leon's Because of the Times 2/1, Arcade Fire's Neon Bible 4/1, The Eagles' Long Road Out Of Eden 11/2 and Kylie Minogue's X 6/1
* Best International Group ~ Foo Fighters 7/4, Arcade Fire 9/4, Kings of Leon 9/4, The Eagles 9/2 and White Stripes 10/1

Don't know who's going to turn up. Looks like an acceptance speech by video job so I expect these two markets will be suspended sooner rather than later.

[trickrick]

Well I thought I'd take jump into the murkey gambling waters of the Brit Awards.. I reckon I'm on a good thing at evens, and an riskier bet which is just a nice price...

Firstly Best International Male..Now am I missing something here... Surely Timberland should win this in a canter?? He is the international man of the moment for last year - as well as a successful solo album, he also produces for the top stars.. His year was last year and I cannot see anyone touching it, and at evens I am quite shocked at the price

Best International Male - Timberland - 14 pt stake @ evens (Boylesports)

Ok - we know that Leonna Lewis is the hot favourite..I guess this is due to the phenominal success of her first single that was the top seller? However, that aside she has only just poked her head in the door.. Does it look good to have a reality star win Best Female with one single under her belt..? No doubt she'll win at a canter, and if I had taken the 10/11 that Stereo did I'd be a happy man - but at 4/11 I aint touching it with a bargepole and Kate Nash definately fits a better profile..11/4 is a great price and worth jumping on

Best British Female - Kate Nash - 6 pt stake @ 11/4 (Boylesports)

[stereoman]

Kate Nash is 3/1 over at Bet24 (Blackburn Rovers' sponsor) but that needs a Neteller deposit (not one for debit cards as they charge 2% for the privilege!).

There's been a fairly 'big' move about Leona Lewis winning 'Best British Single' and it looks like her performance on the night could swing it considering it is voted for on the night.

I thought they might give 'International Male' to Kanye West BUT no-one of the five has been announced as performing which suggests to me it's an acceptance speech by video' job which means someone already knows who's won. Same sentiments as regards 'International Group'.

Rihanna could get 'International Female' which would leave Kylie to surprisingly get 'International Album'.

The best available odds from Bet365 and Boyle Sports:

* Best International Female ~ Rihanna 4/6 (B365), Kylie Minogue 7/2 (BS), Feist 5/1 (BS), Alicia Keys 16/1 (BS) and Bjork 22/1 (BS).
* Best International Male ~ Timbaland 'evens' (BS), Kanye West 9/5 (B365), Michael Buble 6/1 (BS), Bruce Springsteen 14/1 (BS) and Rufus Wainwright 20/1 (BS).

On the whole I will continue to preach the message 'if-you-turn-up-you-win' but even the Brit Awards play silly buggers like snubbing Snow Patrol and giving Album and Group to Arctic Monkeys last year. They'll almost definitely do the same this year which is why I'm pretty weary.

This year's performers announced so far are: Kaiser Chiefs, Kylie Minogue, Leona Lewis, Mark Ronson (the tabloids say he's tried to rope in Amy Winehouse to perform Valerie), Mika and Rihanna with Klaxons.

Brit Awards › Leona, Mika & Take That Lead UK Nominations For 2008
2008 BRIT Awards - Wikipedia entry

[trickrick]

Originally Posted by stereoman

it looks like her performance on the night could swing it considering it is voted for on the night.

Now if I'd known that before..!

[stereoman]

I think if there's any crumb of comfort is that they snubbed Geri Halliwell back in 2000 for Beth Orton despite the Spice Girls (minus Geri Halliwell) getting the 'Outstanding Achievement to british Music'award. That however as I said was back in 2000.

Kate Nash is doing fairly OK in the US but mostly thanks to Foundations being used on a few soundtracks. I'd find it very strange if they were to snub Leona Lewis for Best British Female though.

[trickrick]

Within a matter of hours I have lost all confidence in my Brit bets - even my Timberland 'banker'....

[stereoman]

I forgot this was on Wednesday...most of the bookies haven't! Only Bet Direct/Stan James and BoyleSports have markets up right now.

I think I warned about the Popbitch forums leaking the winners because the organisers announce the winners at the rehearsals on the day of the show. They didn't seemingly do it last year though.

The Arctic Monkeys are apparently still a no-show but this year I think the organisers can afford to ignore them.

One small concern that Mark Ronson is 'too big to ignore' after winning Producer of the Year, Non-Classical' last Sunday at the Grammys. I haven't punted on 'Best British Male' but there's still odds of 3/1 to be had on Mark. I don't care and I won't afterevent and bitch about how I didn't bet on it if Mark wins either. Promise!

Tiny question is will the organisers surprise 'everyone' by roping in Amy Winehouse to perform with Mark Ronson? There could be a surprise in 'Best British Single' if there is. I presume there's gotta be a lot of goodwill for her after last Sunday's haul of Grammys and this is the only outlet to conveniently ahem, reward her.

Not too many clues on Betfair. Some bets later if I can think of anything before the bookies shut up shop. Nothing out of the box as it looks like most of the odds-on shots will win.

[stereoman]

Huh. They both closed their book! Oh crikey! They can't be scared by what I would have been thinking!? Did I alert them that they still had their book up!?

[stereoman]

Some of us suspected it. The Sun says it will happen.

Amy Winehouse will sing twice at Brits | The Sun |HomePage|Showbiz|Bizarre

A bit ambiguous with the headline. I don't think they mean the Arctic Monkeys are going to get three awards though.

Arctic Monkeys | Brit awards | Hat trick | The Sun |HomePage|Showbiz|Bizarre

[stereoman]

'Best British Single' gets whittled down to five from ten and these are those five:

* 'Bleeding Love' - Leona Lewis
* 'Grace Kelly' - Mika
* 'Shine' - Take That
* 'Valerie' - Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse
* 'Worried About Ray' - The Hoosiers

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Brits singles shortlist unveiled

I don't think there's any odds out though.